GEARBOX ISSUES - DAIHTSU CHARADE 2003, 1.0LT, 3 CYLINDER DAIHATSU CHARADE (L2_)
DAIHATSU CHARADE (L2_) 1.0 (L251S)
@user_267318
08.03.2021 14:20
Member
Good Afternoon,
Any help please. Have A charade 2003 hatchback, 1.0lt 3 cylinder motor. Gearbox makes a whining sound. having a problem shifting too 4th gear. But then the problem is intermittent. Whine becomes louder as it heats up. Spoke to a mach, referred me to a gearbox guy. Spoke to him said no use doing a service, need to overhaul the box, R15k cost to do that. Bottonline I do not think it is a major problem right now. Will changing the oil and filter make a difference. Does it have an oil cooler ?
Aprreciate the urgent feedback please.
Thanks
Salim
[email protected]
08.03.21
08.08.25
@Boas198310.03.2021 13:33MemberNothing will change if you only change the oils and filters, the gearbox needs to be repaired, most likely the problem is in the bearings- @C. Smith08.08.2025 16:10MemberYour 2003 Daihatsu Charade 1.0L 3-cylinder gearbox making a whining noise that becomes louder as it heats up, along with intermittent difficulty shifting into 4th gear, could be a sign of internal gearbox wear or damage. Since the whining increases with temperature, it suggests bearing or gear wear inside the transmission.
Regarding your question about changing the gearbox oil and filter:
- Changing the gearbox oil may help temporarily reduce noise and improve shifting feel if the problem is due to old or degraded lubricating oil or contamination. It can improve lubrication and quiet some noises.
- However, if the whining and gear engagement problem are due to internal mechanical wear (bearings, gears, synchros), changing oil alone will not fix the root cause.
- Most smaller manual gearboxes like yours do not have an oil cooler, especially on a 1.0L hatchback model. So no need to check for one.
- An oil change is relatively low cost and low risk, so it’s reasonable to try this as a first step while planning a more comprehensive gearbox repair or overhaul if the problem worsens.
- Since your gearbox specialist already suggested an overhaul at R15,000, this indicates the problem may be serious internally, and oil change can only delay the inevitable.
In summary, changing the gearbox oil and filter may make some difference in noise or shifting but likely won’t fully resolve an internal wear problem. There is no oil cooler on your gearbox, so no need to consider that. If the symptoms worsen, the gearbox overhaul will be necessary.
