Technical Panda 4x4 g/box problem,Help!!

[ross123]

Hi I have recently purchased a panda 4x4,I need some help diagnosing a fault with the gearbox,I can select all the gears except for 3'rd,also when in neutral the car tries to creep forward!! it feels like an auto in drive!!when the clutch pedal is pressed it stops creeping but makes a noise like a worn release bearing, when I drive the car it sounds O.K.the box isn't noisy,apart from when the clutch is pressed in neutral,if any body has come across this before,please let me know as I am about to remove the box and strip it,I want to avoid doing this if possible, Cheers Ross

 

[Renegade_8]

It sounds as though your clutch has broken up. You may have no gearbox problems at all.

 

[panda1408]

Is this a new panda or a classic one? I know the classis 4x4s can have problems selecting 3rd. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will find this or maybe try posting in the model section.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Is this a new panda or a classic one? I know the classis 4x4s can have problems selecting 3rd. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will find this or maybe try posting in the model section.

:yeahthat: Althought normally its just the syncro on 3rd meaning it grinds on sellection.

Jon.

 

[127 Jules]

Hi,

my own thoughts for what it's worth is that you may have a problem with the 3rd gear syncro. If it was the clutch, in my experience of this is you would have clutch 'drag' in gear with the clutch pressed and there would be considerable difficulty in selecting the lower gears while the engines running. You have a more unusual problem. The reason I suggest the syncro is that part of the mechanism is a cone type clutch as well as an interlock device that helps to retain in in gear. If the interlock has started to break up then it is possible that it is jamming the cone clutch of the borc ring onto the 3rd gear and providing partial drive in neutral. The job of the cone clutch is to misalign the teeth on 3rd gear and the hub assembly and prevent selection until their speeds are syncrnised. It's probably no coincidence that you can't get 3rd and there's a 'dragging' in neutral. If I'm right it's a gearbox strip.
The noise when you press the clutch could be either the release bearing or spigot bearing in the end of the crankshaft. If the noise is instantanious then I would say release bearing, if there's delay after the clutch is pressed then the spigot bearing as it takes a little time for the input shaft to slow down and thats when the bearing starts to rotate, could be tricky to deside if there's a drag in the box. Either way the box has got to come out. Check the clutch while you're there and see if the box input shaft is difficult to turn by hand in neutral without the output turning, if there's no problem it will be and that way you'll know which way to go

Hope this helps

Jules

 

[rfarey]

Hi
I had a similar problem on a previous 4x4. In my case, it was a combination of a few factors, but was not an issue with the gearbox itself.
1) The gear linkages have a number of connections in them that should all have washers and split pins to hold them together and take slack out of the movement. These are often missing where people have taken tham apart and forgotten to put them back together properly. It could be that the linkages are barely connected and therefore are not giving you enough movement to get 3rd
2) The creep on mine was caused by poor clutch adjustment (had fitted a new cable which stretched a little bedding in). Basically the clutch doesn't quite release. A few tweeks in the adjuster nuts sorted it out.
3) Grit in the clutch - remove the blanking plate at the junction of the bellhousing and the sump (4 bolts) along with the gear linkage slider plate. Get someone to depress the clutch and blow some compressed air into the clutch/flywheel meeting surfaces. If you adjust the clutch up first, if you have got grit, it may come out of its own accord with the greater clearance you have created.....

The noise it pretty certain to be your clutch release bearing. Either put up with it or take the box out and replace it along with the clutch.

Hope this helps
Rob