Zafira gearbox failure

57 plate Zafira SRi 1.9CDTi 150 PS. 6-speed manual.

Driving along in steady traffic at about 50-60 mph, odd noises from the gearbox. Difficult to describe, a sort of chuff-chuff-chuff. This changed to a medium-pitched whine in 5th and 6th. Eventually there was a more crunching noise and I lost those two gears. Couldn't select 1st or

2nd. Drove home in 3rd and 4th. Can't select Reverse either.

New gearbox needed? What sort of cost at a main dealer? Can I trust the local independent, who might not have experience of this work?

Reply to
Ramsman
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I understand that a failed dual mass flywheel can take out the gearbox .

Main dealer is likely around 3500 for gearbox, flywheel, clutch and fitting.

Reply to
Mrcheerful

So another Zafira for the scrap yard?

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Jesus!, why don't they get sued for producing crap that does that, three and a half big ones for design incompetence bet they wouldn't be allowed to get away with that in America!...

Reply to
tony sayer

I've never quite understood the benefits of a dual mass flywheel on an ordinary family car. Given their apparent disadvantages later on.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)
[...]

A 2-litre diesel in a fairly light car would be unpleasant without one.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

The Zafira's no lightweight: kerb weight 1613 kg (according to Haynes) and a GVW of 2205 kg (brochure). For comparison, my old 2.0 petrol Cavalier had a kerb weight of around 1100 kg.

Reply to
Ramsman

and a 1.8 litre diesel sierra was only 1145kg

Reply to
Mrcheerful
[...]

But somewhat heavier than, say, a Transit, which would be more the natural home for an old-school oil-burner.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

I think you're proving Chris's point there.

Reply to
Adrian

Specialist gearbox place is prob about =A3650, the local independents go= ing =

to buy the gearbox in & they're going to be just as good at changing =

gearboxes as they are at doing clutches.

Reply to
Duncan Wood

Almost exactly the same weight.

Reply to
Adrian

Well, HJ gives 1430?1590 kg for the Zafira.

Transit is harder to determine due to the huge range, but a medium wheelbase, medium roof panel van is 1800 kg.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

In what way - unpleasant?

Reply to
Graham J

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Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

I find that modern dmf diesels are easier to stall than conventional flywheel older ones.

Reply to
Mrcheerful
[...]

Mondeos of a certain age certainly are. Do you think it might be a characteristic of the power curve rather than the DMF?

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

maybe, but it is noticeably easier to stall a diesel with dmf than it ever used to be. new diesel mondeos are very easy to stall, I had one in the other day, a 12 plate, in traffic I let the clutch in at a tickover and was quite surprised that it just stalled dead. a 55 plate one with a faulty dmf was really horribly easy to stall, even the mot man commented on it, that was moved on.

Reply to
Mrcheerful
[...]

Yet another reason to hate the nasty, smelly things. ;-)

Chris

Reply to
Chris Whelan

I don't think it's "stalling". I think the ECU cuts fuelling if it decides it's being lugged too hard, probably for emissions reasons.

Reply to
Adrian

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