Technical Gearbox selector cables .

[airwave]

Hi guy's , time for me to ask another question .

Vehicle ; Ducato 2.8 TDI , x230 , year 2000 . Subject ; Gearbox selector cables .

Question , my research is beginning to indicate these cables can be removed and replaced separately , is this correct ? .
Currently the cables in my van , are fixed together by a plastic moulding , where they pass through the floor . Sorta indicating it's a complete unit , and should be replaced as such . Now , my cables themselves are fine , still working smoothly , and correctly , despite being what i suspect is something like 25 years old . I think these may be the originals to the van . Even the outer sheaves are showing little sign of wear , certainly no chaffing .
However , i wish the same could be said about the floor moulding itself . On the face of it , it also looks fine . A little sun bleached perhaps , but otherwise okay . However the rubber seal on the underside is anything but , this is quite literally falling apart , in particular where the cables pass through !
My worry is , that this is a good place for damp , even water to permutate through into the inside of the van , and i want to address this issue , before any problems begin to make themselves known . I can tackle the bleaching , and even repair the rubber , but to be able to do this i may need to remove the fitting itself .
My manual seems to indicate the cables can be removed , and replaced individually , and i just want to clarify this before i proceeding any further .
Any of you guy's know any better ?

Thanks guys , Mickey .

 

[Communicator]

Hi Mickey,

Attached is an extract from eLearn for the x244, which may be similar. Perhaps it may help?

 

[airwave]

Hi Mickey,

Attached is an extract from eLearn for the x244, which may be similar. Perhaps it may help?

Thank you @Communicator , but i took the bull by the horns , and did an open investigation myself , Thursday . Unfortunately i was unable to completely remove the plastic moulding , but by removing the selector from the dash , i was able to separate and position the parts sufficiently , to be able to effect a repair to the gasket , and the job is now all back together and complete . But what i am gonna do , is post what i found for others to reference , but note guys , this is not a complete cable change . My van didn't need such work , only the rubber gasket , which was in a terrible state .

So for future reference to anyone , forced into a similar repair , or even replacing the cables on this particular van , a Ducato 230 , 2.8idtd , year 2000 . The answer is yes . It does appear to be possible to replace the cables separately , however i would suggest the gearbox end is what enables the cable to be fully withdrawn from the plastic floor moulding and gasket . A similar set up is shown on several other vans , so i would suggest this may not only be relevant to the 230 series , but i can't make that call .
I would advise anyone forced into this job , to remove the interior selector lever from the dash as a first move . There is also what can best be described as a large cable clip at the lower edge of the heater , drivers side . It does open to release the cables , but mine was stiff and i ended up removing the whole clip (one very large cross head screw) . Now release the cover where the cables pass through the floor (4x5mm allen bolts) .and carefully manoeuvre the cover from the floor aperture . Separate the gasket from underneath said plastic cover . There are three screws on the underside of the moulding , one each side and one in the middle , though it's unclear what purpose this middle screw performs . There is no need to at this point to remove the grommets from the interior side of plastic moulding (but they will need removing later) as once separated they slide clear with the moulding . What i did note was these grommets appear to be fixed to the cable . Unlike the bottom grommets , they did not appear to allow the cables to release , but with care should this be necessary , they could be modified to actually do this .
Right so now your looking at the gasket , you will see what can best described as a pair of bellows (trust me , you will know what i mean when you see them) sticking down when it fitted through the floor , and the cables pass through . At first glance they appear to suggest the cables are fixed , and a complete unit is required . However i discovered a removable bung at the bottom of each bellow , and this aids removal of the cable . It should also be pointed out , the actual bungs at first glance also appear fixed to the cable , as well as being , at least , partially fixed into the gasket . This may sound a bit double dutch to some , but it could also be a red herring . My van is 25 years old , and they may simply have been stuck in place through old age , and heat . Either way , just handle with extreme care , one side of this bung has a slit , and you need to get access to this , to be able to release the cables . It should go without saying , care should be exercised at all times , while passing the cable through the gasket as this may be fragile . It is surrounded by a heat shield underneath the van , and is reasonably close to the turbo . I suspect this may not have been the case on my van , which is now suggesting one , or both cables have been replaced at some point in the past .

One final note i would make on this subject , is for the gasket itself . Should it be damaged , tear or the like , it can be repaired very effectively with a cyanoacrylate adhesive such as superglue . Just be careful , as i don't think the gasket will be much use , with a finger stuck to the thing . This is how i repaired mine though it did take a little time due to the state it was in . It wasn't pretty .

Right well , that's as far as i went , so i'm gonna clear off now . I've done my bit , and have now discovered i've got some quite major electrical issues to figure out and kick into shape . I need to get on with them .

The cable job is not difficult , but is time consuming . Just take your time , and you'll be fine . Mickey .