Due to buying a shite car I need to decide whether to get a reconditioned gearbox to go in the berlingo, or just leave it where it dies.

Mechanic up here says it’ll be about 6 hrs labour and he wont touch a 2nd hand one, only worth the bother for a properly reconditioned one he reckons. And I have to source it myself.

Turns out you cant just get them from Amazon, can anyone recommend a supplier?

Ta.

Use these guys at work http://www.topgeartransmissions.co.uk/index.php

Six hours sounds a bit steep for time.

I got a second hand one for my Volvo. Like you say, the bulk of the cost was labour and when it was done, turned out the new one was worse than the one they had replaced. It was the garage who sourced the 2nd hand one, so got a reduction on that but still paid for the labour.

Got rid of the car a few months later so all in all the gearbox change turned out to be expensive and pretty pointless.

Aye-its been the most troublesome car ive ever had the misfortune to own, and the timing belt is coming up, and there’s a fluid leak. I think I might just scrap it. Shame as ive spent loads on it.
Thanks for the input 🙂

TAKE GREAT CARE!,

The link above of top gear transmissions looks very much like the place on Watchdog a while ago that ripped off loads of people – unless there are 2 gearbox automatic specialists in Cleckheaton Bradford.

I may be mistaken but I suggest you google them……

TAKE GREAT CARE!,

The link above of top gear transmissions looks very much like the place on Watchdog a while ago that ripped off loads of people – unless there are 2 gearbox automatic specialists in Cleckheaton Bradford.

I may be mistaken but I suggest you google them……

Used them for over two years after our last gearbox place just become too unreliable, top gear have been spot on, returning boxes on time, repairs have so far been good.

The company Rogue Traders dealt with is different http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74/features/rogue-traders-cleckheaton-gearbox-clutch-centre

Timing belt isn’t massive, and if the fluid leak is from the water pump, that’s an ideal time to change it, in fact it should be changed when replacing belt, it’s a false economy not to.

The fluid leak is either diesel or power steering fluid, not sure which. Worryingly, nor was my old mechanic.

Quick sniff should soon determine which one, and the area. Power steering pressure sensors are prone to weeping fluid on this vehicle, not an expensive or difficult item to replace.

Whereabouts are you? The old man runs a reconditioning company (Geartech) in the Midlands. Must be doing it right as he has supplied three police forces and ambulance services for over fifteen years.

Banbury gearboxes did a great job on replacing some bearings in ours.
Quite often a gearbox specialist will fit it cheaper as they do it all day long.

And I have to source it myself.

Possibly quicker and more convenient to source a better mechanic than source a gearbox. Thats kind of the deal with mechanics – you pay them to do the work for you. I’d understand if the car was weird or exotic – I’ve had classic cars where you need to be a member of a owners club to be able to source recon parts – so in those circumstances I’ve bought the parts for the mechanic to fit, but otherwise I’ve never had a mechanic to ask me to do their shopping for them, at retail, when they can buy on account and at trade.

Keep in mind the people who supply recon parts need the old parts back from you – otherwise they’re left with nothing to sell – so you’ll often be charged a deposit on top of the sale price for the part and won’t get that deposit back until you send them the old unit.

TAKE GREAT CARE!,

Good heads up but Top Gear in Cleck are spot on and as the poster above said, not the same company that was on WatchDog…. I have used Top Gear before. Very good service and the price wasn’t bad either. I would certainly use them again.

Ensure the gearbox is compatible with the engine, diesel or petrol, and size of engine, otherwise big problems, noise lack of power and early failure.

If your mechanic cant tell the difference between a diesel and power steering leak id be worried that he calls him self a mechanic really.

Im not even a mechanic but i can tell…..

If your mechanic cant tell the difference between a diesel and power steering leak id be worried that he calls him self a mechanic really.

To be fair I suspect its both, I think its long past time I walked away from this one. I dont think ive had more than a few weeks at a time without a mechanical since I got it.
I dont seem to be able to find a recon unit and the repairers are hundreds of miles away.
Thanks to all for the help, Im off to autotrader 🙂

Gloucester Road Gearboxes are excellent.

GRGB Website