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Shant Fabricatorian
22nd May 2003, 03:39 AM
I'm rather hoping someone can give me some reassurance, for better or for worse, on this particular problem...a graunchy gearbox.

Beta gearboxes are naturally notchy, of course, but even so a couple of days ago my car suddenly developed a very noticeable feeling of the gearstick rubbing against something metallic, although I can't be sure, in first and second gears (other gears were fine). My first reaction was that there wasn't enough oil in the diff, so I stopped, checked the gearbox oil, but it was still full and the proper colour.

Then yesterday, I took it out around my suburb to check if the problem had hopefully 'disappeared' and while it started off promisingly enough, with the gearbox having a 'normal' feel, the graunchiness returned when the car had fully warmed up.

This is what perplexes me - if there's something seriously wrong with the 'box, like stuffed synchromesh, why is the problem only apparent when it's warm? Please forgive if it's a stupid question.

Furthermore, the problem is ONLY with first and second, and only when moving off. If you stir the lever around the 'box when the car's stationary and warmed up, the 'rubbing' feeling is there in first and second, but no other gears. However, when you're on the move, and shift into second, the problem just isn't there. Am I going mad? What's going on?

The car has some gear or differential whine, and has done since I bought it a couple of months ago now, but the symptoms of the gearbox have come only in the last few days, so the two things might be related equally they may not. I don't think the whine is anything out of the ordinary for this type of car.

If a gearbox rebuild is on the cards I'd like to be reassured by those who have had the same thing, rather than be 'reassured' by a mechanic (even though I've now found one who knows what he's doing, thank goodness!) The car has covered 112,500km.

Help!

Hamish
22nd May 2003, 04:38 AM
Few choices for you here :wink:
1 It could be that the linkages are past there best, an aftermarket kit is available in the UK and USA. Worthwhile doing this regardless, get a much better quality gearchange.
2 More likely in my opinion is that the shift at the top of the gearbox is fouling on the thermostat, have a look at the thermostat body for 'wear rubbing'. Betas are notorious for this and it sounds to me as though that's whats wrong. The sensation you describe is what I experienced and it comes and goes, never consistent.
To sort it try new hoses, reallt the metal pipes need an extra 2 inches welded into them to clear everything satisfactorily.
3 It's possible the selector fork is knackered :cry: which means a 'box rebuild - the swine - but I'd try 1 &2 first and see how you get on.
Good luck :P

Shant Fabricatorian
23rd May 2003, 04:09 AM
Thanks for the tips Hamish.

Predictably, when I tried to re-create the problem armed with this new-found information, the car behaved itself perfectly...but I suppose that's a good thing, in a way, hopefully it means that there's nothing seriously (ie expensive) wrong with it.

Had a look at the thermostat, couldn't see any sign of rubbing, but having said that I didn't look underneath it to any great extent and furthermore I can imagine it's not hard for such a problem to occur. Given the way it's laid out down there, I'm pretty impressed it works at all...

Anyway, thanks very much for the tips once again.

Cheers

Shant

Allen Lofland
24th May 2003, 03:40 PM
I had the same thing, then the great help from this page told me about the t-stat problem....Have some one shift the gears while you watch under the hood. NO RUNNING :)
Mine had worn a hole almost thru the t-stat in less than a month of very linited driving. Shortened the proper hose and fidled a bit and wow, shifts great. Mush cheaper and bettter than a trannie rebuild :) The rubbing was underneath , not visable with out a mirror :)