New Ypsilon gear change

[Chris Hopkins]

When our Ypsilon has done 79,000 miles we suddenly had great difficulty changing gear, it became very stiff. This resulted in having to change the cable gear selection kit which cost over £200.  As you can see from the picture, they are very long but actually only the had failed but they came as a pair. Hopefully this does not happen to you other owners.

[neil-yaj396]

What exactly has failed Chris? It isn't clear to me on your photos...

I'm on 38K at present, so some way off, but my rear shocks went at exactly the same mileage as yours.

Disappointing that spares cost so much, it must be the same gear change as the 500.

[Chris Hopkins]

Neil,
In the first picture, the top cable has partially seized which made the forward and back movement gear selection very stiff, the other cable, side to side movement, was still free.  It probably is the same assembly as the 500 and Panda so s/h may be available now but be warned it did go tight very quickly.  I was charged 2 hours labour to fit it so probably would have taken me far longer without a hoist.
Interestingly I put in Google search - "How does a car cable gear change work" and found a useful clip about a Nissan gear change cable which was freed by making a hole in the outer sheath, pumping PTFE spray in and re-sealing the sheath - this guy said the Nissan part cost 450 Euros so maybe the Fiat price is not so bad!

[neil-yaj396]

So nothing failed as such, the cable just seized up?

[Chris Hopkins]

Correct, so probably can be repaired as suggested by injecting PTFE. I plan to have a go and let you know.

[Parisien]

Had this happen on another Italian car, water ingress over 8/9years effectively rusted the metal cable inside sheath until there was just a layer of rust/flakes which made it seize, had to replace.

P

[Neil]

I don't suppose the good used spare cable could be used in case of another car if the cable seizes in the future, are they interchangeable, maybe best fill up with PTFE grease now in case

[Chris Hopkins]

They are different fittings and length so no luck there. Also on close inspection, the concertina rubber protection on the gearbox end of the cable has small holes developing so would need a new one of those as well as getting PTFE inside the outer sheath.

[frankxhv773t]

Failure of the concertina sheath is probably the root of the problem.