Technical Anyone else get 3rd gear syncro probs?

[RobW]

when i am downshifting to third, even if i blip the throttle, sometimes the downshift to third is a bit 'crunchy' unless i am really slow and precise with the shift

all the other changes are really quick and direct and satisfying

might try a gearbox oil change...

only really a problem on sweeping curves off camber when you need a bit of drive - e.g. speed limited motorway slip roads

ps. car is Fiat 500 1.4 6 speed

 

[Venters]

You should use the pedal on the left.

Also why is it always 3rd that's first to break? In my experience anyway.

 

[306maxi]

Slightly OT Rob, but what other models use the 6 speed box in the 1.4? Obviously the 100hp does but perhaps it's worth asking in other forums if people with that box have had similar problems because not many people here even have 1.4's.

 

[J333EVO]

3rd gear is always one to go on the 5/6 speed boxes, I can't remember why it is as I did look into it a long time ago, but it is known for it.

If doing track work I would change the gearbox oil much more frequently than Fiat recommend and maybe try a higher quality oil as well.

Only thing you can do is now is work round it, on my GT4 I had a similar problem which i could drive round by pressing the clutch down holding it but rather then going straight from 4th-3rd, slip gearstick into 2nd (keeping clutch pressed) and then moving the gearstick back up to 3rd, this selected the other synchro meaning sweet, if a little slower gear change, but only on that 4th-3rd change. It just meant you thought about that change before doing it, though through time becomes so instinctive to do it. Emma used to give me into trouble if I drove any of the other cars as I did it in those without thinking

Otherwise find a known good 2nd hand unit and replace its not worth the effort on these boxes rebuilding as it will cost more than a 2nd hand box to do it. Unless you fancy teaching yourself to build boxes, and fit a LSD at same time :devil:

 

[306maxi]

Only thing you can do is now is work round it, on my GT4 I had a similar problem which i could drive round by pressing the clutch down holding it but rather then going straight from 4th-3rd, slip gearstick into 2nd (keeping clutch pressed) and then moving the gearstick back up to 3rd, this selected the other synchro meaning sweet, if a little slower gear change, but only on that 4th-3rd change. It just meant you thought about that change before doing it, though through time becomes so instinctive to do it. Emma used to give me into trouble if I drove any of the other cars as I did it in those without thinking

So kind of like changing into first before changing into reverse so it doesn't crunch?

 

[RobW]

thing is it's been like this since new - well since i got it...

I blame the Wookie

 

[J333EVO]

So kind of like changing into first before changing into reverse so it doesn't crunch?

Yes, you have two synchros for the middle gears, so slipping into 2nd selects the 2-3 synchro, whereas going from 4-3 selects the other synchro which appears to have an issue.

 

[jnoiles]

My old 6 speed did this after about 20k miles. The new gearbox I bought for the quaife diff to be fitted to hasn't exhibited this tendency yet.

I had intended to take the old 6 speed to a transmission place and see if they could figure out some way to beef it up. I understand there's a synchro rebuild kit from Fiat but to my mind that would just give you another 20k or so miles before it started doing it again. I'd be more interested in knowing if it could be strengthened somehow. But then I got side tracked with the race car.

Rob, if don't fancy disabling your car while investigating a solution I have a spare 6 speed from my 500 that suffers this condition. It's at Panda-sports place at the moment but I don't think he has any immediate plans for it.

 

[muttleysdad]

when i am downshifting to third, even if i blip the throttle, sometimes the downshift to third is a bit 'crunchy' unless i am really slow and precise with the shift

all the other changes are really quick and direct and satisfying

might try a gearbox oil change...

only really a problem on sweeping curves off camber when you need a bit of drive - e.g. speed limited motorway slip roads

ps. car is Fiat 500 1.4 6 speed

I had a punto sporting with the 6 speed gearbox - went through three 3rd gear syncro's in 2 years - only had to mis change once and that was that - they can be a bit delicate.

 

[Mark Elvin]

Both of my 500's have been stiffer dropping into 3rd than any of the other forward gears, I belive it's called character!!!