Help! Gearbox problem on my 6 week old vRS!

[freddyg]

Hi folks,

Has anyone else experienced any problems with the manual gearbox on a diesel vRS?

Tail end of a 150mile journey this evening and I lost 4th gear. Then 2nd and finally 6th. Came to a standstill at some traffic lights and popped it into first, then found second (hurrah! ) but could go no further (boo!) And no neutral.

Hazards on. Engine off. Tried again but this time had gears 1, 3 and 5. Limped to our destination, parked up and threw the keys into a field (joke).

Anyone experienced similar or have any tips?

Cheers.

[CharleyB]

I've not had any problems with the gearbox myself, but would suggest that because it's a mechanical issue I'd get a recovery vehicle to and get it dragged back to the dealer to sort out. I don't know enough about what sort of gear linkage there is between the gear lever and the gearbox, but that could be one avenue? Hope you get it sorted.

[Orville]

Sounds like a synchro mesh problem. My guess is that the dealer will strip the gearbox and replace the affected iteem. Call Skoda Assitst and have them carry it to the dealers rather than risking major damage. The dealer should be able to provide a courtesy car.

[Miz]

Sounds like a synchro mesh problem. My guess is that the dealer will strip the gearbox and replace the affected iteem. Call Skoda Assitst and have them carry it to the dealers rather than risking major damage. The dealer should be able to provide a courtesy car.

My guess would be the dealer will replace the gearbox (if required) and send the old one back to Skoda.

[skovirg]

That's rotten luck. 

 

I'd never limp anywhere in a car covered by warranty.  Call Skoda assist and tell them that they need to assist you. 

[freddyg]

Ordinarily, I wouldn't have limped on. But we have two young kids and were 20 miles from our destination.

I'll give Skoda a bell in the morning.

[skovirg]

Ordinarily, I wouldn't have limped on. But we have two young kids and were 20 miles from our destination.

I'll give Skoda a bell in the morning.

 

Aint it always the case!? How do cars manage to break down at the worst moment? I've never used them myself but I'm sure they'll get you sorted. It seems like an unusual problem, not many mentions on here so far.  Good luck with it but if you still feel the need to lob the keys into a field, send me the postcode please.

[VRSPhil]

Random guess but sounds like one of the selector cables might be slipping to me.

I know it's new and needs sorting by skoda, but for the sake of an easy life, it might be worth getting someone to move the gear stick about whilst you look at the top of the gearbox to see if anything is obviously broken / detached.

Phil

[gadgetman]

Call Skoda assist. You'll get a replacement whilst yours is being repaired.

[freddyg]

Thanks Phil. I'll give that a go. I'm not in a position to get skoda assist to come out until Monday.

[freddyg]

Gadgetman. We're currently away on holiday so I'd rather wait until Monday.

[racman]

No hire cars on monday they are shut as are dealers

Edited 19 April, 2014 by racman

[freddyg]

No worries, I'll call them on Tuesday.

[gadgetman]

No hire cars on monday they are shut as are dealers

Skoda assist is 24/7

If your vehicle is undriveable you will get a similar sized hire car within 4 hours, and your vehicle will be taken to your local dealership.

[skovirg]

Are you sure gadgetman? I don't know otherwise but I thought assist was basically just RAC cover? Wouldn't the replacement car come from a different source such as the dealer it is returned to. If I'm wrong, that's great service.

[JerryT]

If arrange by Skoda Assist then the replacement vehicle will come from a hire company. The breakdown is attended by the RAC and if recovery is required they will arrange it with a local specialist has been my experience.

[james_19742000]

Skoda Assist are ace, I broke down a couple of years ago in my mk2, they came out diagnosed a fault, said it couldn't be driven, arranged a tow to my garage of choice, then when I arrived at the dealer there was a taxi there waiting to take me home so I could wait for the chap from Eurocar to come and collect me, take me the nearest branch and collect a hire car, that was all on a Bank Holiday Sunday, plus plenty of phone calls from Skoda Assist at every step to make sure I was fully in the picture of what was going on, can't speak highly enough of them, and they are 24/7 and you will get your hire car whether its business hours or 3 in the morning, you really should call them, get them to sort it out for you.

[freddyg]

Just got back home. The gearbox is still a problem, 2nd and 4th are very intermittently available. Skoda assist will be my first job in the morning.

[gadgetman]

Are you sure gadgetman? I don't know otherwise but I thought assist was basically just RAC cover? Wouldn't the replacement car come from a different source such as the dealer it is returned to. If I'm wrong, that's great service.

As above the hire car comes from a hire company not the dealer.

Even with hire companies closed, they can get a car and typically can access the dealers secure compound to drop your car at the dealers even in the middle of the night.

It really is a very good breakdown cover compared to anything you can buy.

[freddyg]

Right then. The car is fixed.

I called the lease company who sent the AA out (45 minutes). The chap took the car for a test drive and confirmed the problem. Bonnet up, airbox off and there, sitting on the gearbox, was a forked clip. The clip was from the gear selection cable. Re-tensioned and replaced and all is well in the world.

phew.

[kalpat]

Really pleased for you. You can now get on with enjoying your car. Goes to show that not all problems are major faults.

[philhoward]

Just to add, if the car is undriveable (mine was), then you get a hire car OR accomodation.  My hire car came from AVIS via the closest airport (as they tend to have longer opening hours).  Even got a taxi paid for by Skoda Assist (yes, it is the RAC in disguise) to get me there.