[alfa] Re: 164 5 Speed Box

["Tim Hancock" <timhancock@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Curt

Having a spare gearbox in my garage which I know is good, I just went out and
tried, and you should be able to select some gears, though perhaps not quite
all, by manipulating the lever on the gear box by hand. I couldn't quite make
a full pattern of five plus reverse using this method, but I certainly got
four clear gear selections without too much difficulty.

I suggest it would do no harm to get someone who knows gears to whip the lid
off and have a look. I was at my local "Alfa Hospital" yesterday where my 164
V6 is in recovery from its engine transplant and was discussing gearboxes with
Phil the mechanic. He told me that over the years there were two maladies that
afflicted the 164 gearbox. Input shaft bearings was one, but the other was the
instant failure of the third gear synchro ring which meant that one minute you
could select third, and next minute you couldn't. Interestingly he said that
all these repairs could be done without removing the box from the car..which
surprised me. No gear selection at all needs looking at more closely.

Whether your problem is connected I don't know, but as the box is out it
should not be costly for someone who knows to give it the 'once over'. The
extent of any fault should be clear to a transmission shop without too much
dismantling and costs. What is more the parts for these boxes whilst not
cheap, are not as bad as you might think as the box that is in my car has a
bill for a main dealer rebuild in 1998. They replaced three bearings and the
clutch and parts cost came to #325, and 220 of that was the clutch. The labour
was about #260  ( x 1.5 approx to bring it to dollars and you get to about
$900 ish. a lot less if you don't need the clutch parts. Clearly the cost of
repair depends on what they find, but finding out should not be too bad.

HTH

Tim Hancock   Boston UK

164 TS
164Super (getting there...)
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