The gearbox on SWMBO's 2000-reg Nissan Almera (1.4 petrol)has just packed in:
1. What would have caused it to go so soon? The car has covered 62,000 miles.
2. When replacing the gearbox, would it also be prudent to change the clutch? I'm wondering if changing the clutch while changing the gearbox would only add the price of a clutch to the total cost of the job?
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are you sure its the gearbox and not the linkage/clutch?does it have oil in it?
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What has gone wrong with it? What do you mean it 'has packed in'?
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Are you or SWBO first and only owner??...
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Phil I,
She's the second owner. The car was bought from a local dealer 2yrs ago. I guess there's always the chance that the car has covered many more miles than the odometer states, although the service history suggests that this is not the case.
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Service histories are not totally reliable. I had some experience of the practice of clocking s/hand motors. It was incredible the mileages which were attained by some run of the mill motors by their second owners. One Cortina Mk111 2l springs to mind bought in from fleet with 92K at 1yr old. Sold as one owner with 15K on clock Brought back some two years later with a noisy camshaft which owner thought unusual as car had only done some 35K in the intervening period and as far as he knew (poor soul } had now covered only 50K from leaving Dagenham.!!!
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The fault was identified due to a grating noise from the gearbox when the car was driving, especially in 2nd gear.
The car is still driving, so I guess 'packed in' was an incorrect phrase to use, but with my wife's job as a community midwife she can't really run the risk of getting stranded.
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I'm assuming that the linkage/clutch are OK, and that the gearbox did have oil. The mechanic who diagnosed it as needing a new gearbox has always been very reliable in th past. The fault was identified due to a grating noise from the gearbox when the car was driving, especially in 2nd gear.
Like you, I'm amazed that the gearbox has failed so soon...if indeed that's what the problem really is.
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I used to own a 1998 almera 1.4 and it made terrible grinding / grating noises from the gearbox. I complained to my dealer and he responded by fitting "the modified silent clutch cable kit". this new cable had a huge rubber cushion / damper that stopped gearbox and engine noises being transmitted down the cable and into the car. After fitting, it was like a new car!(really quiet and smooth)....same problem?...or is it something much worse than this??
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That sounds like much the same problem. The car is driving fine apart from the noise - there's no loss of power.
I'll contact the local Nissan dealer to discuss the 'modified silent clutch cable kit'. The faulty gearbox was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, so he's unlikely to be aware of the kit that you mentioned. Was your car noisy all the time, or did the fault develop over time?
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the noises got worse over a period of time...mine got the cable changed under warranty at about 16,000 miles
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Not 100% sure but i think there is a known problem with primera gear boxes after 60k especialy if driven around town
Don't know if Almira is same box
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I have seen lots of these cars (Primera and Almeras) with well over 100k miles and no problems. The gearboxes can crunch a bit on changing gear (esp into 2nd) but Nissan released a TSB suggesting moving to a thinner oil (a 75W-85 GL-4).
The noise, as described, sounds like bearing noise. If the box is operating OK otherwise then I would suggest going to a gearbox specialist and asking for a 'merit repair' - new bearings and oil seals. Bearings are not expensive. Treat yourself to a new clutch whilst the box is out. Make sure they refill with the correct oil - its amazing how many mechanics fill everything with a 75-95 or 85-95 and then the owner is left wonder why the box is baulking.
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Aprilia,
Thank you for the advice - I'll get a merit repair arranged as soon as possible. I'd be amazed if the gearbox is entirely gone.
Thanks to everyone else for their advice!
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