142 / 144 / 145

1966-1974 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 142 / 144 / 145 problems All workshop issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Gearbox Oil Leaks (Manual and Automatic)

Symptoms

Oil pooling under the gearbox, wet bellhousing, low oil level, whining or grinding from the box.

Cause

Perished seals at the input shaft, output shaft, or selector shaft. Overfilling or worn gaskets.

Fix

Jack the car, identify the source.

Input shaft seal: gearbox out.

Output shaft seal: straightforward, pull the propshaft, lever out the old seal, tap in a new one.

Selector shaft seals: remove the tower, replace the O-rings.

Top up with the correct grade of oil (usually SAE 80W or ATF, check the manual).

Overfilling causes leaks and foaming, drain to the correct level.

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Other known issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Worn Clutch (Manual Transmission)

Slipping under load (engine revs rise without acceleration), high biting point, difficulty engaging gears, juddering on takeoff, burning smell.

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Worn Propshaft Centre Bearing

Vibration or droning at highway speeds, clunking on takeoff or gearshifts, visible play in the propshaft.

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Differential Whine or Clunking

Whining or howling from the rear axle, especially under load or deceleration. Clunking when changing direction.

Common Engine

Oil Leaks from Front and Rear Crankshaft Seals

Persistent weeping or pooling of oil beneath the engine, especially at the front timing cover or rear main seal area. You'll see oil misting onto the bellhousing or dripping from the sump.

Common Engine

Worn Valve Guides and Oil Consumption

Blue smoke on startup or deceleration, fouled spark plugs, rising oil consumption between changes (more than half a litre per 1,000 km).

Common Engine

Carburettor Issues (SU or Zenith-Stromberg)

Rough idle, hesitation, stalling when cold, flat spots under acceleration, poor fuel economy, black exhaust smoke.

View all 21 142 / 144 / 145 problems