SOS - Fiat Coupe mechanic in JB?

[Salsero]

Hi Guys,

I just moved down to Nusajaya (near Legoland) 2 months ago, and in desperate need of a mechanic who can work on my Coupe.

Just as I pulled into my garage (thankfully), my gear shifter went all loose. I can engage the forward gears (for now), but reverse is out. Most likely, it's a gear shifter/ linkage/ bushing problem.

Anyone know where I can get the car fixed down here? I've SMS'd Pistole but no response from him.

Alternatively, is this something that I can take to a nearby generic workshop? I'm staying at Leisure Farm with the nearest town being Gelang Patah (there are a few workshops there but probably servicing your usual Proton/ Perodua/ Japanese cars)

Plan B would be to limp back to KL and get Ah Meng to take a look at it.

Thanks
Rezal

[DeaDLocK]

What commonly happens is that the ball joint and the bushing come out of the socket at the gear selector.

It's a bit hard to describe, but try opening up the gaiter (unfasten the velcro and button, and then push the side of the gaiter at the plastic frame down into the recess, and then you will be able to angle the gaiter and remove it). Then you will see the wires etc for the window switches. Underneath that is a heat shield. Take out the heat shield (you may have to tear it a little) and then you can see the gearstick mechanism. A common problem is that the ball joint and bushing pops out of the socket, making the whole stick very loose and flappy.

Once you have the heatshield out you can kind of figure out where the problem is and how to fix it. If it is that particular problem, you won't need a Coupe specialist to fix it. Heck, just PM pistole and pop over to his place for some help.

[pistole]

- yo.

- it could be like DeadLock said , ie , linkages popped off the shift lever (cockpit end).

- or it could also be gearbox end , ie , below battery. Under the battery (need to remove batt), you'll see a big black rubber boot. The pair of shifter cables operate a cam/lever/spring thingy which in turn operates a shaft which goes into the gb's bowels.

- often , that rubber boot splits open and the mechanism is exposed to the elements. Ie , wear and tear.

- i would lift out the batt (not really necessary , but an easy job) and have someone move the gear lever. Have a look at the mechanism with a torchlight.

- as for a Fiat mechanic in JB ... kakakakakkakakakakakakakakakakkaka .... you can try MOTORPASSION in Permas Jaya (behind the Shell station near the Permas Jaya Jusco). Good luck though , no guarantees you come out with your trousers.

.

[Salsero]

Thanks guys.

Deadlock is right. It's the disconnected ball joint (see pics) but I don't know how to put it back it. As it is, it can't reach the metal piece and the metal piece won't seem to budge either!

[Salsero]

Close up

[Salsero]

Spoke to Ah Meng. He said not an easy fix. Has to look at it from below, which involves removing the exhaust, etc. He said might be a busted bushing or something. Otherwise ball joint won't just pop out.

Pistole - can you call me when free?

[romeojay]

Hi Salsero,

You can contact Tan at 0197533178. He service quite a few Coupes there. Reliable Mechanic but not an authorised dealers. They are just any workshop for any cars. Good luck mate!

RJ

[Salsero]

Thanks RJ. Gave Tan a shot but he wanted me to get the part first. How to get part when (a) I'm not sure what needs replacing, and (b) when the car isn't quite driveable (I can get away with it here with the odd push but to drive into SG without reverse is madness!)

Bottom line: clearly my move to Nusajaya warrants a move to another car, that's more workable down here (either maintenance-free, aka Japanese, or "maintenainable" - ie anything that sells in volume). Sigh....

[Kelv27]

For the ball joint to pop out like that, it would most probably be the nylon bushing that holds he ball joint captive within the bracket you see there. Not sure how easy it is to get it here but the part number is F0046470897.

To replace this nylon bush, the whole gear console does not need to come off from below. Can be done from the top.

[invisibleghost]

hi salsero, sorry to hijack, but you have yet to pay and collect your rims from leon

[DeaDLocK]

Salsero, there should be a white nylon bushing which is supposed to sit in between the ball joint and the metal recess for the ball joint.

Chances are, the bushing is still in the recess. If it is not, you need to get a new one. However if it is still inside the recess, you're probably okay.

I tried all manner of methods to try and force the metal bar back into the plastic gearstick housing (which also forces the ball joint back into the bushing at the same time), but I found it very difficult because the problem is that the metal piece will not budge unless you exert parallel pressure on it. Try pushing it in at the slightest of angles and it just will not budge, but it's hard to go parallel in that small space.

The trick I found was to use a long screwdriver (30cm+ in length). Even better if you have one with a square (as opposed to a rounded) shaft. Just stick the end of the screwdriver down against the red frame in your photos. Use that as a pivot. Position the shaft of the screwdriver against the middle of the metal piece (in between the nut and the recess for the ball joint) and then just force the metal piece back into the plasting housing and the bushing back on to the ball joint.

Once I used the screwdriver I found it so easy that if it ever happens again it will take me 2 minutes to fix. But as I said earlier it's not clear in the photos whether you still have the bushing. Hopefully you do...

[Salsero]

Thanks Deadlock. Gave it a shot earlier with a screwdriver but when it didn't budge immediately, I didn't push the matter further as I was afraid that I might break something.

Will recheck for the bushing and give it another try. I guess this begs the question as to how permanent of a fix this is

[Kelv27]

Even if the bush is in there, chances are its cracked.

[DeaDLocK]

Mine popped out without being cracked for some odd reason. Which made it all the more harder to pop back in...!

[Salsero]

So there's a shop in Permas Jaya that claims can do the work but they said have to replace the entire cable. Everything else I've read (inc. on FCCUK) says that changing the bushing alone is sufficient. No mention of an entire cable replacement. To be fair, they're diagnosing this based on the same pics I've posted above but it still makes me a tad suspicious.

[pistole]

- to be fair to them , they're covering all bases by saying the entire cable has to be replaced.

- if they manage to pop the bad joint back on and it pops back out on you on the road , you'd be all over them and they would've done a "good deed" for nothing.

- if they replaced the whole cable : 99% probability that you'd not have trouble again.

- mechanics all think alike.

- aiya : go at it with a pry bar lah. At worse you break the entire gearshift there ...



- been to legoland already kah ? Got tickets but belum pegi verify and ambik gambar ...

hehe

.

[enrick]

Hi Salsero,

I have the piece that Kelv27 mentioned P#46470897. I came to have extras because the minimum order was 5pcs.
PM me if you are interested. MYR5/pc which was what I paid for.