Technical New Gearbox?

[bandito22]

Hi Guys/Gals,

I'm having trouble with gears!

My 53 Stilo 75K miles is having great difficulty finding gears. I am litterally having to grind them in, sometimes having a few attempts before getting there!!

It's got worse over the last week. Is it a simple case of needing a new gearbox or could there be something worse (or hopefully easier)?

Thanks.

 

[T14086]

is the clutch ok?

5 or 6 sp box?

 

[bandito22]

Hi,

How can I tell if the clutch is OK? I'm useless with cars so hoping to learn.

It's a 5 Speed.

Thanks.

 

[muppet42]

Sounds like clutch to me as your having trouble getting the gear to engage, but eventually do. Had that happen when in a mates car and we had to stay in one gear (2nd) the whole way back to his place for around 6 miles, which was fun. Gearbox was fine, but clutch was fecked as we found when we took the gearbox off and examined.

Of course, I'll leave it to a few others to back up this opinion

 

[bandito22]

Hi,

Now I understand how the clutch works (youtube) I think it could be that. When I start the car in the morning, I push the clutch pedal in fully but I know that putting it into reverse will just crunch horribly.

Best way I can describe the sound from a novice person, it's like pushing a stick slowly into a fan... at some point the fan stops but it sounds horrible. :yuck:

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks.

 

[ROWENA]

Check your clutch/brake fluid level thats your first job it's under the bonnet at the back with a yellow lid on it

 

[12[X]]

slave or master clutch cylinder gone i'd guess (the crunch comes from selector collars not engaging.. as 1st and 2nd + 3rd and 4th +5th and reverse are operated via same collars you've unlikely to have messed up all the synchronisers.. if you can engage gears easily with engine off – that’s a dead giveaway for cylinder failure.. clutch is not lifting enough that is..)

 

[Big Black Stilo]

if its 75k on original clutch i would say it could be just worn out rather than hydraulics problems

if fitting yourself clutches usually £120.


EDIT, just read you know nothing about cars therefore unlikely you would change the clutch yourself.

find a good reliable independent garage

 

[wotnowarninglight]

if its 75k on original clutch i would say it could be just worn out rather than hydraulics problems

Oi! Do you mind... just started towing a caravan with my JTD @ 71K and your scaring me

Seriously though, when my gear selection became obstructive/difficult, I changed my gearbox oil @ 59K. Even though Fiat don't seem to specify an interval for gearbox oil changes, Valvoline (oil supplier) do recommend 80K (km's) which is approx. 55K (miles) and mileage where my issues with gear selection first appeared. Worth a try I suppose...

 

[bandito22]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice so far. I looked in the manual for 'hydraulic system oil' and it says you should not top up with different oil than is already there.

1. How do I know the oil that is already in there?
2. What oil should I buy to top it up?

Sorry for my ignorance.

Thanks Again.

 

[ROWENA]

On the yellow filler cap it will have a dot rating stamped on it my 1.8 52 dynamic is DOT4 fluid

 

[bandito22]

OK, I checked the fluid and it is right at the top, looks a bit cloudy but I doubt that's an issue.

As suggested, I tried changing gears with the engine off and it changes gears fine does this throw any more light on the posibilities??

Thanks.

 

[12[X]]

yes it does - i'd guess that your gearbox is fine but either master/slave is done for or (as suggested above by someone) you clutch is used up (however if it was a clutch issue you would get a lot of slip when you do manage to get it in gear and at the point it reaches the stage you described - it will overheat and disintegrate in 10 minutes..) so last thing for you to try is bleeding slave cylinder- there is a guide (master seals have also been an issue) that failing - take £65 and get to a good local (unless you feel comfortable taking the clutch/cylinders apart yourself)

tip: engine off – slip into 1st then start the engine (it will drive and start) when u get some speed – engine off – slip into second – engine on.. Only try this as last resort in an emergency as it is likely to do serious damage
Ps: i may be wrong ;-)

 

[Big Black Stilo]

duplicate post

 

[Big Black Stilo]

driving without clutch and timing gear changes done properly shouldnt cause wear on the box. if your grinding it your causing wear.

starting it in gear will strain the starter motor and when i drove home in my Ibiza after clutch cable snapped, it killed the battery halfway home.

only use it for taking it to the garage basically

 

[bandito22]

update: I left the car on the drive for a week as it was getting quite bad. Had to do a 50 mile trip today and the gear change was smooth and no problem. Once I got closer to my destination the problem started to come back and now is struggling again. Does this narrow things dow at all?

Thanks.

 

[Big Black Stilo]

not really as its not hot/cold related as problem would have started 5 miles into journey (like mine did)

could be a selector arm out of line/loose.

 

[bandito22]

Hi All,

It definitely gets a lot better once it sits around for a few days, then gets progressively worse as I do a trip. I havent driven it today and I know tomorrow it will start off fine again.

Well I have a mechanic looking at it next week and will probably ask him to do some other bits while he's at it.

Any more suggestions greatfully received.

Thanks.

 

[Nightshade2k]

Same issue as your mate to be honest Clutch pressure is fine on my abarth until halfway through a trip where it gets worse then i cant even engage any gear...

ive been at Ancaster Fiats twice now in Welling, Changed the slave, Changed the Master however the peddle eventually loses pressure and wont come back up! there is however a small pipe i saw on their diagnostics screen so when i go back there ill try that who knows 3rd time lucky???

 

[Argonought]

Any more suggestions greatfully received.

I'd be inclined to check the oil level in the gearbox/diff.

Have you looked underneath for any sign of leaking fluid :chin: