General Diff on Gearbox

[makki123]

Hi
The diff on my gearbox (AA man told me it was, does it mean differential?) went a couple of weeks ago, and so have been told I need a new gearbox.

I bought a gearbox, and was talking to someone who told me that a gearbox is going to be huge, while I thought it was small after looking at some of the other ones on ebay. Can someone tell me if what I bought was right?

This is the one I bought (I have put the description as well as the link as Im not sure if your allowed links).
fiat punto mk2 1.2 8v petrol 5 speed gearbox 42k

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/fiat-punto-mk2-1-2-8v-petrol-5-speed-gearbox-42k-/370380164608?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item563c60ce00

These are some of the other ones I was considering.

2000 FIAT PUNTO MK2 1.2 8v MANUAL GEARBOX WITH 60k MILE - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-FIAT-PUNTO-MK2-1-2-8v-MANUAL-GEARBOX-60k-MILE-/230472010050?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35a933c942


FIAT PUNTO MK2 1.2 8V GEARBOX 40,000 MILES

- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-PUNTO-MK2-1-2-8V-GEARBOX-40-000-MILES-/350320694917?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5190bd9685

FIAT PUNTO MK2 1.2 16V GEARBOX 45,000 MILES


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-PUNTO-MK2-1-2-16V-GEARBOX-45-000-MILES-/350223279860?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item518aef26f4


Thanks!

 

[Eklipze3k]

First off, is your car 8v or 16v?
Secondly, the picture in the first e-bay link is of the top of the whole engine bay, the others show the gearbox. It's not huge but by no means is it small. One person can lift it easily but having a 2nd pair of hands when fitting is hightly recommended. Worth changing the clutch while you're at it too.
If you've bought the first one and you've got an 8v car, then as long as the gearbox is what they supply (despite not being what's been pictured) then you've got the right thing.

 

[bredsticz]

Sencond one down doesn't look like a full gearbox,
the one you bought describes a gearbox but the pic is of an air filter :S

Gearbox is pretty heavy and bulky! One person can lift alone but tbh it's easier with 2

I got one for sale but I'm in manchester. If you're willing to travel and don't want that one I'll do it cheaper aswell

 

[makki123]

First off, is your car 8v or 16v?
Secondly, the picture in the first e-bay link is of the top of the whole engine bay, the others show the gearbox. It's not huge but by no means is it small. One person can lift it easily but having a 2nd pair of hands when fitting is hightly recommended. Worth changing the clutch while you're at it too.
If you've bought the first one and you've got an 8v car, then as long as the gearbox is what they supply (despite not being what's been pictured) then you've got the right thing.

I think my car is 8v.

The guy has a good reputation (800 sales (99.7% feedback, and 0 bad in last 6 months), so I am assuming it will actually be a gearbox.

The reason I was asking if its big is because I wasnt sure if the gearboxes I had seen on ebay were the right ones. Im not fitting it myself! Got a garage to do it though he is going to charge me £230 just for the fitting , so might do the clutch at the same time, though not sure if it will be worthwhile as I am going to sell the car the second it is fixed as I have had to spend over £1500 for repairs, even though I have serviced it every year.

How much would a new clutch cost, the guy I took it to said that it is £70, sound right?

 

[bredsticz]

£40 max for a clutch kit and will be fitted with same cost of the gearbox. What's the point in selling when you've spent so much? Seems a bit backwards to start again!

As they say 'Better the devil you know' :devil:

Who's to say your next car won't need all the same work again!

 

[makki123]

Sencond one down doesn't look like a full gearbox,
the one you bought describes a gearbox but the pic is of an air filter :S

Gearbox is pretty heavy and bulky! One person can lift alone but tbh it's easier with 2

I got one for sale but I'm in manchester. If you're willing to travel and don't want that one I'll do it cheaper aswell

I am hoping that the seller just puts this generic picture on all of his fiat punto parts, as he has a good reputation over a high number of sales.

How much is yours going for? Thing is mine is being covered by AA breakdown repair cover, and so the AA will be paying for it since it is less than £475 (in total), though the way it is currently going, with the gearbox apparently being sent to my house a few days ago and someone having signed for it, it looks like I am going to need a back up gearbox in case this one has got lost or something.

 

[Eklipze3k]

Yeah, like someone could lose a gearbox

As bredsticz says though, why sell up? Even if you're not paying for the repairs you've got an otherwise well serviced (by your own admission) car with a brand new gearbox and clutch, seems daft imo. Agreed on the price of the clutch kit, and changing it is only a few minutes extra labour on top of switching the gearbox (as he'd be taking it off anyway to swap the clutch) so I would be querying why he's charging £30 for essentially 10mins work

 

[makki123]

£40 max for a clutch kit and will be fitted with same cost of the gearbox. What's the point in selling when you've spent so much? Seems a bit backwards to start again!

As they say 'Better the devil you know' :devil:

Who's to say your next car won't need all the same work again!

Hmmm might buy my own clutch then and get him to fit it.

I know it does seem a bit backwards, but this car has done my head in! I have had it for 2 and a half years now as my first car, and think it has come to the end of its life with me. I bought it for £2000, and have spent nearly that fixing it! I went to ask at the scrapyard for a gearbox, and said he has no more left as it his one of his most popular parts after the wiper linkages and the steering column, which is most likely next to go in his opinion which is another £300 odd.

I suppose my next car could have the same problems, but I am planning to get a focus, astra or golf, which are supposedly more reliable.

Hopefully my gearbox arrives by early next week, meaning it would be fitted late next week, as the MOT is just about to go. I will probably keep it for another 3 weeks though as I have exams and the last thing I need is to be looking for a new car, so this will be my cars final test!

My MOT is due to run out in 3 days, and it is currently parked on the street just outside the garage, though the gearbox will probably arrive after a week. Can I get in trouble for this, as I am not going to be driving the car?

 

[makki123]

Yeah, like someone could lose a gearbox

As bredsticz says though, why sell up? Even if you're not paying for the repairs you've got an otherwise well serviced (by your own admission) car with a brand new gearbox and clutch, seems daft imo. Agreed on the price of the clutch kit, and changing it is only a few minutes extra labour on top of switching the gearbox (as he'd be taking it off anyway to swap the clutch) so I would be querying why he's charging £30 for essentially 10mins work

Lol you've all got me thinking now about keeping this car! I have looked after it well and would miss it if I sold it. I will most likely buy a new clutch as well then as another £30 wont hurt.

So if I wasnt having my gearbox changed, would a garage charge around £200 labour to fit a £30 part?

 

[beau]

find another garage, gearbox in and out job should be max £100 labour, we charge £80 for puntos.

and clutch, £30-40 for a cheap one or £50-60 for a good one.

 

[simondhopkins]

no one said the obvious. The diff is removeable with the gearbox in place. Just change the diff, done it before.

 

[bredsticz]

That's true but the diff is the hardest bit to take out really.
My gearbox I got up for £120 but would let it go for £100 and I got a brand new clutch with it. Maybe someone on here nearby you would charge less to fit it?

 

[Eklipze3k]

If you're free on Monday, I'd be willing to come and have a looksie. Not long done the g'box on my Sei (with assistance of course) if you fancy getting your hands dirty

 

[simondhopkins]

That's true but the diff is the hardest bit to take out really.
My gearbox I got up for £120 but would let it go for £100 and I got a brand new clutch with it. Maybe someone on here nearby you would charge less to fit it?

No its not, jack the car up, remove both half shafts, undo the rear bracket, unbolt the diff case bolts, drop the diff out the box, done it in 2 hours.

 

[bredsticz]

I suppose you do have to do all that with the gearbox anyways, but if diff has gone it's peace of mind really putting an entirely new box in.

Saves anything on the gearbox going and that needing replacing aswell

 

[arc]

no one said the obvious. The diff is removeable with the gearbox in place. Just change the diff, done it before.

doing that you can end up with whiny box as the diff has worn differently to the gearbox - had that with a brava i worked on. plus sourcing a diff without a box would prove pricey, and also fitting is a bit of a pain with the box in situ

 

[makki123]

no one said the obvious. The diff is removeable with the gearbox in place. Just change the diff, done it before.

I was thinking about that but the AA man told me it needed a new gearbox as well as the garage.

 

[makki123]

find another garage, gearbox in and out job should be max £100 labour, we charge £80 for puntos.

and clutch, £30-40 for a cheap one or £50-60 for a good one.

I will be looking for a new garage, as this one seems to be charging way too much. I still need to find a regular garage, as I'm 19 and this is my first car so dont have a regular one to go to. Anyone able to recommend any in Sheffield? or a fiat specialist?

 

[makki123]

If you're free on Monday, I'd be willing to come and have a looksie. Not long done the g'box on my Sei (with assistance of course) if you fancy getting your hands dirty

Thanks for the offer mate, but the AA will be paying for the parts and labour under Breakdown Repair Cover up to £500 .

However, since it is a 2nd hand part I am buying on ebay, the AA made me sign a disclaimer form that I cant ask them for a gearbox for a year, so in case this one messes up or whatever, I will definitely contact you.

As for getting my hands dirty, sure, why not ! Thanks again.

 

[makki123]

I suppose you do have to do all that with the gearbox anyways, but if diff has gone it's peace of mind really putting an entirely new box in.

Saves anything on the gearbox going and that needing replacing aswell

Peace of mind is always a good thing