Just bought 106 GTI - possible gearbox issue?

21st October 2013, 20:31

Hi all

Thought I'd buy a 106 to keep my new Saxo VTS company. Same engine and gearbox (minus the ratio).

So, from cold, I literally could not find 1st gear. I thought I had it but as I lifted the clutch is graunched, so not in gear. Managed to get it in there after a while.

Driving was OK, a little notchy if anything but nothing to stand out.

Got it back to the sellers house, reversed it onto the driveway. Disappeared to the cash point for 10 mins and came back with the car in the garage. I noticed some literally fresh oil on the driveway, got it on a tissue and noticed it was gearbox oil.

Looking under the car and suddenly there were oil drips on the floor and lots and lots of oil over the gearbox. Note that none of this was there when I first got there so must have happened during the test drive.

This is not a ragged car or anything of the like but a forced sale due to a deceased person of elderly age. The mileage is around 60K.

Peugeot changed the clutch at 45000 and the car has remained garage from new.

Now, my VTS is on 67k and the gearbox is absolutely perfect, even better after a change of oil to Total BV 75W80 which is recommended.

The 106 gearbox did not feel as nice or as precise as my VTS. Far from it. Not bad, don't get me wrong, but not as nice.

Did the gearbox suddenly shit itself on the test drive? I didn't rev beyond 3K as the brakes were knackered (been sat for ages in the garage).

I'm hoping it's just a driveshaft seal that has let go but something tells me it's a bigger problem. The lack of 1st gear when there wasn't an oil leak suggests a problem.

What do you think? Gearbox failure on the driveway?

If that is the case, I will be reducing the offer.

What does it cost to get a replacement gearbox supplied and fitted? Who is the best company for this?

What should I knock off the price?

It goes into their local garage on Wednesday to figure out what's gone wrong with it. The also need to re-seal their shoddy work on the rocker covers which were leaking and supposedly re-sealed; in 20 miles or so the RTV is leaking so badly that oil was dripping onto the exhaust manifold and causing it to smoke! Dodgy garage I think....

Let me know chaps. Lovely car otherwise, shame it's leaking it's fluids out.

Cheers

21st October 2013, 20:43

Do you believe the story about deceased person etc? Sounds like a bag of shit to me. Although if you get it cheap enough and handy with spanners then go for it. Simple jobs for DIY, but expensive if going into a garage.

21st October 2013, 20:48

Yes considering I was dealing with his bereaved 71 year old wife of course I believe it.

She wants the car gone because her husband has passed and it reminds her of him. Sad really, I never know how to approach these situations when people have deceased loved ones.

Does it sound like a box issue? I am handy with the spanners but don't really have the time or inclination to take a gearbox off. I'd just book it in somewhere and bend over....

Anyone know where or who can supply properly rebuilt exchange transmissions for 106 GTI's?

I can't find anyone on Google which I find strange considering how many of these and Saxos are used for Rally etc.

21st October 2013, 20:54

Fair play, Im sure someone on here will sell you a good gti/vts box cheap enough. Id be making an offer to reflect the price though. I paid £350 all in for my VTR box rebuild and fit inc new clutch about 10 years ago which was the cheapest around but im sure they lashed in a different box probably from a non VTR. So if that was £350 10 years ago, I hate to think what a garage would charge now. Let her put it in her local garage and she will soon want rid when she finds the problem. Throw in a knockdown offer.

21st October 2013, 20:58

Thanks mate. Exactly my thoughts. It does back to her local garage this Wednesday to see what's up.

I feel bad for troubling her to be honest. Only two weeks since your husband passing the last thing you want to do is mess around with some old car that doesn't work.

There was nothing I could do but show the problem.

I think the box is game over.

Who does good Peugeot replacement gearboxes? I'll have to do the bloody clutch again.

21st October 2013, 21:02

Sounds fine to me. probably popped the driveshaft seal due to the car sitting. It's maybe had low oil in the first place.

first gear can be hard to find when cold, notchy is probably just the linkages. remember, although it's low mileage, if it's been driven to the shops every morning to pick up his pint of milk and a news paper it's had a lot of shifts and wear on the linkages.

21st October 2013, 21:53

What about the difficulty with 1st gear?

That's true. BUT my VTS is perfect at any temperature, any condition, anytime.

I have no issues with the VTS.

22nd October 2013, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jungledon

What about the difficulty with 1st gear?

That's true. BUT my VTS is perfect at any temperature, any condition, anytime.

I have no issues with the VTS.

you're not looking at a used Merc!

It's a used car, you have to expect things to be worn out and needing replaced.

The difficulty with first gear is the linkages! Combined with probably low gearbox oil - which means it won't go in when cold.

The gearbox oil leak wouldn't be apparent when it was cold either, after a drive it heats up and the oil thins out - which then comes out of the faulty seals.

22nd October 2013, 18:59

Could be a spurious downpipe rubbing on the linkages can cause horrible issues with first gear but most likely it's linkages. Either way you could put another box in for cheap enough if it is that, a vts box and new linkages will be under 100 quid if you go for a used box. And you can tighten the shift for basically free with some choice modification

22nd October 2013, 19:46

Gotta go worse case scenario though if throwing an offer in. If your not getting 1st and its leaking oil then as stated it could be low on oil, could also be a shagged box. I think youd know if it was linkages as the gearstick would be as loose/baggy as jordans fanny!

22nd October 2013, 20:59

Linkages felt alright chaps. I think it's the box.

I was speaking to a gearbox rebuilders near me in Essex. Nice bloke.

Ran it through his specialist book thing and it was telling him that the gear ratios and final drive are EXACTLY the same in a 106 1.1?!

Is this true?

23rd October 2013, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jungledon

Linkages felt alright chaps. I think it's the box.

I was speaking to a gearbox rebuilders near me in Essex. Nice bloke.

Ran it through his specialist book thing and it was telling him that the gear ratios and final drive are EXACTLY the same in a 106 1.1?!

Is this true?

No it is not.

1.0/1.1
1st - 3.417
2nd- 1.81
3rd- 1.276
4th - 1.026
5th - .767
FD - 4.268

GTi/VTS
1st - 3.471
2nd - 1.95
3rd - 1.36
4th - 1.05
5th - .85
FD - 3.938

Those are the ratios.

Your guy has been looking at VTR ratios, which are almost identical BUT with a different final drive. Or his specialist book isn't so special

VTR
1st - 3.471
2nd - 1.81
3rd - 1.276
4th - 1.026
5th - .767
FD - 3.765