Gearbox problem after MoT

Hi all,

The car is a Nissan Primera P11-144, petrol 5 speed on an 02 plate with only a genuine 70K miles and always driven gently. Engine and gearbox were perfectly quiet. I love this car, but book value would be low.

Put the car in for new brake pads all round (irrelevant) and MoT (passed).

On collecting the car it has a whining noise as follows:

  1. Above ~ 15mph. Pretty bad above ~30mph.
  2. Pitch is dependent on on car speed (not engine speed).
  3. Goes away out of gear, or clutch in.
  4. Unaffected by moving steering side to side.
  5. Worst while at constant speed, ie just neither accelerating nor decelerating.

Returned the vehicle, and while they believe I'm not trying it on, they do not really have an explanation. Some talk of the rolling road test may have pushed a bearing over the edge that was about to fail. They diagnose it as gearbox differential. They stated gearbox oil level was correct and immaculate. It's now annoying, and they feel it will only get worse.

As a "goodwill gesture" without any admission they have offered to fit a new one free, if I can pick one up on eBay or similar for 100 or so. But what kind of beat up thing might I be buying ? Not a gentle 70K !

A local gearbox specialist I spoke to on the phone say ~475-575, plus

225 for fitting to repair mine. Is this reasonable ?

Possible coincidence ? Could the young lad who did the MoT have been too vicious on the rolling road ? Do I have a leg to stand on to take this further ?

Thanks in advance, "Most upset".

Reply to
Primera guy
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Entire coincidence. Of all the parts that are prodded, poked and given a hard time at an MoT, the gearbox must be near the bottom of the list. Manual boxes are generally bombproof (you've just got unlucky) and bearings can't, in the space of 5 minutes on a rolling road, suddenly develop vast amounts of wear so while the MoT may have hastened it, the noise would likely have appeared in short order anyway.

Reply to
Scott M

No. Apart from moving it a car length backwards and forwards to get it from ramp to rolling road, the only actual car movement is in and out of the garage. The rolling road just spins the wheels up at relatively low speed for the brake test. It's really no more than rolling down a hill in neutral with the engine running, then braking. There's nothing the tester does but press the start button then hit the brakes.

Reply to
Adrian

Doesn't sound like anything to do with the MoT. First thing is to get someone entirely independent to check out the noise.

If it is gearbox then I would recommend having your one repaired as it is a known quantity as far as gear selection, synchromesh and general age go.

Reply to
Mrcheerful

Thanks for the inputs. I guess I'll have to live with it, but it's still an amazing coincidence. I agree with Mr C's suggestion that fixing my own known gearbox is preferable to some unknown piece. I will also get it independently analysed.

Reply to
Primera guy

from Honestjohn website....

"Gearbox still a bit weak and won't stand abuse".......possibly the young lad wasn't very careful with the box?

I have a P11 (150k miles) and it's a nice gear change but it does feel a bit delicate! You wouldn't expect it to be normal wear & tear with a low mileage if oil level was ok

Thanks for the inputs. I guess I'll have to live with it, but it's still an amazing coincidence. I agree with Mr C's suggestion that fixing my own known gearbox is preferable to some unknown piece. I will also get it independently analysed.

Reply to
<hippo

Gearboxes fail sometimes had one go at 25000 miles in the pug 205, vauxall carlton had original clutch, gearbox, engine, exhaust system at 325000 miles

Reply to
steve robinson

One last input on this. The symptoms I described (first post) are pretty complete. Any suggestions as to what may cause this other than gearbox differential bearings as suggested by the MoT garage (before I go to an independent garage for checking). Thanks.

Reply to
Primera guy

Assuming it is not something such as a noisy tyre, wheel bearing or seal or drive shaft or inboard bearing (if it has one), as the noise is dependent on road speed then the diff bearings or the ouput shaft bearings will be likely. In the air, running and using a mechanics stethoscope should show where the fault is.

Reply to
Mrcheerful

Thanks Mr C.

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Reply to
Primera guy

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