FIAT 500 1.2 gear change issue

[ritch]

Got an issue with my daughters FIAT 500 1.2 pop and could do with some help.

One of the gear cables snapped last week, leaving it stuck in reverse. I have replaced both of the gear change cables, and fitted them as per previous one (there looks to be one way to fit them).

The problem is moving the gear lever left and right feels restricted and unable to select all the gears, it feels like I can either select 1st & 2nd, or 3rd & 4th

I'm guessing something is ether needing set or adjusted, but I can't see any where obvious to look at or to adjust the cables.


Any ideas???

[GreenV8S]

I'm imagining one cable being used to push/pull a lever in each direction. Is there any choice of mounting holes at either end? If you chance the distance from the cable to the pivot point, you change the leverage and travel.

Possible to disconnect at the 'box end and confirm you have the full range of travel at the lever?

[ritch]

the gear lever has full travel up/down left/right when disconnected, suggesting either something on the gearbox side or something (dont know what) needs adjusting

[GreenV8S]

Is there a clevis at either end of the cable? If this is designed to pivot on the lever but is fouling it, the cable might be forced to bend, which would reduce the travel.

[finlo]

Maybe that's what's caused the cable to break in the first place?

[ritch]

no clevis, its ball and knuckle joints at both ends

[GreenV8S]

Can you measure the travel on the cable and the travel on the lever it operates, and see whether you're in the right ballpark?

If the cable outer isn't fixed properly that will lose you travel, so it would be worth checking that at both ends.

[ritch]

Managed to get a mobile mechanic to look at it, he reckons the gear selector or mechanism is gone as it only moves in one direction (allowing 1->2 3->4) but not in the direction to allow 5th or reverse. looks like a garage job £££

[ritch]

just to bring closure to the thread....

The little Italiano money pit was recovered to a garage, gear selector mechanism had bummed itself but was repairable, but needed yet another set of gear cables. so £270 later car is back and fine. Thats the best part of £900 in the last 8 weeks (new sump, wishbones, Mot & service, insurance, and gear change).

[Zener]

ritch said:

just to bring closure to the thread....

The little Italiano money pit was recovered to a garage, gear selector mechanism had bummed itself but was repairable, but needed yet another set of gear cables. so £270 later car is back and fine. Thats the best part of £900 in the last 8 weeks (new sump, wishbones, Mot & service, insurance, and gear change).

Hope they threw a set of bearings in it too bearing failure is a notorious weakness on this gearbox just to add to all the others both the KA and the 500 possess