Mazda MK1 gearbox

[lizzywhizzy]

Does anyone know a specialist in the Cambridge area who might be able to repair a faulty MK1 gearbox? I'm trying to avoid purchasing a whole new gearbox, quoted as around £800 and then £200 to instal. The car has done about 122K.
So far, I can sometimes move between all gears, and at other times, can drive in 5th on the motorway but once I reach a junction cannot get out of 5th into any other gear at all. I've had to stop and have usually after 5 mins or so managed to get the car to pull away in 3rd. Once, after leaving the car for 10 mins. or so, I've been able to start up again and move into 1st and through the gears with no problem.
Does anyone have an idea as to the nature of the fault? And who might be able to repair it for less than £1000!
Thanks, Lizzy Whizzy

[snotrag]

Hi Lizzy. Don't panic!

Mk1 gearboxes very rarely fail - firstly, are we sure its that? Have you had someone look at it?

Secondly - because they are so commonly available, they are very cheap 2nd hand - and as they so rarely fail, its relatively 'safe' to buy a used gearbox.

You should be able to get a used gearbox fitted for a couple of hundred quid. The box itself could be had quite easily from one of the many breakers, I'll have a look. Changing the gearbox is pretty much the same job as changing a clutch, and any normal independent garage would be able to do that.

In fact, if you don't know how old it is, you may aswell fit a new clutch at the same time, as the actual Clutch itself is also not very expensive.

I'm sure someone more local to you will be able to suggest a good garage!

Edit - looks like a good used gearbox AND clutch kit could be had for well under £200 from somewhere like http://www.autolinkmx5.com/clutch--transmission-pa... (whom are well trusted). You should be able to get fixed up for less than £400 at worst I would have thought.

Edited by snotrag on Wednesday 27th February 22:37

[Benrad]

Slave cylinder leak? I'm no expert and it may not be this but will only cost £50 ish to try, others will have more of an idea if this is your problem.

Is the clutch bite point very low down when it does work?

[trackerjack]

My guess would also be clutch. My advice is to let someone with no axe to grind pass an opinion as there be sharks out there!

[buzzer]

When you can't get it out of gear, and you stop, turn the engine off... Can you then select the gears?

If you still can't, it's probably a gearbox fault. If you can, it may be a clutch problem....

As the guys have said, gearboxes are cheap, and plentiful. MK1 1.6 and 1.8 are also the same. There are plenty for sale on EBay, in fact I bought one in December for £25 for my brothers car.

I would also change the reverse light switch, (cheap and very easy) as these can cause the car to stick in 5th or reverse gear...

Edited by buzzer on Thursday 28th February 08:30

[Eighteeteewhy]

Hi OP, just have a read of this thread before you go changing your gearbox...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[lizzywhizzy]

snotrag said:

Hi Lizzy. Don't panic!

Mk1 gearboxes very rarely fail - firstly, are we sure its that? Have you had someone look at it?

Secondly - because they are so commonly available, they are very cheap 2nd hand - and as they so rarely fail, its relatively 'safe' to buy a used gearbox.

You should be able to get a used gearbox fitted for a couple of hundred quid. The box itself could be had quite easily from one of the many breakers, I'll have a look. Changing the gearbox is pretty much the same job as changing a clutch, and any normal independent garage would be able to do that.

In fact, if you don't know how old it is, you may aswell fit a new clutch at the same time, as the actual Clutch itself is also not very expensive.

I'm sure someone more local to you will be able to suggest a good garage!

Edit - looks like a good used gearbox AND clutch kit could be had for well under £200 from somewhere like http://www.autolinkmx5.com/clutch--transmission-pa... (whom are well trusted). You should be able to get fixed up for less than £400 at worst I would have thought.

Edited by snotrag on Wednesday 27th February 22:37

Thank you so much snotrag! I at least have some hope now!

[lizzywhizzy]

Benrad said:

Slave cylinder leak? I'm no expert and it may not be this but will only cost £50 ish to try, others will have more of an idea if this is your problem.

Is the clutch bite point very low down when it does work?

It does feel a bit low. Lizzy

[lizzywhizzy]

trackerjack said:

My guess would also be clutch. My advice is to let someone with no axe to grind pass an opinion as there be sharks out there!

Thank you tracker-jack. It is the sharks I'm trying to avoid...with your good advice - I just need to find a good independent garage in the Cambridge area. Lizzy

[lizzywhizzy]

buzzer said:

When you can't get it out of gear, and you stop, turn the engine off... Can you then select the gears?

If you still can't, it's probably a gearbox fault. If you can, it may be a clutch problem....

As the guys have said, gearboxes are cheap, and plentiful. MK1 1.6 and 1.8 are also the same. There are plenty for sale on EBay, in fact I bought one in December for £25 for my brothers car.

I would also change the reverse light switch, (cheap and very easy) as these can cause the car to stick in 5th or reverse gear...

Edited by buzzer on Thursday 28th February 08:30

Hello Buzzer, thank you for your help. Yes, when the engine is off I can move through all the gears. Turn on, and I'm often stuck to get into any gear. Sometimes I can get into third only, other times I can get into all gears. Pushing hard on the gear lever whilst trying to get into first gear (with the engine on and clutch depressed) caused the engine to falter. The motorway problem was that I was stuck in 5th...so it looks like changing that reverse light switch too. Lizzy

[lizzywhizzy]

Eighteeteewhy said:

Hi OP, just have a read of this thread before you go changing your gearbox...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks eighteeteewhy, I'll have a read. Lizzy

[Benrad]

When you have the problem try pumping the clutch pedal a few times, if you can then get it into (or out of) gear it's definitely the slave cylinder and you'll save yourself a few quid. Can't help on trust worthy garages in the cambridge area I'm afraid

[lizzywhizzy]

Thanks Benrad. I'll try that. Lizzy

[ronime]

Definitely try a new clutch slave cylinder first. Less than £20 for a pattern part and no more than an hours labour to fit and bleed the hydraulics.

Failing that, good used gearboxes are cheap as chips. I've seen people scrap working 5-speed gearboxes because they can't give them away. A used one from a low mileage Mk2/2.5 would be my choice.

[lizzywhizzy]

ronime said:

Definitely try a new clutch slave cylinder first. Less than £20 for a pattern part and no more than an hours labour to fit and bleed the hydraulics.

Failing that, good used gearboxes are cheap as chips. I've seen people scrap working 5-speed gearboxes because they can't give them away. A used one from a low mileage Mk2/2.5 would be my choice.

Thanks ronime! I have just tried the car and in fact now have no clutch at all, no bite, just a rather floppy pedal. I guess that confirms the clutch slave cylinder? Lizzy

[buzzer]

lizzywhizzy said:

Thanks ronime! I have just tried the car and in fact now have no clutch at all, no bite, just a rather floppy pedal. I guess that confirms the clutch slave cylinder? Lizzy

Probably... but it could also be the master cylinder... have a look in the clutch resoviour to see if you have lost the fluid... then have a look if the slave cylinder is leaking.

here is a link to a cylinder i recently bought...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clutch-Slave-Cylinder-wi...

[lizzywhizzy]

Thanks Buzzer. Called the AA man today as have been away from home for a week or so - he said it was the slave cylinder, sorted out the trapped air inside, topped up the reservoir and gave me some extra brake fluid to get me back home if I needed more. Taking the car to a sympathetic local garage during next week.
Thank you to everyone for all your help!

[buzzer]

lizzywhizzy said:

Thanks Buzzer. Called the AA man today as have been away from home for a week or so - he said it was the slave cylinder, sorted out the trapped air inside, topped up the reservoir and gave me some extra brake fluid to get me back home if I needed more. Taking the car to a sympathetic local garage during next week.
Thank you to everyone for all your help!

great news... I would get a new cylinder yourself and take it to an independent garage... should be around 30 mins labour to fit and bleed it. Good luck!

[lizzywhizzy]

buzzer said:

lizzywhizzy said:

Thanks Buzzer. Called the AA man today as have been away from home for a week or so - he said it was the slave cylinder, sorted out the trapped air inside, topped up the reservoir and gave me some extra brake fluid to get me back home if I needed more. Taking the car to a sympathetic local garage during next week.
Thank you to everyone for all your help!

great news... I would get a new cylinder yourself and take it to an independent garage... should be around 30 mins labour to fit and bleed it. Good luck!

Buzzer,
Actually, I just wondered, the AA man said that it was the slave cylinder and then qualified this a bit later saying that the leak was coming from the 'one on the bottom'. Maybe he wasn't sure of the name of the cylinder? Is the 'bottom cylinder' the slave cylinder or the master cylinder do you think?
Lizzy Whizzy

[snotrag]

That's the slave cylinder.

Easy, and cheap fix - less than £20 in parts.

Maybe order one online, then just give it to the garage to fit?

Auto link is a good place to get it.