P1800 / P1800ES

1961-1973 / Coupe / Shooting Brake / Sweden

All P1800 / P1800ES problems All workshop issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Propshaft centre bearing failure

Symptoms

Vibration at speed, rumbling or droning noise, clunking when taking up drive.

Cause

The centre bearing wears out or the rubber mount collapses. It's exposed to the elements under the car and takes a hammering.

Fix

Replace the centre bearing and mount.

They're available and not expensive.

Drop the propshaft, swap the bearing, refit.

Takes a couple of hours.

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Other known issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

M40/M41 overdrive failure

Overdrive won't engage, kicks out under load, makes a grinding or whining noise, leaks oil.

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Worn synchros (manual gearbox)

Gears crunch going into second, reverse grinds, hard to select gears when cold.

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Differential whine and backlash

Whining noise from the rear axle, clunking when changing direction (forward to reverse), vibration.

Common Engine

Oil leaks from rear main seal

Oil weeps or pours from the back of the engine, usually visible around the bellhousing. Can soak the clutch on manual cars.

Common Engine

Piston ring wear and oil consumption (B18/B20)

Blue smoke on startup or under load. Engine uses a litre of oil every 500-1000 km. Exhaust tips go black and sooty.

Common Engine

Timing gear wear and rattle (B18)

Rattling or chattering noise from the front of the engine, especially on cold start or at idle. Sometimes a metallic ticking that doesn't go away when warm.

View all 28 P1800 / P1800ES problems