Ford Ka Gearbox Replacement Parts

The original Ford Ka (1996–2008) is one generation throughout, but there was a facelift in 2003, and Ford made running changes across those years that can affect ancillary mounts and linkages. Fitment is primarily driven by engine code rather than year alone, so match the engine code from your V5 before assuming a straight swap. Confirm with the breaker against your registration to make sure the specific unit is compatible across that pre- and post-facelift boundary.

No – the original Ka (Mk1, 1996–2008) and the Ka Mk2 (2009–2016) are built on entirely different platforms and use different engines, so their gearboxes are not interchangeable. The Mk2 is based on the Fiat 500 architecture and uses its own family of units, whereas the Mk1 used Ford's own Endura and Duratec engines with their associated gearboxes. Always confirm with the breaker using your registration to get the right unit for your generation.

Trim level makes no difference to gearbox fitment on the Ka – Studio, Zetec, and other trim variants all used the same mechanical specification within a given engine and model year. What matters is that the engine code and fuel type match, not the badge on the back. You may find minor cosmetic or interior differences between a stripped-out donor car and your own, but none of that affects the gearbox itself.

The engine code is the single most important detail for gearbox fitment – it tells a breaker exactly which unit was fitted to the donor vehicle. You can find your engine code on your V5 logbook or by running a VIN check. Provide this to the breaker alongside your registration so they can confirm the gearbox from their vehicle matches yours.

No – petrol and diesel engines use entirely different gearboxes and the units are not interchangeable. The Ka Mk2 was offered with a 1.3 diesel (the Multijet unit), while petrol variants used separate gearbox families, and mixing them will not work. Always make sure the fuel type and engine code of the donor vehicle match your own before buying.

Both years fall within the original Ka generation (1996–2008), with the facelift arriving in 2003, so you are comparing a pre-facelift and post-facelift car. The engine code must match first, and even then there can be mounting or ancillary differences introduced across that 2003 boundary that are not always predictable. Route this question to the breaker with both registrations so they can check the specific units against each other before you commit.