Gearbox problem, advice please (1 Viewer)

[Candapack]

Fiat Ducato PVC, 27 months old, 20,000 miles.
I managed to get bogged down in sand, eventually escaped with help through a combination of pushing, digging, grip mats and very high revving and shifting.
Since when gears crunch going in to 2nd.
Took it to Fiat Professional garage today. After a test drive, they confirm the crunching rolleyes but also say that although hardly noticeable, 1st and reverse are a bit rough.
The way forward is to remove and dismantle the box, that alone is about £1000. Same again to put it back. Once they know what the problem is, they'll contact Fiat to discuss possible contribution as it is only just out if warranty and relatively low mileage, but "dont hold your breath".
Best case scenario is a part is replaced, total cost £2000 to £3000. Worst case is a new box, total cost £6000 plus.
Or, I could live with it.
I'm a bit torn,. If there's a chance Fiat will contribute, I need to act now. Otherwise, I could leave it, see if it gets any worse, if so deal with it further down the line.
What would you do?

 

[Landy Andy]

First thing I would do is an oil change in the box. It is possible that you have burnt the oil so have removed some of its lubricating properties. It will also give you the opportunity to check for debris in the oil.

Andy.

 

[Jaws]

Fiat replacement gearbox, full refurb unit is available in loads of places. About a grand, with 12 month warranty,, than about £300 tops to swap.
Cheapest option I reckon..At minimum 2nd gear syncro ring, and maybe chunked the gear on the counter shaft

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[7735]

£1000 to take out and dismantle box and another £1000 to put it back in. They are having a laugh.

Spongy

 

[Viennese]

Worth asking Fiat - what's the warranty on their vans? It's hardly old is it?

 

[gus-lopez]

It is barely out of warranty so therefore was likely to be u/s prior to that. Regardless of the warranty under, eu rules most items are expected to last a minimum of 6 years without requiring attention. I'd get on to Fiat direct.

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[CazPaul]

If you are paying then DON'T take it to a Fiat professional garage.

 

[MichaelT]

If you are paying then DON'T take it to a Fiat professional garage.

If he wants Fiat to contribute then he probably has no choice?

 

[Lenny HB]

£1000 to take out and dismantle box and another £1000 to put it back in. They are having a laugh.

Spongy

Nar, they are just charging £250/hour.

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[MikeD]

Out of interest - did you have the traction control (I think it is called) engaged?

It's the gadget that engages both front wheels to drive by braking the slipping wheel.

Works quite well but did make our last motorhome shudder when it engaged.

It never sounded like it was doing any favours to the drivechain.

 

[Candapack]

Out of interest - did you have the traction control (I think it is called) engaged?

It's the gadget that engages both front wheels to drive by braking the slipping wheel.

Works quite well but did make our last motorhome shudder when it engaged.

It never sounded like it was doing any favours to the drivechain.

Not deliberately. Wasn't aware I had such a thing.

 

[Candapack]

£1000 to take out and dismantle box and another £1000 to put it back in. They are having a laugh.

Spongy

Well, they told me it was a 15 hour job. Sounded excessive, but then I have no idea.
Cheers.

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[DBK]

If

Not deliberately. Wasn't aware I had such a thing.

If you have it there will be a button like this:

 

[mfw]

Hoping that fiat will chip in out of warranty is a big gamble either prepare for big expense or live with it until you are forced to repair - small reputable independant garage would probably be cheapest option though or gearbox specialist

 

[pappajohn]

£1000 to take out and dismantle box and another £1000 to put it back in. They are having a laugh.

Spongy

Remember, this is Fiat professional.

Top rates.

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[DL42846]

Fiat Ducato PVC, 27 months old, 20,000 miles.
I managed to get bogged down in sand, eventually escaped with help through a combination of pushing, digging, grip mats and very high revving and shifting.
Since when gears crunch going in to 2nd.
Took it to Fiat Professional garage today. After a test drive, they confirm the crunching rolleyes but also say that although hardly noticeable, 1st and reverse are a bit rough.
The way forward is to remove and dismantle the box, that alone is about £1000. Same again to put it back. Once they know what the problem is, they'll contact Fiat to discuss possible contribution as it is only just out if warranty and relatively low mileage, but "dont hold your breath".
Best case scenario is a part is replaced, total cost £2000 to £3000. Worst case is a new box, total cost £6000 plus.
Or, I could live with it.
I'm a bit torn,. If there's a chance Fiat will contribute, I need to act now. Otherwise, I could leave it, see if it gets any worse, if so deal with it further down the line.
What would you do?

You don't mention the age of the vehicle. I had a similar problem with a 2009 fiat ducato with 27000 miles. Crunched when engaging 2nd gear. After a lot of research they had/have a problem with gearboxes. So do Citroen and peugeot as they all have the same gearbox. I paid 2300€ to have it stripped and repaired. I tried to get Fiat to make a contribution but they refused. There are several post on here somewhere about the problem. I'm sad to say gearboxes are the Achilles heel of Fiat Ducato's. Each year they claim the problem has been fixed.
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fiat-ducato-130-multyjet-gearbox-problems.151630/

 

[Geo]

Have you considered you may have chewed off a few years of clutch getting out of your predicament
and clutch now not clearing sufficiently

 

[MikeD]

You don't mention the age of the vehicle.

Its 27 months old. 1st line of the original post. It's not only me then

"Fiat Ducato PVC, 27 months old, 20,000 miles."

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[pappajohn]

And in future... Revving the bollox off it and spinning the wheels gets you nowhere fast.
When the wheels spin they've lost traction and that won't regain it.

 

[simsy56]

Well, they told me it was a 15 hour job. Sounded excessive, but then I have no idea.
Cheers.

15 hours? Has the mechanic only one arm, and three fingers missing?

Craig

 

[pappajohn]

15 hours? Has the mechanic only one arm, and three fingers missing?

Craig

No, he's a 'technician' so has to keep going back to his computer terminal for the next instruction... Just like following an old Haynes manual but on a screen.
Doesn't have the mechanical competence to just get on with the job.

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[Candapack]

If

If you have it there will be a button like this:

View attachment 297309

Cheers. Don't have one.

 

[Podney]

Cheers. Don't have one.

That’s a bit odd...........Or do modern vans have some other device that has superseded traction control? Does anybody know?

 

[MikeD]

I think the traction system is about a £90 option. So may not be fitted.

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[dave newell]

According to autodata it's an 8 hour job just to remove and reinstall the gearbox, strip and rebuild is listed as 13 hours.

 

[Jaws]

15 hours? Has the mechanic only one arm, and three fingers missing?

Craig

He must have trouble finding his spanners... proly 'cos they must be stuck up his bum !

Russian guy who does my work since I got too old and doddery to hump gearboxes about had mine stripped out, ally welded the crack in the case, rebuilt the box and refitted it in the van in 6 hours

 

[Lenny HB]

That’s a bit odd...........Or do modern vans have some other device that has superseded traction control? Does anybody know?

I thought all X250's had traction control which is on by default the button turns it off.
X290's have traction plus, traction control is permanently on and the button turns on traction plus they also have hill descent.

The photo in @DBK post looks like the Traction Plus button to me.

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[Candapack]

Thanks everyone.
I have spoken to Fiat, they were reasonably encouraging. However, they need a proper written estimate from a Fiat Professional garage, and that can only happen now when the gear box is removed. At that stage, I'm stuck with FP prices if Fiat say NO.
Doing nothing is not an option now. Mrs C has no intention of breaking down in some remote corner of Europe.
So, I think I will go back to the FP place and hope for the best. (I will ask first about the oil change).
're traction control, all j know us I don't have that button.
're the number of hours, sounds like there might have been crossed wires between workshop and reception. Which would be better for me.
Thanks everyone again.

 

[CazPaul]

Risky, Fiat want you to have it done at a Fiat professional garage so they get the written estimate and then politely tell you to go away.

 

[gus-lopez]

Thanks everyone.
I have spoken to Fiat, they were reasonably encouraging. However, they need a proper written estimate from a Fiat Professional garage, and that can only happen now when the gear box is removed. At that stage, I'm stuck with FP prices if Fiat say NO.
Doing nothing is not an option now. Mrs C has no intention of breaking down in some remote corner of Europe.
So, I think I will go back to the FP place and hope for the best. (I will ask first about the oil change).
're traction control, all j know us I don't have that button.
're the number of hours, sounds like there might have been crossed wires between workshop and reception. Which would be better for me.
Thanks everyone again.

You could always get a second Fiat pro opinion ?

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