Reconditioned Citroën Nemo Gearbox

Citroën Nemo Gearbox: from 2008 to 2018, two diesel engines with well-documented weaknesses

Throughout the Nemo's production life, two diesel engines were available: the 1.4 HDi (engine codes 8HS and FHZ) and the 1.3 HDi (engine codes F13DTE5 and 199A9000). Both are paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, but they are not the same unit and are not interchangeable. The well-known weak point on these gearboxes — particularly in vans used intensively in urban environments — is premature synchromesh wear, especially on the lower ratios. The typical symptom is a stiff, notchy change into 2nd and 3rd when cold, which can eventually progress to the gear refusing to engage at all. The output bearings and input shaft bearings also take a heavy beating from the repeated short-cycle use that is characteristic of light commercial vehicle operation.

Identifying the correct unit by engine code

The critical identification point is the engine code stamped on the block: 8HS and FHZ both refer to the 1.4 HDi, but correspond to different configurations and model years within the 2008–2018 period. The 1.3 HDi under codes F13DTE5 and 199A9000 is an entirely different architecture and must not be confused with the 1.4. Ordering a gearbox based solely on the engine capacity figure risks a reference mismatch. The replacement references available in this collection — including 2231S9, 20CQ84, 20CQ70, 20CQ93 and 20CQ69 — correspond to these specific families; checking the engine code before placing any order is the only reliable way to avoid an incompatibility.