Technical Recon Gearbox 1.2 Lounge

[marky9074]

So.... had a drive shaft oil leaks on both sides and had the seals done about 6 months ago. This worked for a couple of months then it had a service and they reported leaking again. It has been driven since, and was dumping oil more frequently so got the original mechanic back today. He went underneath and said it's now the bearings and showed how the driveshafts had massive play (and when pulling them back and forward oil could be visibly seen coming out)....

That means gearbox out then. So would it be sensible to just get a recon gearbox and clutch whilst its out. The mechanic said that he remembered earlier issues with the bearings and there had been a recall, but couldn't see any listed for the reg.

There doesn't seem to be any Fiat specialists in Kent and not sure how much is left in the gearbox as the clutch is now juddering badly....

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[marky9074]

Forgot to say it's a 2015.

 

[marky9074]

Looking for specialist in SE. Have contacted Day & Whites. Jamie at Go-Italia not sure if he is still operating (never get any response to emails).

 

[marky9074]

Gonnella brothers in Catford?

 

[portland_bill]

So.... had a drive shaft oil leaks on both sides and had the seals done about 6 months ago. This worked for a couple of months then it had a service and they reported leaking again. It has been driven since, and was dumping oil more frequently so got the original mechanic back today. He went underneath and said it's now the bearings and showed how the driveshafts had massive play (and when pulling them back and forward oil could be visibly seen coming out)....

That means gearbox out then. So would it be sensible to just get a recon gearbox and clutch whilst its out. The mechanic said that he remembered earlier issues with the bearings and there had been a recall, but couldn't see any listed for the reg.

There doesn't seem to be any Fiat specialists in Kent and not sure how much is left in the gearbox as the clutch is now juddering badly....

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

The driveshafts should not move at all, other than rotation.
If the shaft is moving in and out, the shaft is not engaged properly. There should be a circlip on the shaft, where it enters the gearbox, and this engages into a groove in the diff gear. They can sometimes be difficult to disengage and engage, other times they just pop in or out. If either shaft moves in and out, that circlip is either not there, or not engaged into the diff, which is a fitment error by the mechanic.
If there is any play up/down, fore/aft, etc., then bearings are the likely culprit, but I would expect these to make a lot of noise when driving.

 

[John202020]

Also don't confuse inner cv joint play as inner drive shaft to gearbox play, note the left and right seals are not the same, or at least for earlier cars so could easily be mixed up?

 

[marky9074]

Definitely out of my comfort zone now. Mechanic was going to send me the videos he took, but so far has not. I might get back under again and look at it myself and report back over the weekend.

 

[koalar]

clutch is now juddering badly....

Almost certainly, run short of oil, input bearing has overheated, the plastic cage has melted, and the input shaft is now wobbling up and down, causing the judder, probably worse if you let you foot up slowly and less bad if you just drop the clutch

On its own it's not a difficult repair, the bearing clutch, and input seal are cheap and quick and easy to do

If the differential bearings need doing, it's not so easy

Drive shafts need looking at if there's a groove worn in them changing the seals will not help

Each part needs to be individually assessed and then the cost of repair Vs replace can probably be made

We just don't have enough information

 

[marky9074]

Offside Video

The above taken today. Waggles up and down and fore and aft, I wouldn't say in and out but was struggling somewhat with torch, phone and trying to waggle!

 

[marky9074]

This is the next day recon box I was looking at and checked that correct one:
eBay link

 

[portland_bill]

Those gearbox guys have been around a few years now, so must be doing something right.
Video won't play.

 

[marky9074]

Odd, plays for me fine. Does it give option to download?

Edit: Tested on iPhone 16 Pro and Google Pixel 9 Pro and plays fine here...