Gear box in pieces - can't get parts:((

crumbs! lots of us with problems then!

my 2000 symbol (acquired in 2012) has only done 20k and for the last year  i have had terrible trouble getting into 2nd gear going up and virtually impossible coming down! 4th gear can be tricky especially down from 5th

so, sometimes i have to rely on 'short shifting' 1st > 3rd and 5th > 3rd - just like the lorry drivers do, so i'm told!

i've had the extended scuttle hose fitted and gear oil change & my garage guy has done all he can with clutch adjustment.

he now recommends a recon job - if i've got 1k to spare - joke!

does anyone know of one of the mentioned gear box specialist mechanics in the devon area please?


tc

Hi ,Well this is one bad thread.Looks like gearbox problems are the bad news .
Some are very low mileage as well.
Maybe that standing for long periods and rain water from the scuttle going over the gearbox could be the main cause.
I have not had trouble with my gearbox,but changed the gear oil as a precaution.Have fitted modified drain pipe as well.
Looks like its best to do this before trouble sets in.
Maybe this topic could be raised as a "sticky"

Regards

Micky

Hi,
My gearbox was never right from day 1 in 1999, but because the van was built in April 1998 and AS passed it through their QC in June 1998, when we we got our hands on as 'new' in April 1999 the warranty had run out so no-one was interested. 9 months over a winter in some field somewhere didn't help.
It's only when we got the Harmony (the same one from 1999) second time round in 2011 and got on this fantastic forum things started to fall into place.
If you type in ' Peugeot Gearbox Specialists Devon' on 'tinternet, a number come up, eg Exeter.

Just a cautionary note, my garage refused to fit a recon. gearbox because they couldn't give it a warranty not knowing where it had come from or how well it had been reconditioned.
Best of luck.
Terry

newterry wrote:I managed to wangle my way into the Peugeot 'Service Box' and get the original build notes based on the Vin.
It says I've got a BVM ME box. Get the longer L6 water evac pipe as well to stop the scuttle water draining on top of the box, makes even more of a difference.
(the full details are elsewhere on the forum) type in 'scuttle drainage'.

My gearbox had no water in the oil, luckily, and I've checked that water isn't collecting on the top of the box.

I wonder whether the different boxes can be fitted to any engine, with the correct bellhousing? Maybe Frank of this parish knows?

I had the longer evac pipe fitted last year with a gearbox oil change and gearbox linkages greased up. I still had the original stiff 1st to 2nd when cold but it was much better than when new. It's only in this last few weeks that the in and out of 3rd became an issue.
My Harmony has 58000 miles on the clock which is not a huge mileage for it's age but looks like the gremlin was 'sleeping' until now.
Maybe it's a similar issue to the later 5th gear synchro problem which crops up with very low mileage.
My 2 year old Executive with 2000 miles which replaced the Harmony had it replaced but as it's a 'bolt on' was much easier and cheaper to replace.

Hi see my previous thread re gearbox oil, I changed the oil for the recommended lubricant, result knotchy gear changes

when the box got warm I then looked into it and discovered they had changed the oil spec, then I looked up the original

spec in the handbook and brought 2 pints from ebay for a tenner result the gear change was much better, I put it down

to the viscosity of the new spec oil.

Pat

thanks terry - i'll get in touch with exeter gearbox centre
tc

Just got back from a run down to Southsea and back- WOW, gearbox BETTER than when new (1999) !!!!
Almost (not quite) finger-tip changes, no more arm wrestling with the gear change, even 1st to 2nd with a cold engine is now OK.
If you can find the cash it's a very worthwhile (though expensive) exercise but is guaranteed to put a smile back on your face !!!!!!!
The old credit card has had a right bashing, just in time for Christmas .......

Hi Newterry, I expect its the newness wearing off. Just got to get it run in again.
Great news for you.




Micky

Micky,
I'm enjoying it while it lasts, which I hope will be a long time.
Cheers
Terry

ps I'm going to a do a piece for the ASOC Newsletter as this issue seems to be widespread.

Yes well done. Maybe someone who makes the gearboxes may have a view?
I keep wondering about a better oil? More frequent oil changes ?
I also wonder if anyone has had their gear oil tested for contaminates?
Its a serious topic and expensive in many cases.

Best efforts

Micky

Fortunately we have the Forum which wasn't about in 1999 !
I noticed a difference as soon as the longer evac pipe went on coupled with an with an oil change last year but didn't know what was lurking long term.
As you say, let's hope this topic will attract some experts in the field.  
Terry,

ps note to self- Next time you go to Southsea, fill the water tank, you plonker. !!!!

I think that it might be important to find out which gearbox you have if you have an older Boxer van

There appear to be three. I think I have what is the earliest, BVM_ME.

See my thread about which oil I chose and note that the Peugeot spec now lists 75W80 instead of the older 75W90 as many people helpfully noted.

I went for 75W90 Synthetic and the gearbox is now MUCH nicer to use and quieter after a long run when it's hot.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Meanchris,
How much of your last piece of valuable info could be included in an item for the ASOC Newsletter ?

Your call, let me know.
Terry

Any way that I can contribute, after checking with the experts that I'm not talking utter rubbish of course, would be fine with me. 

Hope this helps.
38 threads here on gearbox problems
23 threads here on clutch/gears problems.

ML5TU is one of the gearbox numbers.

Regards

Micky

I can either PM you with a draft or you can e-mail me with your e-mail address and I can send something over ?
 We've got until 10th December for the next issue sent out 28th December.

Thanks Micky, your reply overlapped mine to meanchris.
I could include the ASOF web address and a suitable search- 'gearbox problems'.
I'll have to leave any protocol issues to the Newsletter Editor.
At least we can flag up the issue with my own result as an example.

My 2001 petrol symbol has the ML5TU gearbox and it had to be rebuilt at 34000 miles due to complete failure of the 4th gear synchro. This was the subject of a separate thread on this forum earlier this year. Early gearbox failure seems to be not just restricted to the BVM ME boxes.

Mikebro

That's useful to know, another piece of this particular jigsaw !

newterry wrote:That's useful to know, another piece of this particular jigsaw !

Please note that the credit for any small successful outcome with my gearbox oil change comes entirely from the information gleaned from previous threads and contributors to this forum, not from any expertise on my part.

My forte is in experimenting and taking photos of the process. 

Ok, I'll write about my own experience and direct anyone interested to ASOF and the relevant threads.

newterry wrote:Ok, I'll write about my own experience and direct anyone interested to ASOF and the relevant threads.

Good news on the gearbox Terry. (apart from the cost that is)
Thanks for keeping us all in the picture.

PB