AARGH!!! Surely not the gearbox!

Davey Blueeyes · #1 20th July 2018, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Its not unheard of for relatively young F125 switches to fail - Neil's only did a few thousand miles before it needed replacing. Did it go in to limp as soon as you selected 'D' or did it wait until you moved? Does it reverse ok?

VCDS will tell all

Btw, I wouldn't be at all surprised at it running a little hot in this weather while it's in limp mode since its stuck in 3rd gear.

Thanks MJ. Apparently the F125 switch was replaced about 16 months and about 3500 miles ago but I don't have a bill for it.

I put it in drive, press the throttle, about a second or two (no more) of revving and no moving and thunk, we are off in third and all the selector positions illuminate. Reversing is fine. Good point about getting a little hotter in third.

Thank you, I love this place

HPsauce · #2 20th July 2018, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey Blueeyes

Thanks MJ. Apparently the F125 switch was replaced about 16 months and about 3500 miles ago but I don't have a bill for it.

I put it in drive, press the throttle, about a second or two (no more) of revving and no moving and thunk, we are off in third and all the selector positions illuminate. Reversing is fine. Good point about getting a little hotter in third.

Thank you, I love this place

I assume you have the later selector with Sport mode. Have you tried (as MJ says) Reverse first?
And going straight into Sport mode and/or tiptronic +/-, bypassing D.

Does sound plausibly like a dodgy F125 though....
Whilst it's not trivial or cheap to replace an F125 I seriously think they should be considered as a "consumable" or at least replaced regularly; certainly at the first sign of gearbox issues (along with an oil/filer change).

Adrian E · #3 20th July 2018, 07:23 PM

If you're heading Sussex way do you have the option of having it 'recovered' to a garage in Sussex to work on it? David is that way and I'm sure would be able to deal with box removal and install so it can be repaired if needed.

If it's not F125 related my next suggestion would be oil level on a recently refurbished box. Fault code scan will potentially reveal all....

paulrstaylor · #4 20th July 2018, 07:29 PM

I don't suppose you have (or could have by Monday) breakdown cover that would "get you to your destination for that planned trip you had to Glasgow?

moltuae · #5 20th July 2018, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulrstaylor

I don't suppose you have (or could have by Monday) breakdown cover that would "get you to your destination for that planned trip you had to Glasgow?

That's what I did, or at least that was my plan in case my car didn't make it to Glasgow.

I phoned the RAC and extended my cover the day before but I didn't need it as it turned out. Despite continual complaining and thumping from the box, it pulled into Makie's car park under its own steam.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Mark - if they do take the pan off, get them to check the flange with a straight edge and make sure none of the bolt holes are tweaked. If they are, they can be flattened out with a couple of chunks of steel and a vice. Torque values for the bolts are in the 5HP service manual. You'll need a new gasket obviously, and I find Blue Hylomar helps seal them up nicely. Problem with doing it on the car is that two of the bolts at the back are obscured by the driver's side cat so its impossible to get a torque wrench on them. You have to get a feel for what the others are tightening to with the torque wrench and use a calibrated wrist on those two!

Thanks MJ, that's very helpful info. I shall let them know

Davey Blueeyes · #6 21st July 2018, 11:41 AM

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, it's very reassuring knowing others have been there before! Hopefully Monday will reveal much more, he's coming in the afternoon now and I'm keeping all my fingers and all my toes crossed. It makes walking really difficult! And walking is what I am doing a lot of, at least for now.

I don't really want to mess about with it until we have a scan. I have never actually tried the car is S or tried the tiptronic as it happens?

I do have super dooper breakdown cover so that should be okay, if it comes to it. I am aware of David, I think he's in Crawley? However in all honesty I don't want to move it an inch under it's own steam like that. I'm still not assuming the worst but I can't pretend it's at the back of my mind.

Assuming it's not a total box rebuilt, are the other jobs something a half competent mechanic should be able to do? It will be going to Devon later in the year for some real D2 love and this car deserves that.

I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed a car so much and I've had a few! And I've clearly been lucky with gearboxes in the last 30 years!

Davey Blueeyes · #7 21st July 2018, 01:01 PM

Just a thought I've had, about a week ago I was on the Cowes chain ferry (don't ask!) and getting off I had a dreaded scrape on the bottom of the car (won't be going on there again).

Without this being a straw grasping exercise, might a knock underneath knocked the sump and lost fluid??

Dezzy · #8 23rd July 2018, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Have you tried (as MJ says) Reverse first?

Reversing is fine

HPsauce · #9 23rd July 2018, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Reversing is fine

Ah yes, missed this in the middle of all the other stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey Blueeyes

Reversing is fine.

Davey Blueeyes · #10 23rd July 2018, 04:10 PM

Thank you all again for your camaraderie but that was a waste of time!

Mobile mechanic with VCDS cancelled me at last minute, offered to come Thursday. Told him to get lost, mainly as I still have it booked in for Wednesday at a localish garage for a scan. Can't get anyone to do it sooner and I am away to Sussex lunchtime tomorrow anyway. Two more days of agony!

Silly question, obviously I can get the car recovered to the garage (about 8 miles away) and wait forever while they sort out the million holiday makers we now have here with endless broken down family wagons or would it be okay to drive the 8 miles in limp mode? Does this make it more broken?!

Meanwhile I am getting the bus, in this heat, with all the holiday maker smells nature can muster. Not a happy bunny and off to scan latest leasing deals!