VECTRA gearbox...please help!!

**regjames** · 17th March 2007, 20:12

Hi Guys

I have got a Vectra 1.8LS Dual-Fuel it is an 2003 (03 plate)
The car has full service history and is currently on 95,000 miles.

I havent had it very long but the gearbox has always been a bit noisey when you slow down with it in gear. Today however the gearbox started to make a whining noise aswell mainly in first and second gear.

I use this car as a taxi so obviously its very very important to me. I picked up a fare just now and when I tried to change into second gear I couldnt. After I dropped the fare off, I couldnt get the car to go in to first on second gear so had to limp home using 3rd, 4th and 5th.

I reversed it back on to my drive and it was very noisey making a banging noise and trying to jump out of gear. I then tried to select 1st and 2nd again and this time I could. I drove it forward about 20feet on my driveway in first and it was very very noisey.

I have come to the conclusion that the gearbox is dead but where do i go from here?
Does anyone know what model gearbox I have in my car? Where can I get a replacement? or would i be better having it reconditioned?
Does it use the same gearbox as the older shape Vectra (vectra b?)

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated!!

kind regards to you all
James

**Gsi3.2** · 18th March 2007, 13:35

I'd go for a recon gearbox..as it sounds like your mainshaft bearings have collapsed..thus making the gears misalign..

yes, the Vectra C 1.8 uses the same gearbox as the outgoing vectra B's..so you shouldn't have much trouble picking one up..avoid buying a 2nd hand one..you may have problems with that one before you know it.

**dervdoc** · 18th March 2007, 13:42

yea as gsi3.2 said get a reconed gearbox, if ya buy second hand your just buying someone elses trouble

**regjames** · 18th March 2007, 18:32

Thanks for your replies guys. Do you know where the best place to get a recon box is? I assume that would be in exchange for mine?

Also roughly how much is it going to cost?....do i need to sit down?!

cheers!

**Gsi3.2** · 18th March 2007, 18:36

look in the yellow pages for gearbox centres... if i had to guess a price i'd say you'd have to budget about £300 to supply and fitting on top..

and yes, they will usually want your box in exchange..

**regjames** · 18th March 2007, 18:52

Ok cool, thanks for that.

One more thing and then I promise that I will stop asking stupid questions!....
What model number would my box be as I noticed that there are several different "F" numbers?

Cheers

**Gsi3.2** · 18th March 2007, 19:01

it'll be cast in the top of your current gearbox's bellhousing..but it should be an F18..if memory serves..

**regjames** · 18th March 2007, 22:52

Thanks for all your help, im a member of many different forums but have never received so much help on any of those when I have posted a query.
I will keep you up to date!

**Gsi3.2** · 18th March 2007, 22:53

Please do..

..

**regjames** · 23rd March 2007, 21:08

UPDATE!....

The car has had a recon gearbox fitted along with a new clutch and new slave cylinder.

When we got the car back the engine management light was on and the car wouldnt rev over 4000rpm.
They plugged it in a Vauxhall and nothing shown up so we replaced one of the sensors anyway as we were told that is the usual problem when they wont rev out.

Anyway eventually after a bit of trial and error we worked out that the car only ran normally if we disconnected the LPG system. So we think that mean that it may need a ECU for the gas system? (common apparently?)

Also the car then decided that it didnt want to start, the starter was just making a whizzing noise. We replaced the starter motor and it seemed fine but when I went back out to start it about an hour later it wouldnt ****** start, the starter was making the same noise as before.

We changed the starter for yet another new starter (incase it was faulty, which is the luck i usually have!) and we have developed the same problem again!

We were told that it could be the a problem with teeth missing on the flywheel so took it back to the place who fitted the new gearbox. They had a look at it and said the flywheel etc is fine so it cannot be that.

I have been told that maybe the car isnt getting enough voltage to start but I put some jump leads on it to give it an extra boost and it still wouldnt start.

I left it an hour went out and it started, i turned it on and off about 10 times with no problems. Went back out again about 20 mins later and the ****** thing wont start again!!

HELP HELP HELP HELP!!!!!!

Any ideas why the starter is making this annoying noise and it wont start?
Also, any ideas on the LPG problem?

Sorry to ask yet again, but Im sure you guys will know more about this than the "trained Vauxhall technicians"!!

Cheers
James