Hi

First time on here and just wondered if anyone has any usefull tips/ideas on changing a 2001 1.9 sdi fabia gearbox.

My mums gearbox has gone and muggins here has been dragged in to help.

Ive picked up the replacement sdi box and are planning to get started tmow night, ive done gearbox and engine swaps before but have never worked on this car. As always, someone who has done this before might know of a few tricks to save time or prevent problems.

Ive not even really looked undernearth it yet so I dont know if it drops straight out, crossmember has to come off, pops out the side/wheel arch or engine out job??????

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Toby

make sure you remove the old one first otherwise the new one just won't fit!

Welcome to Briskoda and you'll get a proper answer and tips soon.

replace the clutch whilst in there, use the correct oil, no exceptions. List all sensors and locations so as not to forget any as it can do your head in trying to find a fault. Remember all earths and aircon mounts etc. Remove starter before extraction and refit after replacement or it can fight with the flywheel.

Get some cv grease to top up inner drive shafts. Once all the multipoint driveshaft bolts are undone, the housing may need a few good cracks with a hammer to free shaft. Torque for clutch pressure plate is 20lbft, make sure clutch plate is perfectly centred or box will not go in.

You will need to undo and remove mount from box obviously but if you drop engine down a bit to an angle it goes so much easier. i used a bar going wing to wing with ropes tied around engine hoist loop.

2 people will make refitting gearbox sooooo much easier, lifting partner needs a little strength but mainly alot of dexterity - they need to be fast at understanding angles and follow instructions easily, as this is the sweary time.

Estimated time (all goes well) 4 hours

Cheers for this.

As for "they need to be fast at understanding angles and follow instructions easily, as this is the sweary time" my only help will be the old man. I feel this could get messy.

Does the box drop straight out, no messing around with cross members etc Also the multi point drive shafts, these aren't just spline's that slide in?

Any odd ball one off tools needed?

Cheers

Only tool I can think of you need that you may not have is the M16 security spline tool for the gearbox drain/fill plugs.

Have a search on ebay for them. Most VAG cars use the same tool.

Phil

yeah thats a must, i just got a nut with right sized head and welded it into an old socket.

Not sure on fabia if you have sub frame, but on octy it obviously slides away from engine until splines are clear then drop it, once shafts are out its quite clear, i had to remove a pas pipe as it was a pain getting past it.

if you have engine subframe it might be a tad more tricky, dont know what you have, you might just be a dogbone mount like mine i suspect