Broken gearbox mounting

[Bumpkin]

Having 50,000 mile service done on our '05 Alhambra TDi by an independent today. They just called to say that the gearbox mounting is broken, £60 ish + 30 mins labour to rectify.

However, the vehicle is still within the 3yr/60,000 mile warranty period. Local stealer says if it's fractured then it's considered a manufacturing defect and will be covered. However, if it's excessively worn then it won't be.

Is this a common failure? a search of SCN didn't turn anything up although Google did reveal at least one that sounded similar.

 

[perm]

Hi,

Just had our Alhambra 55 plate serviced by Seat ( 27K miles oil change) and garage has reported that the gear box mounting also needs replacing. This will be covered by warranty. Not sure how common this fault is however.

Cheers

Perm

 

[Bumpkin]

Picked the car up from Ned Potter in Hereford (VAG specialists) this afternoon and on their suggestion took it straight over to Bay Horse Motors (Hereford SEAT dealer) to see if it was a warranty repair (Ned Potter workshop seemed to think it was). I'd already rung Bay Horse Motors to check warranty situation but hadn't managed to speak to the Service Manager.

Once I arrived the Service Manager said that they would inspect and assess as the gearbox mount can get whacked from below and sustain damage that obviously won't be covered by the warranty. He said that if there was no apparent impact damage to the mount (scrapes or scuffs on the underside of the mount) they they would consider it a warranty job.

Car up on lift and a quick check later he reports that the bush has been pushed upward as if it had been whacked but no apparent signs of an impact or damage other than the displaced bush so they'd give me the benefit of the doubt. Mechanic proceeded to remove mount and re-press the bush into the correct position whilst I did paperwork with the Service Manager.

Hopefully it's an effective repair, talked at length about it and Service Manager described the problem, what caused it and the directions of the stresses placed on the mount in normal use being in the opposite plane to the shift of the bush.

I was very impressed with the professionalism and level of service from both Ned Potter and Bay Horse Motors and hence they get mentioned here. Ned Potter also noticed that the battery (fitted 3 weeks ago by the outfit we purchased the car from) wasn't secured which they rectified. Car was cleaned and decent courtesy car was provided.

 

[fredt]

gearbox mount? most likely the engine roll restrictor? if as the dealer says this was damaged by contact! you would probably need a new engine under tray as this mount sits way above this, possibly a new exhaust and sump! even with mine slammed so low that the drive shafts pointed uphill to the hubs from the gearbox! I never once managed to hit this mount or damage it! next time you chat to the Service Manager make sure he's sitting down as this means that sound comes from his mouth and not his nether regions!

 

[Bumpkin]

gearbox mount? most likely the engine roll restrictor? if as the dealer says this was damaged by contact! you would probably need a new engine under tray as this mount sits way above this, possibly a new exhaust and sump! even with mine slammed so low that the drive shafts pointed uphill to the hubs from the gearbox! I never once managed to hit this mount or damage it! next time you chat to the Service Manager make sure he's sitting down as this means that sound comes from his mouth and not his nether regions!

Yes it was the engine roll restrictor or 'torque arm' as I think it's called. I did have a brief look underneath when it was on the lift and did note that it appeared to be covered by the under tray.

Hmmm... if their telling porkies then maybe their repair won't last, as no part was fitted then I assume that there's no warranty on this aspect of the torque arm beyond the end of the original vehicle warranty (Dec this year).

 

[MJ]

Im a seat tech and i've never seen one of the bottom mounts break but as described i have seen it where the bush slides out of its metal casing slightly but even if it did break - the mounting on the top of the gearbox and engine would prevent the engine and box from dropping out

 

[Bumpkin]

Im a seat tech and i've never seen one of the bottom mounts break but as described i have seen it where the bush slides out of its metal casing slightly but even if it did break - the mounting on the top of the gearbox and engine would prevent the engine and box from dropping out

Thanks for the 'heads up', would pressing the bush back in be an effective repair. As I understand it the forces that the bush has to deal with don't work in the direction that the bush has been displaced anyway.

According to the independent who did the service, replacement would be about £60 plus 30 mins labour so it's not a huge deal if I did need to replace the arm.

 

[MJ]

Pressing the bush back in would be fine. the bush is mounted side-ways but deales with up and down torque forces from the engine. there a piece of p*ss to fit but a main dealer part only i believe.

 

[Bumpkin]

Thanks, as I thought, puts my mind a rest.

a main dealer part only i believe.

Do you mean that there are certain parts only SEAT dealers can fit? Surely that goes against the whole block exemption thing? Oddly enough the independent VAG specialist (Ned Potter) that did my service yesterday had one they had replaced that day, not sure if it was off an Alhambra though. So they can get hold of them.

 

[MJ]

Sorry mate you've got the wrong end of the stick. i meant that only seat supply them (as far as i know) so you purchase them from the dealer but anyone can fit them.

 

[Bumpkin]

Sorry mate you've got the wrong end of the stick. i meant that only seat supply them (as far as i know) so you purchase them from the dealer but anyone can fit them.

My mistake...