Taxi Driver Online

Hi. New to the forum but not to Fairways. Currently busy running my second one into the ground. Based in Coventry, 'beloved' home of the beasts.

Last month the gearbox failed (on the M5) and after a tow home I put my manual Fairway 97 into a local cab garage to look at. They've replaced the gearbox with a second hand one yesterday, and a brand new clutch at the same time.

Taking it for a test drive it's crunchy as hell. A bit on 2nd but mostly 3rd the gears grind horribly going into gear. Kinda sounds like I'm trying to put it into gear without bothering using that pesky clutch thing.

I'm taking it back to the garage later but was wondering if anyone had any ideas here to give me a heads up.

While I'm enthusiastic and eager I kinda lack the facilities, knowledge or tools to attempt major jobs myself, and gearboxes scare me anyway.

Don't know if the fairway has cable clutch or hydraulic but if cable, it could be needing adjusted correctly. Other than that crunching into gears is usually knackered synchro hubs/baulk rings. Best take it back to place that did the job and get them to rectify.

If it does it in all the gears it sounds like the clutch or spigot bearing.
Does it crunch at all if you go from 1st to reverse then back again with the car stopped and a foot on the clutch pedal?.

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Selling Imperial tools for old cars.

First to reverse and back is fine. No problem there.

Standing still, clutch pressed it goes into all gears fine. It's once you start moving it's not happy.

Going from 1st to 2nd there is a slight grind.

Going from 2nd to 3rd there is a major grind, you can hear it and feel it.

From then, going into 4th and 5th it's spot on. No problems.

Down from 4th into 3rd again crunch. Same going from 3rd to 2nd.

Took it back to the garage yesterday and they vaguely tried to put me off with "well, it's a second hand box and we're really busy and maybe if you bring it back late next week we might get around to taking a look..."

p.s) sorry for the double post and you'll have had this before but Baconsdozen; loved you blog!

Classic case of very worn synchro hubs/baulkrings. you're gonna have to pester them. The second hand thing doesn't wash, obviously not fit for the purpose.

Cheers! Massive help.

At least I've got something technical I can throw at them. The garage has always been ok in the past but this time they've really dragged their heals and been a bit stroppy.

Taking it back in tomorrow. I was hoping to take it camping on Thursday, but guessing I'm going to need to go with a backup plan.

Please let us know how you get on, and if the garage put things right.

Yes it sounds like the synchro rings are all to pot.
If it was clutch etc it would crunch going from 1st to reverse or back again. You might find if you change gear very slowly the gears dont crunch at all or less,or if you can double declutch,either way it gives knackered synchro a bit of help. It's still no good though,you should be able to change gear without having to do either and not get a crunch.

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Selling Imperial tools for old cars.

Chased up the garage.
They've taken it for a run and agreed that yes, "the gears are a bit crunchy ain't they?"
The sourced the box from a garage in Birmingham who not surprisingly haven't got another one to replace it but probably will in a couple of weeks.
So there you go.

Please keep us posted on how you get on. Good luck!

Will do. For now however it looks like I've got to go camping in the girlfriends Golf. It just ain't as romantic somehow

You can get reconditioned ones but at £350 they might be too rich.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LONDON-TAXIS-LTI-FAIRWAY-DRIVER-MANUAL-5-SPEED-RECONDITIONED-GEARBOX-/190654654191

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Selling Imperial tools for old cars.

Been keeping my eye on that one myself.
We'll see.

The problem with most reconditioned units is they only usually replace the bearings and seals, which cost about £80, so making themselves a tidy profit! Anyone know where to obtain the parts for a gearbox as the local Nissan dealer is not interested and ask any gearbox place and they just want to take your box and lots of money off you and you have no idea whats been replaced!