Peugeot Boxer (Symbol) Gear Box

The gear box on our T Reg Symbol went and the garage have had great difficulty in obtaining replacement parts in UK, they have finally found what they need in Sweden! Has anyone else had this problem? They say that this model is obsolete and that many dealers are refusing to take them in for repair.
TES Transmissions (the people who are undertaking the job) have an excellent reputation and are specialists in this field so if they are having trouble what is the future for our much loved Symbol?

There are many parts still available from Poland but a specialist gearbox company should be able to make parts themselves. There have been previous threads on the subject with links to specialist re-builders.

Thank you, I am new to posting and only saw the threads after mine appeared.  I will ensure the water ingress problem is sorted though before it happens again.

One month later we finally picked up our van!  Reconditioned gearbox, clutch kit, oil and labour £2,149.39 inc VAT.!!!  The garage have said that this is the last one they will take in for repair as obtaining the parts is a nightmare.  So what do we do?  Keep our lovely van until it dies and then sell for spare parts or sell now with a 12,000 mile/12 month warranty? But that seems a little dishonest to say the least.

Look in the latest edition of MMM magazine. There is an article about a gearbox repairer where they are having no problems reconditioning them at a cost of less than a thousand if I remember correctly. I'm away on tour at moment and the mag is at home. There must be other members who read MMM and can give further details. Could a moderator move these posts on this subject to technical section where it could be found by members more easily.

Thank you but too late I'm afraid, we have just paid over £2,000 and have booked our place in the workhouse.  However, I will keep the information for future reference just in case.

stonemarkate wrote:One month later we finally picked up our van!  Reconditioned gearbox, clutch kit, oil and labour £2,149.39 inc VAT.!!!  The garage have said that this is the last one they will take in for repair as obtaining the parts is a nightmare.  So what do we do?  Keep our lovely van until it dies and then sell for spare parts or sell now with a 12,000 mile/12 month warranty? But that seems a little dishonest to say the least.

This is exactly the kind of situation that scares me when considering buying a  2000-2002 model Symbol, the gearboxes on these things seem very prone to say the least. what is the point in buying a Van that possibly you cant get gearbox parts for?, and that was 3 years ago? Getting stuck with a  bill like that for a 18 year old van is verging on the ridiculous even if you could track down the parts. Seems a bit of a nightmare scenario to me. What are you going to do, except scrap it, knowing that you have just kissed 12 grand bye bye.

The problem with researching forums for info is that things tend to get out of proportion.
Someone [cleverer than I] once wrote that judging the reliability of a vehicle by reading forum posts is like judging the overall health of the country by interviewing people in doctors waiting rooms.

Yes - some Boxers do have gearbox problems, but many more don't.
As an example:
If you look up the scuttle drain pipe saga on here, you will come to the conclusion that every Boxer had the wrong scuttle drain pipe fitted or that it was fitted incorrectly.
The one on my van was fitted correctly and empties behind the gearbox, not onto it. Some were fitted incorrectly but perhaps not as many as you would suppose by reading the posts? I suspect that far, far more were fitted correctly than incorrectly - but it doesn't appear that way according to forum posts.

My gearchange is notchy, but it is one of the earlier gearboxes, it is the same one which was in the van when we bought it in 2002 and I believe it is the same one it left the factory with. That is not to say that Boxer gearboxes never fail - some obviously  do, but again, perhaps not as may as you would believe.
Later gearboxes are better BTW

Many people join forums only because they are having a problem and want advice. Very few - if any,  join a forum to say that they are NOT having any problems.

The problems people write about are real and do exist, but you need to step back and think rationally about the advice or warnings given before making any decisions

Frank.

"The problem with researching forums for info is that things tend to get out of proportion.
Someone [cleverer than I] once wrote that judging the reliability of a vehicle by reading forum posts is like judging the overall health of the country by interviewing people in doctors waiting rooms."
Very true Frank, its all too easy to get a little paranoid by what seems a large number of people with this problem. Its true that when you read views of anything, the people who have a grievance with that product will shout the loudest, and the millions who are happy with that product will generally say little, i.e. nothing to complain about. So yes,your argument is true and well thought out, but try telling that to the guy who can't repair his gearbox or is landed with £2149 bill, as right as you probably are.  Excellent post as usual .

stonemarkate wrote:The gear box on our T Reg Symbol went and the garage have had great difficulty in obtaining replacement parts in UK, they have finally found what they need in Sweden!  Has anyone else had this problem?  They say that this model is obsolete and that many dealers are refusing to take them in for repair.  
TES Transmissions (the people who are undertaking the job) have an excellent reputation and are specialists in this field so if they are having trouble what is the future for our much loved Symbol?

The symbol I got about 18months ago had a receipt for a recon gearbox and clutch total was £1500.
Having problems changing gears my local garage told me the box had never been out and the clutch was years old!
Sent the box to a local specialist(Derby)he got all of the parts needed next day it was rebuilt and fitted in a day. Complete with the mod to avoid water in the box.
Just got back from a weekend away and it’s a pleasure to drive,even in the rain.

That's good news Tony Be even better if you'd tell us the name and address of the repairer

Frank

It was all done thru DJC Motors Burton on Trent tel 01283 540590, they sent it to the gearbox specialist in Derby

Any body out there who can recommend a gear box rebuilder the job is on a Harmony 2001, I can get the box taken out and send to the refurbishes. I am in Suffolk so nearer the better, but not essential. All info greatly received, I have found some information on the forum, but not any firm information about who can do the job.

Just had my very rare gearbox totally rebuilt in Norwich, Alternative was an exchange box from Lithuania!

Google Dains below, seriously know what the're doing and prompt service. mine was out anyway for a clutch change, they changed, at my request, all the bearings, not just the noisy differential ones. 

Be sure the correct oil spec and quantity is used when refilling it,

Company is 
JR Dain Transmission Repairs

Wise decision. Get the transmission sound and you will extend the life of the van. If the clutch is being changed you may as well spend the extra on getting the gearbox overhauled whilst parts are available.

It came to £500 on a total bill of £2000 Let me stress that was not just the clutch, but wheel bearings and other parts/labour as well.
Money well spent, if not done, we couldn't use the truck, nor could anyone else.
I did know it needed a clutch when I bought it and the price I paid made plenty allowance for that (Paid £18000, another identical but higher mileage was £23000) so plenty of flex in my price paid to what I knew I had to spend.
Main thing is now it not only has a new clutch, but also new wheel bearings and, effectively, a new gearbox. Win Win IMHO!

Sounds like a good price. I have also purchased 4 wheel bearings and all new front suspension components for future use. Ian you probably already know this but make sure the windscreen scuttle drain has a dog leg drain pipe. It will probably have a straight one from new and this can cause water to drain onto the gearbox leading to water ingress.