Guest Mike T Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Help! We came back from France last week, having suffered with 5th gear dropping out part way through the holiday. I persevered, and travelled back using 4 gears only. Took the van in today to local garage (commercial specialists) and expalined the problem - they check it out & came back with a call later saying I need a complete new gearbox (and clutch, oil & labour + vat) for well over £2500. Gulp. I said (having read the reports of 5th gear problems & people having the bits replaced, and the ease of doing it because it's separate from the main box) what about replacing just the 5th gear bits? They said they had one last year which they did this on & the gearbox failed soon after. It didn't sound like they had too many of these. I asked that they could check as to the cost of doing this, as the full replacement is simply out of the question (awaiting their call). Reading through the reports on motorhomefacts.com, MMM & the MMM forum, it seems that the 5th gear is in a separate housing, and there's no need to dismantle the transmission to access it. Every report seems to say about £350. It seems that the garage either don't want to do the repair job or are concerned that the bits floating about in the gearbox may have damaged the rest of the box. They didn't say that to me, and having driven it there doesn't appear to be any differences in gear 1-4 or reverse which would suggest further damage. I have used the garage for the past few years and they seem to have been open with other work done & don't seem to have been wanting to rip me off. I am worried to say the least - I will definitely seek a second opinion; does anybody know of any gearbox / transmission specialists in the west sussex e-hants area?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Malcolm Moore Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 I can heartily recommend South Eastern Transmissions of Folkestone if you can get there. They did my VW 5th gear for me while I went down the town and did a bit of shopping. All for £230. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RonB Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Not in the area you wanted Mike - but Essanjay at Poole are Fiat agents and know their stuff. They also understand the motorhome and regularly advertise in MMM. If you cannot get there at least give them a ring for advice (01202 683608) Best of luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stuart Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Mike There will be a large tranche of information on this problem if you go into the archives. I had this two years ago in France and drove over 600 miles into Spain in 4th gear, had the repair to 5th done and, touch wood, 20000 or so later no probs. Would talk to Essanjay as suggested if I were you. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RUSSELL WILLIAMS Posted September 21, 2005 Share Posted September 21, 2005 Hi sorry to hear your the latest victim,of the fiat 5th gear.I had mine go ay 12000 miles.had mine done by gearbox specialist in my home town.Get another garage to give you a price,it should be round the £350 mark at the most good luck russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mike T Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Just to advise that I've got the 5th gear sorted at Briggs Motors, Fareham. They are gearbox specialists and can get motorhomes onto their ramps. Refreshing knowledgable guys. Cost £268! approx 10% of the quote from previous garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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