Issue with Ford Fiesta Gears

vsoneja · 18th August 2011, 12:32

Just to give some background info first :

I own a Fiesta Diesel ( 2007 model ), the car was purchased in Mohali , and has been trouble free. The only expenditure over the last three years had been the regular service costs and some body work to sort out a few dents and scratches.

Earlier this year , i started noticing a few drops of engine oil seeping out from the place where the gearbox is attached to the engine. The problem was with a slightly cracked master oil seal which was changed at Mohali at the ford service station.

On being transferred to Delhi i chose to get the 60k service at Delhi Ford at the service station in Vasant Kunj. ( south city ford , even though it was close to my office , was not chose for a number of reasons ). The 60k service was done about a month back regular stuff was changed and car was fine.

Over the Independence Day weekend i drove up to Ludhiana and drove back to Delhi on 15th Aug. Needless to mention the rains were strong enough to make me stop a number of times on the way back. During this entire trip the gears felt a bit sticky and did not have that springy action about them. The next morning with a cold start the gears were perfectly fine , but about 20-30 minutes of driving made the gear shift go hard again.

I visited Delhi Ford and within five minutes the problem was isolated to water being mixed with the gear oil. The culprit being a damaged axle seal. According to the SA, oil may have gone in via this route and that is what was causing the stickiness. The car was kept overnight , Gearbox overhauled , gear oil changed, seal's replaced and handed over with a bill of about 7k. Took the car home yesterday evening and today morning again found a bit of stickiness after about 15 minutes of driving and decided to stop over at the service station.The SA and a number of technicians were of the opinion that maybe the gear bush needs some cleaning and did so , some lubrication provided and after another test drive problem came down but did not go away completely.

The SA then tells me , " Sir please drive around for some time ( maybe a couple of hundred kms ) and the problem should go away, if it doesn't we will have to replace the gear cogs." and mentioned that we will not charge for labour/oil/consumables if it comes to that. I agreed and took the chance.

Drove from Vasant kunj to Noida about an hour back , slotted into reverse while parking and the gear leaver just snaps and now i have absolutely no gear ability. The car seems to be stuck in neutral since i can push it around.

The service station guys are on their way and lets see what happens.

Mods : i have read a few threads about this , but right now i just don't know what to do or what to trust.

help anyone .....

Varun.

dmaheshkumar · 18th August 2011, 13:28

whether you are able to put the gears and the car is not moving means ,its clutch disengage issue.

If your gear lever itself not working or wht.I cant get you clearly.

vsoneja · 18th August 2011, 14:48

The technician has just visited and appears to have fixed the problem. The rubber bush at the end of the gear cable has been changed. Cable was just slipping off from the gear box side. Am able to shift gears without any problems. I have also been told that the clutch and its mechanism is in perfect shape and should not cause any problems.

However with regards to the hardening of the gears after being run for some time the technician who had visited just now said that i should run the car for at least 5k kms or more for them to smooth out. If that doesnt happen then replacing the gear cogs would be the next solution ( pretty expensive too, the gears themselves are for close to 18k ) plus the associated charges.

Has any Fiesta owner ever had to get their gear box overhauled and how has the period after the overhaul been ? ?

vsoneja · 19th August 2011, 09:59

Driven today for close to an hour today morning, and found the gears back to normal. No hardening of the gear shift after driving for a while, spoke to the technician, and he also advised to observe and bring the car in for a checkup after a fortnight or so. Will watch out for the next few days too and will keep all posted.

cheers.

Varun.

18th August 2011, 12:32	#1
vsoneja BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Greater Noida Posts: 28 Thanked: 64 Times	Issue with Ford Fiesta Gears Just to give some background info first : I own a Fiesta Diesel ( 2007 model ), the car was purchased in Mohali , and has been trouble free. The only expenditure over the last three years had been the regular service costs and some body work to sort out a few dents and scratches. Earlier this year , i started noticing a few drops of engine oil seeping out from the place where the gearbox is attached to the engine. The problem was with a slightly cracked master oil seal which was changed at Mohali at the ford service station. On being transferred to Delhi i chose to get the 60k service at Delhi Ford at the service station in Vasant Kunj. ( south city ford , even though it was close to my office , was not chose for a number of reasons ). The 60k service was done about a month back regular stuff was changed and car was fine. Over the Independence Day weekend i drove up to Ludhiana and drove back to Delhi on 15th Aug. Needless to mention the rains were strong enough to make me stop a number of times on the way back. During this entire trip the gears felt a bit sticky and did not have that springy action about them. The next morning with a cold start the gears were perfectly fine , but about 20-30 minutes of driving made the gear shift go hard again. I visited Delhi Ford and within five minutes the problem was isolated to water being mixed with the gear oil. The culprit being a damaged axle seal. According to the SA, oil may have gone in via this route and that is what was causing the stickiness. The car was kept overnight , Gearbox overhauled , gear oil changed, seal's replaced and handed over with a bill of about 7k. Took the car home yesterday evening and today morning again found a bit of stickiness after about 15 minutes of driving and decided to stop over at the service station.The SA and a number of technicians were of the opinion that maybe the gear bush needs some cleaning and did so , some lubrication provided and after another test drive problem came down but did not go away completely. The SA then tells me , " Sir please drive around for some time ( maybe a couple of hundred kms ) and the problem should go away, if it doesn't we will have to replace the gear cogs." and mentioned that we will not charge for labour/oil/consumables if it comes to that. I agreed and took the chance. Drove from Vasant kunj to Noida about an hour back , slotted into reverse while parking and the gear leaver just snaps and now i have absolutely no gear ability. The car seems to be stuck in neutral since i can push it around. The service station guys are on their way and lets see what happens. Mods : i have read a few threads about this , but right now i just don't know what to do or what to trust. help anyone ..... Varun.
	() Thanks

18th August 2011, 13:28	#2
dmaheshkumar BANNED Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 217 Thanked: 167 Times	Re: Help !! problem with Fiesta Gears... whether you are able to put the gears and the car is not moving means ,its clutch disengage issue. If your gear lever itself not working or wht.I cant get you clearly.
	() Thanks

18th August 2011, 14:48	#3
vsoneja BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Greater Noida Posts: 28 Thanked: 64 Times	Update : problem with Fiesta Gears... The technician has just visited and appears to have fixed the problem. The rubber bush at the end of the gear cable has been changed. Cable was just slipping off from the gear box side. Am able to shift gears without any problems. I have also been told that the clutch and its mechanism is in perfect shape and should not cause any problems. However with regards to the hardening of the gears after being run for some time the technician who had visited just now said that i should run the car for at least 5k kms or more for them to smooth out. If that doesnt happen then replacing the gear cogs would be the next solution ( pretty expensive too, the gears themselves are for close to 18k ) plus the associated charges. Has any Fiesta owner ever had to get their gear box overhauled and how has the period after the overhaul been ? ?
	() Thanks

19th August 2011, 09:59	#4
vsoneja BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Greater Noida Posts: 28 Thanked: 64 Times	Update Issue with Ford Fiesta Gears Driven today for close to an hour today morning, and found the gears back to normal. No hardening of the gear shift after driving for a while, spoke to the technician, and he also advised to observe and bring the car in for a checkup after a fortnight or so. Will watch out for the next few days too and will keep all posted. cheers. Varun.
	(2) Thanks