FIAT 500 - gearbox failure at 30,000 miles. Dealer sorts it?

[FredClogs]

Wasn't the whole ethos of the Fiat 500 that you could fix it in your kitchen with bits bought at the newsagent? Or was that the 2CV? Maybe it was a Vespa.

Best of luck anyway.

[PhillipM]

I think that's what they built them out of wasn't it? Newspaper and chewing gum?

[Moominator]

ToothbrushMan said:

Fiat gearboxes=chocolate fireguard

Who makes the gearbox?

Seeing as many first owners are either lease, hire, learner cars or just average Joe it's no surprise gearboxes go pop in them.

You and I could easily kill elements of a gearbox very quickly. When I was selling a car the perspective buyer turned up- a stressed mother of a baby and told me she had non stop problems with her current car. On the test drive she rode the clutch and banged into the wrong gears, labouring the engine etc. Even inanew to me car I wouldn't even approach that level of mechanical ability.

[PhillipM]

Bearing is a Polish NSK....SKF or FAG replacement will be going in methinks...

Edited by PhillipM on Friday 12th February 16:45

[PhillipM]

This may be a asking a little too much of the phone camera and online photo hosting, but you should be able to see some of the bearing damage on the inner race:

[PhillipM]

Nope, seems perfectly fine. Will just put some thicker oil in it, be okay....


https://youtu.be/J428m-C3IgM

Edited by PhillipM on Friday 12th February 19:57

[KTF]

Out of interest does it have a West Country registration (Wxnn xxx)?

Around 2009/10 (I think) fiat did a deal with bsm and all have West Country plates as they were registered at their import centre. Chances are, if it does have that registration it's an ex-bsm car. If not, ignore the above

[PhillipM]

It is a WR plate, but given the synchro's, selectors and clutch are fine...

[Mr2Mike]

PhillipM said:

Bearing is a Polish NSK....SKF or FAG replacement will be going in methinks...

I doubt it will make any difference. SKF bearings are made in India, Malaysia, Korea and China, and FAG also have factories in Hungary, India, China, Brazil etc.

[PhillipM]

Mr2Mike said:

I doubt it will make any difference. SKF bearings are made in India, Malaysia, Korea and China, and FAG also have factories in Hungary, India, China, Brazil etc.

Yep, some of the best bearings come out of China, India, etc. But I've never had much luck with aftermarket NSK stuff full stop, so I'm not sticking another in

Edited by PhillipM on Friday 12th February 21:47

[alicehill]

Hi, I know this was a while ago but can you possible remember how much this repair cost?

[timrud]

Just bung another box on, you can probably pick them up for not a lot

[Mr2Mike]

timrud said:

Just bung another box on, you can probably pick them up for not a lot

With a good chance of it having the same problem...

[Squishey]

alicehill said:

Hi, I know this was a while ago but can you possible remember how much this repair cost?

If you're looking to do it yourself (and it's the same problem - input shaft bearing failure) then bearing will cost you circa £5 plus about £25 for good quality fully synthetic gearbox oil. Then just your time to do the job.

If you're paying someone else to do it then expect to pay around £500 for them to do the job using a 2nd hand/recon gearbox.

[PhillipM]

alicehill said:

Hi, I know this was a while ago but can you possible remember how much this repair cost?

About a tenner for the bearing and £30 for oil, plus a bit of surface sealant if you're doing it yourself.
I've still got a spare bearing if you want me to post it out to you.

If you're wanting someone to do it for you then probably £250-300 as there's a lot of labour and cleanup involved.

[PhillipM]

Mr2Mike said:

With a good chance of it having the same problem...

Yes, there seems to be a fair few of them on the 'net with the same issue!

[mighty kitten]

A place up in Oldham called mr Punto specialises in these boxes , I get mine from him for the 500, fiesta and Punto . £280 with warranty and fully re built as I collected one in person to drop some old ones off for re build