New BIS owner

[ianfromcumbria]

Hello,

I bought my daughter a BIS for Xmas (she passed her test 5 weeks ago) and we have both fallen in love with it. It's such fun to drive. I'm after a gearbox and air filter so if anyone can help?

Ian

[Gordan]

Hello Ian, yes, the 126 is a great fun to drive, and a great first car, i know, its the only car ive driven so far (except for the pug 207 from driving school  )
Anyways welcome to the forum, hope you find the box, it took me a while to find 1  [-/

[dajwid]

What is wrong with the box??

[ianfromcumbria]

First gear whines and the box is pretty noisy. The seals are gone and it looks as though it's been driven in that state and the box has been knackered. I have the mechanical aptitude of a dead heron so I took it to the Fiat garage in Carlisle and they said "could last another 3 years or it could go tomorrow". I know I can get a repair kit for £120 from Ricambio, but my local mechanic (in Appleby) said by the time he's added labour charges onto stripping down the box and repairing it, I may as well buy a reconditioned box which he can bolt on.

[Paulh81]

expert fiat dealership advice i think, at least they were able to narrow it down within 1094 days?

[chrisrhodesinlbz]

Hello Ian, I hope you are able to get your Bis sorted out! My first gear whines too, but I had thought that was just 'normal', a bit like 'the nature of the beast', like old Minis and Metros.

Chris

[Gordan]

Once the first gear is in its loud whining state, its near its end. mine started to whine, and after a month - no first gear. but who needs it...  </4

[chrisrhodesinlbz]

Well that's useful to know Gordan, I have only had driven two 126's, twenty years apart and they were both whiners in first gear so I really believed that was normal, this forum is very useful  . I'll have to follow Ian's progess and do the same to mine!

Chris

[Pete126]

Unfortunately it is the nature of the gearbox design, 1st and reverse are spur gears (straight cut gears) and they will always whine
Straight cut gears can transfer more torque than Helical gears which are used on 2,3,4, if all the teeth are intact with minimal ware check out the end bearings and seals

P.S. If anyone can remember the classic mini rally cars, they used straight cut gearboxes and you could here them whine all the way round the special stages.

[Gordan]

The main thing is to know which whining is normal, you have the regular whining (when everything is OK), which is like music to my ears  , and you have the other one, when your gear is at the end of its days. Sorry i cant be more specific, but after you drive a 126 for a while youll understand what i mean. 

[stuey]

like the guys said first gear is normal but as long as it changes and runs ok a little noise is acceptable, It might be worth getting the gearbox oil changed but other wise is fine... oh and welcome

(basically i'd not bother looking for a gearbox until it goes pop, as for the air filter ebay of any local motor factors can get them easily for you!)

[bis13]

your gears will be fine just do the seals and you will be laughing!! good luck, and welcome.

[Dom]

As I remember from my bad box days, a smooth wine (if you can imagine, kind of like the sound of an electric car) is how a tip top first gear should sound. When it begins to sound like an old roller coaster, cranking and clunking up a hill, with each grind threatening to pop the gear out, you'll know the gear is on its way out.

However, from my experience, these boxes can last pretty good, even when completely shot and with no oil. You only really need to worry about the gears when it keeps popping out, even then, you may want to check the adjustment/calibration of the gear selector (two bolts on tunnel where box is mounted) before condemning the box to the bin.

As as previously mentioned, make sure you have the right amount of correct oil in the box.

Dom

[ianfromcumbria]

Thanks for all the advice. I've tracked down a gearbox from Engear for £595 with a two year guarantee, but I'm going to just have the seals done and see how I get on. I can always get the gearbox at a later date if it does implode. It doesn't pop out of any of the gears and it's only first gear that whines (it reminds me of a Morris Minor I used to drive).

[bis13]

thats it ian all that money youve saved can go into your daughters wedding fund!! lol.