Reconditioned Opel Astra Gearbox

Opel Astra Gearboxes from 2002 to 2023: an exclusively manual range, in 5 or 6 speeds depending on the engine

Unlike other models in the Opel range, the Astra covered by this catalogue features no conventional automatic gearbox, no dual-clutch, and no automated manual: every unit available here is a manual transmission, either 5-speed or 6-speed. The choice between the two is not open — it depends strictly on the engine and, for certain engine capacities, on the year of production. A 1.3 CDTi can take a 5-speed (code Z13DTH) or a 6-speed (A13DTE) depending on the generation, as can the 1.7 CDTi, which spans five distinct engine codes (Z17DTL, Z17DTH, Z17DTR, A17DTR, A17DTE) spread across both gearbox types.

Diesel and petrol: different gearbox architectures

On the diesel side, the 1.9 CDTi (Z19DT, Z19DTL, Z19DTH) and the 1.7 CDTi are consistently paired with 6-speed gearboxes from a certain torque level upwards, while the entry-level 1.3 CDTi may retain a 5-speed. On the petrol side, the logic follows power output: the naturally aspirated 1.4 (Z14XE, Z14XEP, A14XER, A14XEL) keeps a 5-speed, whereas the 1.4 Turbo (A14NET, A14NEL) moves to a 6-speed — these two families share no interchangeable gearbox despite the common engine capacity. The 2.0 Turbo (Z20LET, Z20LEH, Z20LER, A20NFT, B20NFT) and the 1.6 Turbo (A16LET, A16LER) both receive a 6-speed, often Getrag units (references BXH, GK, NS, AY3 depending on the model year). The 2.2 (Z22SE, Z22YH) is the exception, with a specific 5-speed.

Key identification points before selecting a unit

The engine code stamped on the block is the determining factor: engine capacity alone is not enough to identify the correct gearbox, particularly on the 1.4 and 1.7 where several engine families coexist within the same body generation. The common symptoms that lead to replacement on these gearboxes — difficult engagement of the higher gears, bearing noise in 6th on the 6-speed Getrag units, broken selector fork on the 5-speed versions of the older-generation 1.3 and 1.4 — differ depending on the family. Two service options are available: supply of a reconditioned unit, or rebuilding your own gearbox and returning it to its original specification, a useful option when the unit carries a rare reference or a vehicle-specific adaptation.