reconditioned gearbox failure after 2000 miles.

[vnahalv]

Hey guys,

So I have a 2008 Auris SR 1.6 and the gearbox bearings needed replacing, my local garage suggested I should source a reconditioned gearbox so I did. I bought a reconditioned box from Top engines and gearboxes in Birmingham for £500 in exchange for my original gearbox. So I went and collected the gearbox and got it fitted. I had not got around to delivering my original gearbox off (luckily). 1 month later and 2000 miles the 5th gear is now non-existent and the car has been parked for multiple weeks. I'm in the process of refunding the gearbox but I need to either source another one or get my factory one repaired. 

Spoken to a few gearbox specialists and not getting anywhere at the moment, if anyone could recommend a gearbox specialist; I would really appreciate it.

Thankyou.

[craggle]

Not sure how the Auris gear linkage works as I have an iQ but are you sure it's not just the linkage from the stick / cables from the stick to the gearbox that need adjusting?

My iQ used to be a bit tricky to get 1st and 2nd but after adjusting the cables a bit as described in the manual, it all works again.

 

Craig.

[vnahalv]

14 minutes ago, craggle said:

Not sure how the Auris gear linkage works as I have an iQ but are you sure it's not just the linkage from the stick / cables from the stick to the gearbox that need adjusting?

My iQ used to be a bit tricky to get 1st and 2nd but after adjusting the cables a bit as described in the manual, it all works again.

 

Craig.

The recondition box experienced a mechanical failure or the gearbox was poorly reconditioned, drained the oil and bits of metal were found. Cables were adjusted by Toyota during it's last service. However I appreciate the reply Craig.

Manjinder

 

[craggle]

Ahhh, metal bits not so good then! 

Hope you get it sorted

Craig.

[Countrylad]

Ermmm, Top Engines and Gearboxes is a breaker, not a reconditioner. Did they say anything about the sourcing of this particular box? Any warranties?

There used to be some fairly iffy gearbox recyclers operating around Heathrow - asylum seekers on piecework, it used to be said (perhaps unfairly), but the gist of it was that they kept the expenditure on replacement bits to a minimum and bolted a lot of semi-worn bits back into the box. Don't know whether they're still out there, but crossing my fingers for ya.

It's been a while since I've fitted a breaker's part, but there certainly used to be a sort of code of honour between garages and breakers, whereby stuff that failed within a month or so would be replaced, no questions. Any breaker knows that he can't really vouch for the state of a complicated component. But it would still leave you paying the fitting and removal costs, though.

If you've paid by credit card, you might have some comeback from the breaker. But as has been said, it could still be the linkage. My old Passat stopped wanting to go any higher than second gear, which was alarming! - but it turned out to be a stiff ball and socket on the gearbox end of the linkage. A bit of grease and cleaning, and it was fixed within an hour. Chin up, and good luck.

 

[vnahalv]

2 hours ago, Countrylad said:

Ermmm, Top Engines and Gearboxes is a breaker, not a reconditioner. Did they say anything about the sourcing of this particular box? Any warranties?

There used to be some fairly iffy gearbox recyclers operating around Heathrow - asylum seekers on piecework, it used to be said (perhaps unfairly), but the gist of it was that they kept the expenditure on replacement bits to a minimum and bolted a lot of semi-worn bits back into the box. Don't know whether they're still out there, but crossing my fingers for ya.

It's been a while since I've fitted a breaker's part, but there certainly used to be a sort of code of honour between garages and breakers, whereby stuff that failed within a month or so would be replaced, no questions. Any breaker knows that he can't really vouch for the state of a complicated component. But it would still leave you paying the fitting and removal costs, though.

If you've paid by credit card, you might have some comeback from the breaker. But as has been said, it could still be the linkage. My old Passat stopped wanting to go any higher than second gear, which was alarming! - but it turned out to be a stiff ball and socket on the gearbox end of the linkage. A bit of grease and cleaning, and it was fixed within an hour. Chin up, and good luck.

 

They had advertised it as reconditioned, I'm now certain they had just taken it out of a salvage car and sold it too me. I wish I had the reviews before buying to be honest. I'm not really looking for a replacement from Top Engines and Gearboxes, just want to get a full refund and end this chapter. I've found a gearbox specialist in Nottingham so I'm going to see them now, they can strip and diagnose the gearbox for free and then we will go from there. 

My other car (VX Astra 1.7 '10) is also having box issues so yes, I need all the luck I can get!  

[Countrylad]

18 minutes ago, vnahalv said:

They had advertised it as reconditioned, I'm now certain they had just taken it out of a salvage car and sold it too me. I wish I had the reviews before buying to be honest. !  

That would have been fraud, for which there are no time limits. But before you start dismantling the box, have a word with your credit card company (if you used one). It's a bit hard to explain, but if you were fibbed to during a transaction for which they provided the money, then they are actually responsible for sorting it out. Either way, they'll tell you straight away over the phone whether they can get involved on your behalf. Definitely worth a shot.

There's another advantage in getting a credit card company to do the heavy hitting. No scrappie wants to fall foul of the card companies.  

Good luck!

[vnahalv]

34 minutes ago, Countrylad said:

That would have been fraud, for which there are no time limits. But before you start dismantling the box, have a word with your credit card company (if you used one). It's a bit hard to explain, but if you were fibbed to during a transaction for which they provided the money, then they are actually responsible for sorting it out. Either way, they'll tell you straight away over the phone whether they can get involved on your behalf. Definitely worth a shot.

There's another advantage in getting a credit card company to do the heavy hitting. No scrappie wants to fall foul of the card companies.  

Good luck!

Yes it would be fraud, I won't be dismantling the box because then they'll turn around and said you opened the box and all that rubbish. I didn't play with my credit card, I didn't know that! That makes a lot of sense, I'll keep that in mind when making repairs in the future! Thanks for that, learned something new!:)

[Countrylad]

1 hour ago, vnahalv said:

I didn't play with my credit card, I didn't know that! That makes a lot of sense, I'll keep that in mind when making repairs in the future! Thanks for that, learned something new!:)

Minimum £100 spend to be covered, I think. It's a bit weird, but technically the CC company is buying the gearbox and you're then buying it from them, so they're an interested party in the transaction. Funny old world.

BTW, this doesn't work with debit cards, only credit cards. Well worth bearing in mind for any car-related job.

 

[vnahalv]

On 22/04/2016 at 2:56 PM, Countrylad said:

Minimum £100 spend to be covered, I think. It's a bit weird, but technically the CC company is buying the gearbox and you're then buying it from them, so they're an interested party in the transaction. Funny old world.

BTW, this doesn't work with debit cards, only credit cards. Well worth bearing in mind for any car-related job.

 

Did some research into it and the process is known as a section 75 claim!:)