Technical Gear box issues

[Fiat1973]

Hi fellow car lovers
I am experiencing a strange evolution with regards to the gear box in my fiat 500c 2015. It’s as if the gearbox lost its marbles. No 1st, 2nd and reverse it seems. Any ideas what this is? And if so - is it going to be an expensive repair I wonder?

Cheers, Joe

 

[Maybemaybenot]

Hi fellow car lovers
I am experiencing a strange evolution with regards to the gear box in my fiat 500c 2015. It’s as if the gearbox lost its marbles. No 1st, 2nd and reverse it seems. Any ideas what this is? And if so - is it going to be an expensive repair I wonder?

Cheers, Joe

Welcome. You’ve posted in the electric section. I’ll flag it to move.

 

[Fiat1973]

Oh, my bad. Thanks a lot! I really appreciate that!

 

[John202020]

Check one of the cables hasn't come off at the gearbox end?

 

[Fiat1973]

Thanks for your reply!
Okay, I will see if I can see any loose cables. Just to be sure - do you mean inside the car or in the engine compartment?

 

[John202020]

Engine compartment

 

[Fiat1973]

Thanks John! I now understand that some engineers made a bad call regarding the quality of that ‘shift collet’. I just ordered a new one, trusting that the missing gears is merely due to this small defect. Thanks again!

 

[John202020]

Does the gear stick "feel" normal ?
Or very loose one way normal the other?

 

[Fiat1973]

It frels looser than normally, I would say.

 

[Triumphnut]

Hi Joe,
Sorry to jump on your thread but I am experiencing similar issues on my 2014 1.2

Drives fine but then occasionally won't go into first, occasional from first to second and occasionally reverse. The gear stick always feels normal but my wife said it was 'stiff' when she drove it the other day. Other times the car is great. I was thinking it was the clutch and was going to get it replaced but reading this looks like the following

1. Check Cables Under the car
2. Remove Gearstick surround and look in there
3. Was thinking of changing the gearbox oil
4. Don't really know what else to do

Thanks again Joe and hopefully we can both get fixed!

Stephen

 

[Ralf S.]

Hi Joe,
Sorry to jump on your thread but I am experiencing similar issues on my 2014 1.2

Drives fine but then occasionally won't go into first, occasional from first to second and occasionally reverse. The gear stick always feels normal but my wife said it was 'stiff' when she drove it the other day. Other times the car is great. I was thinking it was the clutch and was going to get it replaced but reading this looks like the following

1. Check Cables Under the car
2. Remove Gearstick surround and look in there
3. Was thinking of changing the gearbox oil
4. Don't really know what else to do

Thanks again Joe and hopefully we can both get fixed!

Stephen

If the gearstick moves normally but the gears are stiff to engage (needing effort on the stick), especially if the pedal feels heavy, then the clutch is dragging and likely on the way out.

You can try to bleed the clutch - RHD 1.2's has the reservoir inside the engine compartment, on the left (above the steering wheel) - to see whether that gives you a bit more clutch "lift" to make the change easier.. but that would be temporary.


Ralf S.

 

[Triumphnut]

If the gearstick moves normally but the gears are stiff to engage (needing effort on the stick), especially if the pedal feels heavy, then the clutch is dragging and likely on the way out.

You can try to bleed the clutch - RHD 1.2's has the reservoir inside the engine compartment, on the left (above the steering wheel) - to see whether that gives you a bit more clutch "lift" to make the change easier.. but that would be temporary.


Ralf S.

Thanks Ralf,

I bled the clutch last weekend and if anything made the clutch heavier (and the clutch fluid that was in there didn't look great)

Looks like I'll be looking on here at Clutch replacement - I thought that might be the problem was hoping for something a little easier!

 

[rmjbn1]

Thanks Ralf,

I bled the clutch last weekend and if anything made the clutch heavier (and the clutch fluid that was in there didn't look great)

Looks like I'll be looking on here at Clutch replacement - I thought that might be the problem was hoping for something a little easier!

Does it feel different engine on vs engine off? Would confirm if clutch related.

One thing you could try is pop the cables off the gearbox and move the selectors by hand.

It's a tight fit getting your hand in there but if the selectors move smoothly then that would confirm it's the cables at fault.

 

[Triumphnut]

Feel

Does it feel different engine on vs engine off? Would confirm if clutch related.

One thing you could try is pop the cables off the gearbox and move the selectors by hand.

It's a tight fit getting your hand in there but if the selectors move smoothly then that would confirm it's the cables at fault

the same engine off and engine on

Does it feel different engine on vs engine off? Would confirm if clutch related.

One thing you could try is pop the cables off the gearbox and move the selectors by hand.

It's a tight fit getting your hand in there but if the selectors move smoothly then that would confirm it's the cables at fault.

Thanks - I’ll try that over the weekend

When the sticking gear happens basically just turn everything off - ignition, into Neutral and try again. Sometime it works but not every time

 

[rmjbn1]

Feel the same engine off and engine on

That to me would suggest it's not due to the clutch.

Although heavy clutch pedal can be sign that clutch is also near the end of its life.

There are two gear cables, one moves the selector in the gearbox left and right, the other moves it back and forth.

If 3rd & 4th are smooth, but 1st, 2nd & reverse stiff, then the issue is left/right movement.

Cable is most likely I think, some thin oil inside the cable may improve it temporarily.

See also: https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/fiat-panda-popping-out-of-5th-gear.508004/#post-4743836