How many other people have had problems with Fiat Gear boxes. Please list (1 Viewer)

[DL42846]

I would like to compile a list of other MH owners who have had problems with Fiat gear boxes.

In my case I have a 2009 Fiat 130 Multyjet. 24 thousand miles or in my case 38000 Kilometers
Syncr gone between 1st to 2nd and 3rd to second. Cost of repair. 2,322 €. Will be guaranteed 2 years by Fiat. Haggling at the moment with Fiat for a contribution. I'm told Fiat can pay up to 90% but I will get less due to the age. The Fiat agent thought I will get something though due to the very low mileage.

Fiat. fr appeared surprised when I tolled them they have a problem. I suggested they look on the internet.
They use the same gear box as Citroen and Peugeot. When talking to a friend who works for Citroen he also said Citroen have big problems with them

I have read on several sites where they claim these problems have been sorted. but that doesn't seem to be the case. I read before 2007 they had problems but is now sorted. Mine is 2009 and its not sorted. Only yesterday someone added a thread of a 2012 Fiat with 30,000 miles and his clutch has gone.
Who do Fiat think they are fooling.

I do hope this thread is not contravening any rules on this site, but I thought it might be useful to other MH owners who find themselves in this situation.

 

[WillH]

Fiat are not trying to fool anyone. Gearbox failure at the age of your van is an isolated event, over 2 million of these in various configurations, have been built. Ours is a 2008 with 56k. Given the age of your van I would be surprised if Fiat made any contribution.

I presume the van has been serviced and all oil changes carried out as and when required.

 

[DL42846]

Fiat are not trying to fool anyone. Gearbox failure at the age of your van is an isolated event, over 2 million of these in various configurations, have been built. Ours is a 2008 with 56k. Given the age of your van I would be surprised if Fiat made any contribution.

I presume the van has been serviced and all oil changes carried out as and when required.

Its not an isolated event. I have come across some on other websites also. Just in case anyone thinks it might be the driver ( not for one minute suggesting you are saying so) I would like to add that I have a Sprinter with over 466,000 miles on the clock and no Problems, I had a Movano which had 404,000 when I sold it, also no problems.
The build quality does not seem consistent.
Just recently the tire fitting guy came round to my house to fit some new tires. He had a Citroen Jumper ( Same gear box as Fiat). 31,000 miles Required a complete new gear box, his Citroen is less that two years old.

What servicing does the gear box require at 24,000 miles? Oils have been serviced and changed when required. I was surprised that Fiat have offered a contribution, but I thought nothing ventured nothing gained.

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[MC 55 FUN]

Is this issue caused by the well documented water ingress into the gearbox ?

I can't see that lack of regular engine oil & filter changes could contribute to early failure of the gearbox.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Its not an isolated event.

Of course it's isolated.

SEVEL Group sell more than 600,000 base vans a year.

I'd be amazed if there weren't more than a handful of problems on that sort of volume.

For every one you can find that has problems at 30,000 miles there will be many many thousands that go 250,000 with no issues.

 

[DL42846]

Of course it's isolated.

SEVEL Group sell more than 600,000 base vans a year.

I'd be amazed if there weren't more than a handful of problems on that sort of volume.

For every one you can find that has problems at 30,000 miles there will be many many thousands that go 250,000 with no issues.

I would like to be in that category.

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[WillH]

If you do a search on this forum on Fiat gearboxes you'll find that no-one else has suffered 2nd gear synchro failure, and there are lots of Fiats represented here. I stand by what I said, the failure is an isolated event.

NickNic, I was referring to gearbox oil changes, essential in my opinion given the age of the van.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

NickNic, I was referring to gearbox oil changes, essential in my opinion given the age of the van.

The vast majority of the base vehicles obviously become panel vans and are used by tradesmen, delivery drivers and the like.

Of these a pretty high percentage will get no maintenance whatsoever and still be trouble free.

 

[buttons]

The reverse judder was a well documented major problem with Fiat I think fitting a mod but that could be a problem as the miles pass..

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[WillH]

I was responsible for a fleet of Ford Transit based vehicles when I worked, they only covered a few hundred miles a year, all stop start, 1st and 2nd gear work. The engine oil was changed every six months and the gearbox and differentials every year. We never experienced any failures even though we kept them running until they literally fell apart, the chassis would rot through after 15 years or so. The environment was very hostile, salt laden air. We removed the engines and gearboxes prior to scrapping as spares but only ever used one engine. This was a fleet of 16 vehicles purchased second hand at over 100k on the clock.

 

[gus-lopez]

If you do a search on this forum on Fiat gearboxes you'll find that no-one else has suffered 2nd gear synchro failure, and there are lots of Fiats represented here. I stand by what I said, the failure is an isolated event.

NickNic, I was referring to gearbox oil changes, essential in my opinion given the age of the van.

If you google you can find a few

 

[WillH]

As you said, a few. Not lots.

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[Henri37]

Hi MikeScuba,
Don't know if mine counts, as it is a Peugeot Boxer 1.9TD 2002 in a Motorhome. And there is definitely a known issue with boxes of this type and age. It is a design fault which allows water from the scuttle drain pipe to land on the top of the gearbox and work its way into the gearbox. This is the problem we have just encountered with our recent purchase, and it is now looking like the Motorhome is just 14K worth of scrap, because the parts cannot be found. By the way, these gearboxes are equal to same year Fiat Ducato and Citroen Relay so I'm told, and they modified this design around 2006.

Etta

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

Hi MikeScuba,
Don't know if mine counts, as it is a Peugeot Boxer 1.9TD 2002 in a Motorhome. And there is definitely a known issue with boxes of this type and age. It is a design fault which allows water from the scuttle drain pipe to land on the top of the gearbox and work its way into the gearbox. This is the problem we have just encountered with our recent purchase, and it is now looking like the Motorhome is just 14K worth of scrap, because the parts cannot be found. By the way, these gearboxes are equal to same year Fiat Ducato and Citroen Relay so I'm told, and they modified this design around 2006.

Etta

There will be some in the scrapyard from builders vans and the like that have rotten bodywork.
There are spare part searches you can do that request breakers to contact you with a price for a secondhand unit. Usually you will get 30 days warranty to get it fitted and tested.
Much cheaper than trying to rebuild a faulty gear box.

 

[Henri37]

Thanks, Mike but we've tried all of the above, EBay, Parts Brokers, Scrapyards you name it we've tried for the last 6 weeks to no avail. Granted scrap yards were all in Scotland, but Brokers were UK and Europe. Some say they can refurbish it but we're not 100% convinced, and they all want (understandably) to fit it, and take our old box in exchange. Our box is out of the van, because we took it for refurb which didn't happen because they cannot source the gearhub part(s), and it came back as a box of parts, so we have to package and pallet it and send it down to them. Bexhill gearboxes, say they can refurb it, and so far are being very helpful about trying to arrange transport down and up from their premises. Will update once I get it packaged up, and receive the quote.

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[CazPaul]

You have careful when determining the reliability of vehicles, especially when then looking on the internet for others that have had the same problem.

You have to judge the reliability of vehicles by the volume sold and then the percentage of those that had have problems.

Its easy to come to the wrong conclusion.

I remember a chap on here had Mercedes 2.7cdi engine problems whilst abroad and it cost him many, many thousands to get it fixed, although I think he got ripped off. Suddenly on here there was a Merc bashing session, they are crap, useless etc, you need to put things in perspective. The Merc 2.7 pot is a good engine but a few can have problems early on, loads of other do starship mileages with nothing but routine servicing.

I am hoping you are incorrect with the Fiat gearbox reliability, although not the best gearbox in the world, I am hoping it is adequate as our next van will most likely have one.

 

[andyman]

Thanks, Mike but we've tried all of the above, EBay, Parts Brokers, Scrapyards you name it we've tried for the last 6 weeks to no avail. Granted scrap yards were all in Scotland, but Brokers were UK and Europe. Some say they can refurbish it but we're not 100% convinced, and they all want (understandably) to fit it, and take our old box in exchange. Our box is out of the van, because we took it for refurb which didn't happen because they cannot source the gearhub part(s), and it came back as a box of parts, so we have to package and pallet it and send it down to them. Bexhill gearboxes, say they can refurb it, and so far are being very helpful about trying to arrange transport down and up from their premises. Will update once I get it packaged up, and receive the quote.

Try Ratcliffe Light Comercials, 01509 815805 he may have a gear box.

 

[dave newell]

My motorhome (self converted 2009 Ducato 120 mj ex Chemists delivery van) has had two gearbox replacements and three clutches in eight years.....it has done 209,000 miles though.

D.

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[CazPaul]

My motorhome (self converted 2009 Ducato 120 mj ex Chemists delivery van) has had two gearbox replacements and three clutches in eight years.....it has done 209,000 miles though.

D.

Wow, still seems a lot of gearbox\clutch bother though.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Two gear boxes and 3 clutches seems a lot to me my Volvo is on original clutch at 120,000. Surely commercial vehicles should fair better how long should a gear box last.

 

[Henri37]

Mines is 2002 and only done genuine 15K miles. Gearboxes after 2002 ish were modified so we are restricted by date.

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[DL42846]

My motorhome (self converted 2009 Ducato 120 mj ex Chemists delivery van) has had two gearbox replacements and three clutches in eight years.....it has done 209,000 miles though.

D.

I had a Sprinter Which has done over 750,000 kilometers as a white van doing deliveries on a tight time schedule and loaded to the max. Still has original everything except the propshaft ,starter motor, silencer and rear wheel bearings.

 

[CazPaul]

I had a Sprinter Which has done over 750,000 kilometers as a white van doing deliveries on a tight time schedule and loaded to the max. Still has original everything except the propshaft ,starter motor, silencer and rear wheel bearings.

Was that the 2.7cdi mike or the older 2.9.

 

[DL42846]

Was that the 2.7cdi mike or the older 2.9.

The 313 cdi 2011

Was that the 2.7cdi mike or the older 2.9.

Its the 313 CDI 2011 model. Forgot to mention I also had to change the water pump.

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[RogerThat]

I would like to compile a list of other MH owners who have had problems with Fiat gear boxes.

You can put me in that list. When I bought my 1999 2.8 Ducato it came with a receipt from Leek Transmissions saying all the syncros had been changed at 31,000 miles.

I've just spent last winter with the moho off the road due to 3rd gear syncro failing again at 37,000 miles. I saved up enough money (and burnt a bit of a credit card) to get a reconditioned gearbox fitted a couple of months ago so I'm back on the road again now.

The guy who did the repair (I didn't go back to Leek Trans) said the gearbox oil was milky when he drained it, he mentioned the common problem re water ingress that @Henri37 mentioned previously too.

He said he has modified the (breather?) pipe by bending it and he said as part of the annual engine oil service I should also make sure I get the gearbox oil replaced at the same time.

I'm now on my third gearbox in under 38k miles. I hope this one lasts longer than 6,000 miles. I sure can't afford another gearbox

 

[KUSKUS]

the company I work for has 22 fiat ducato 3 litre with comfortmatic gearbox getting towards four years old , only yesterday two of them had failed gearbox problems , don't seem to like warm weather had same last year when it was warm.

 

[CazPaul]

the company I work for has 22 fiat ducato 3 litre with comfortmatic gearbox getting towards four years old , only yesterday two of them had failed gearbox problems , don't seem to like warm weather had same last year when it was warm.

How many miles roughly do they do?Have they done?

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[KUSKUS]

between 40 to 60 thousand miles but we have been having problems with them for a couple of years.
we are stuck with them for three more years , they are on a seven year lease !

 

[Bally]

My 2009 fiat 2.3 had a faulty gearbox would not go into 4th while on our way back from a trip down south all other gears were fine, it was 12 months out of warranty I took it to an independent gearbox specialist in Halifax. If i remember it was as around £750.00 to repair the chap said it was a plastic part in the gearbox which fiat had replaced with metal part from a certain year onwards after they had had a few issues, he purchased the metal part from fiat and fitted into the box I didn't have another problem and sold it last year.