Driving to france should I......

change gearbox oil before i go or will it possibly create more problems than I want….
Going this sunday morning 26/9/07 would this job give me more headaches?
Any opinion's welcome…..  :dontknow:

Just do it. Won't take long.  

Cheers for quick reply, just had a quick look and looks like there could be a slight drip from bottom of clutch/gearbox towards inside of engine. Sorry for none technical speak will have a more serious look tonight.
Any idea's what this could be??

If your driving through france,just enjoy the scenery,and take your time,its a lovley country,and they run at a slower pace to us so theres no rushing,I would change engine oil and filter,gearbox oil if its been a few years,fanbelt,timing belt if i didnt know the history,check front pads and make shure rear cylinders are not leaking,apart from that just drive  8)  and dont forget sunglasses
Where about you going to? my mates brought a garage over there and wants me to go with him to set it up and work a few weeks of the year over there.
Bert

Hi Bert
Going to Rochechourt near Limoges, if he's not too far away could call on way there or on way back?
Well I've serviced th car myself over the past couple of years recently had an oil change/filter, new dizzy cap, distributer arm, rear bearings hubs/shoes and fanbelt over past couple of months. Brakes/tyres are good, no oil leaking up to press, flushed coolant and replaced (with a bit of radweld….radiator slightly leaky)
I have bought a new tensioner and timing belt but thought it would be a too complicated job to do just before departure??
Cheers
Jamie

timing belt 2 hrs max,just get a decent allen key to undo the pulley bolts.you can pop in and see the garage but the geezers here hes just come back from a months stay,ive been stuck moting    gets boring at 16 per day,i went to les sables d'olonne stunning place,i could live there, toured all round the area,went to port bourgenay another scenic place,and the people are so friendly,i went in my 83 mercedes 240D and you can imagine the performance from that  8O  hit a hill and watch the speedo droop  :wink:  i covered 2500 miles total and it was a great journey,and what went wrong with the old girl??? the interior light blew at midnight trying to read a map to find the house we were staying in  :evil:  i had to steal the bulb from the engine bay light  :wink:
Bert

I thought I'd be good recently and change my gearbox oil. It must have been so low that putting in the correct 2 litres caused oil to get past the clutch pushrod seal that was unknowingly damaged, and caused oil to get on the clutch plate, which obviously caused the clutch to start slipping. Had to have the gearbox off and a new clutch on!

Just thought I'd say…

Hi Benici
I read that post that's why I'm a bit hesitant with the change.
What to do??????
 :dontknow:

I changed the oil because my car would occasionally jump out of gear into neutral on the motorway. Heard that low gearbox oil caused this.  I would maybe suggest that that if your gearbox is currently behaving itself, then maybe wait till you get back.

When I drained it, only 0.7 litres came out. So given that it supposed to hold 2 litres it was obviously very low on oil.

r.e the oil leak, tighten your sump bolts, the ones nr the gbox are tricky, use  a 1/4'' drive wth 1/4'' extension bar on a wobble thingy.

have fun!

Hi all
Many thanks to all the guy's who replied to my topic, I think I'm going with the old system of if it's not broke dont fix it.
I've got a full day to get where I need to be in France so I'm not going to thrash it. I will take all possible fluids in case of any problems that occur.
I'll update the topic with a few photo's when I'm back….
Cheers
Jamie

Hey.

Where're you going to?

Happy travels

Dom

Im planning on driving my sportline down to my Dads Near Bourdeux next year…..its about 12 hours drive once your get off the boat or train……but having just done a 400 mile round trip without a single hitch!!! my faiths getting stronger in the old boy….and its actually nice to drive long distances, thanks in part to the recaros 8)  basicly i have changed anything on mine that might let me down!!! cam belt, tensioner, oil, filter, gearbox oil, ht leads, cap rotor arm, anti freeze, pumped up the spare, you can never p[redict everything but as long as the cars sound to start with then if summink happens on route thats just bad luck i guess :dontknow:   , i intend on taking a spare clutch and throttle cable with me..just in case!! as from past experiences of my other mk1`s the clutch cable dont give a lot of warning!!! other than that im just gonna enjoy the scenery and driving at a nice sedate pace and taking in the lovely scenery that only Rural France can offer 8)

Hi all
Thanks for the interest Im here now weather lovely and ran sweet as a nut on way down 8hours (in Rochechourt near Limoges). Just let down by headlights not working please help on overnight back to uk so need lights.
Cheers all awaiting your replies :dontknow:

Thats gods way of getting back of you as u didnt take me with you Jamie
Checked fuse?

Looks like all fuses are ok switch is melted at back trying to source a new one but bit difficult in francais…..
Going to try and locate a french scrapper……French scrapheap challange
wish me l :dontknow: uck

good luck mate.
might be worth trying to get a mk2 golf or early polo one you can bodge just til you get home.
you fetching any pressies back?

tomo320 said

you fetching any pressies back?

maybe garlic and a stick of bread?  

nahhh jamies a good lad, be a few cases of beer and some golden virginia :wink:

I have a spare set of French headlights but I'm in the south east, so I'm guessing they're not much use to you.

Handy words to know:

casse auto (car breakers)
phare (headlight)

…not to be muddled up with:
feux (tail lights)