6 speed Ford

[norseman]

A good friend of mine has a gearbox (manual) problem on his Dec '12 reg. Ford Focus 2ltr. diesel.
The sixth gear will not stay engaged once selected & jumps straight out of gear regardless of whether it's under load or overrun.

He has been quoted £1800 to supply & fit a replacement 'box, which isn't an option for him & a couple of garages contacted don't want to know when approached regarding an overhaul.
Is there a well known problem with the 6 speed, the local garage confirmed that the selector mechanism is in working order.

Many thanks.

 

[Mottie]

If fitting a recon box is not an option for him and he can’t get it overhauled, just keep using the first five!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Is there a well known problem with the 6 speed, the local garage confirmed that the selector mechanism is in working order.

No idea, but always worth checking the linkages are not worn. It could be, that it is not fully going into 6th, due to wear and play, hence slipping back out.

 

[norseman]

If fitting a recon box is not an option for him and he can’t get it overhauled, just keep using the first five!

That's exactly what he does, but curious to know why repairers give it a wide berth.

Could it be the usual story, why repair something when you can flog a new one instead?

 

[jj4091]

That's exactly what he does, but curious to know why repairers give it a wide berth.

Could it be the usual story, why repair something when you can flog a new one instead?

Possibly more to do with their hourly rate being so high that by the time they strip and repair the old one it would be cheaper to fit a new/recon one. Especially if there are no local companies that can recondition it.

 

[robinbanks]

Have you priced up a replacement box from a a salvage yard?

 

[norseman]

Have you priced up a replacement box from a a salvage yard?

As yet I don't think he has. Being a pensioner like myself, lacking the ability & facilities to carry out the swap himself, he's probably concerned that having forked out for the labour charges the used replacement 'box might develop the same fault .. especially if the 6 speed is known to have the problem.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That's exactly what he does, but curious to know why repairers give it a wide berth.

Could it be the usual story, why repair something when you can flog a new one instead?

Gearbox repairs are quite specialised these days, not many garages have the skills needed, and there is no certainty that it is the gearbox at fault, and that a repair would fix it. As said, check the gearbox linkage has no wear and play in it, as a first step, rather than blame the gearbox itself.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

I've used an excellent gearbox specialist in Bristol who rebuild boxes or just repair a fault with the one you have. They have facilities to remove the boxes from cars as well. My box was leaking so they removed it, resealed it and replaced a couple of worn items inside. Worth seeing if such a specialist exists in your area.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

That's exactly what he does, but curious to know why repairers give it a wide berth.

Could it be the usual story, why repair something when you can flog a new one instead?

Gearbox rebuild isn't a job that any normal garage is set up to do, or have the tools, equipment or parts accessible.

Try a specialist gearbox place , see what they suggest.

 

[norseman]

Gearbox repairs are quite specialised these days, not many garages have the skills needed, and there is no certainty that it is the gearbox at fault, and that a repair would fix it. As said, check the gearbox linkage has no wear and play in it, as a first step, rather than blame the gearbox itself.

That's definitely a good idea, I'll suggest that to him.
Thank you.

 

[norseman]

Gearbox rebuild isn't a job that any normal garage is set up to do, or have the tools, equipment or parts accessible.

Try a specialist gearbox place , see what they suggest.

Thanks to both of you (#9 & 10)
I would imagine that constitutes a significant slice of the £1800 +vat of the quote he's already had from my local garage & would include their labour charge.