about to purchase -fiat ducato motorhome 600 series 2003 gearbox issue advice appreciated

[Marineboy61]

Hi I have put down a deposit on a Fiat Ducato 600 - 2003 model . I noticed on test drive when starting vehicle it wouldn't slide into 1st gear.
It needed to be put into 2nd gear only then could you slide into 1st ! I suspect gear box issues down the road. When up and running it works perfectly.
My plan was to:
1. get the dealer to fix before purchase - I have already put deposit down
2. I get him to knock off the cost of repairing after had a quote from fiat dealership
Any further thoughts appreciated, at the moment vans are getting snapped up but I don't want to be caught in the panic buying to end up with extra costs down the road
cheers

 

[MITHRANDIR]

I've only just thought.....sorry I'm a bit slow these days.....surely this van would have to have a Fresh MOT as a condition of purchase? That would not be possible with a faulty gearbox. He would have to fix that problem in order to give you the MOT....problem solved...maybe?

Difficulty engaging gears is not part of the mot.

 

[chaser]

Difficulty engaging gears is not part of the mot.

Must say we had an 07 Peugeot motohome, a while ago and it was a swine if it had been standing any length of time, had to get in and spray all the cables and eventually it would free up , then on a run it was fine till it had stood again.

 

[Scotch mist]

We have a similar problem with our car , if I try to select 1st gear by pushing the gear stick left & slide it up it falls into the reverse gate & sticks there , if I push it straight it misses the gate & goes straight in , we have just got used to it

 

[steve69]

Difficulty engaging gears is not part of the mot.

Safety issue?...Something is very wrong somewhere...

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[MITHRANDIR]

Safety issue?...Something is very wrong somewhere...

No i doubt it, although i am no expert, on current mot rules.

 

[steve69]

Must say we had an 07 Peugeot motohome, a while ago and it was a swine if it had been standing any length of time, had to get in and spray all the cables and eventually it would free up , then on a run it was fine till it had stood again.

The golden rule of leaving any vehicle standing for a long time is to NOT put the handbrake on and leave it in reverse/1st gear instead. maybe binding brakes was part of your problem.

 

[Hoovie]

I've only just thought.....sorry I'm a bit slow these days.....surely this van would have to have a Fresh MOT as a condition of purchase? That would not be possible with a faulty gearbox. He would have to fix that problem in order to give you the MOT....problem solved...maybe?

MOT is a safety thing, not a mechanical warranty.

 

[chaser]

The golden rule of leaving any vehicle standing for a long time is to NOT put the handbrake on and leave it in reverse/1st gear instead. maybe binding brakes was part of your problem.

Binding brakes stopped it going in gear?
The brakes were fine. The gear cables siezed up wherever you left the gear lever.

 

[swiftsteve]

The golden rule of leaving any vehicle standing for a long time is to NOT put the handbrake on and leave it in reverse/1st gear instead. maybe binding brakes was part of your problem.

I've heard this a lot (sorry to derail the post), but who would do that on a sloping drive?

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[Zains Pops]

phew decision made ... aborted .. down £500 on non refundable deposit.. but still have £25000 sitting safely in my bank ... less impetuous next time
thanks

Right decision, Fiat gearboxes of that vintage do have some issues and spare parts availability are beginning to be an issue.

 

[Barclaybasher]

On my 2004 Ducato the gear linkage was almost seized - worked fine after it was freed and lubricated - that was 10 years ago!

 

[Figaro]

I've heard this a lot (sorry to derail the post), but who would do that on a sloping drive?

I do if vehicle is going to be stood for more than a few days, with wheel chocks also

 

[steve69]

I've heard this a lot (sorry to derail the post), but who would do that on a sloping drive?

That's where a piece of 3X3 comes in handy

 

[mitzimad]

i had a vauxhall vivaro with the same problem and only from cold i had it six years

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[Monkeynuts2215]

Thanks , as a newbie and the hype around motor home usage in the UK - covid era I got a bit carried away. However prepared to walk away

I've only just thought.....sorry I'm a bit slow these days.....surely this van would have to have a Fresh MOT as a condition of purchase? That would not be possible with a faulty gearbox. He would have to fix that problem in order to give you the MOT....problem solved...maybe?

Please dont tell me about issues with fiat gearbox i have just purchased a brand new one with a 9 speed auto box with ecu option as well im newbie never driven one before