StephenxP

Thank you, that would be great!

Thanks @Awesam. Shame yours isn't a DQ381. If anyone here knows of where I can source a decent refurbed/replacement gearbox (code/ID is SWV), please let me know. I have tried eBay and BreakLink but haven't found an exact match yet.

No idea what they did and haven't had any photos. Did see it on the ramp at my independent garage when it first happened, but all I saw was oil everywhere and a piece of the casing broken off on the floor. To be honest I wasn't sure what I was looking at. In your view is the option of sourcing a refurbed/remanufactured unit a good way to go? What would you do in my position?

Thanks @ApertureS and you're right. My remark before about the gravel getting into the gearbox was along similar lines. It wasn't a boulder though, something small (like a piece of gravel) might have caused it maybe? Is that the council's fault, or is it a fault of the gearbox? Can this DSG gearbox have such a catastrophic failure for no obvious reason?

So if it is not a sealed unit, then a stone from the gravel road might have caused the damage? Or am I really clutching at straws now?? I'd like to think (in a way) that Dad wasn't aware of the servicing intervals, or was mislead by the garage that he trusted. Either way it didn't happen and most likely led to the failure. What could I have expected from this gearbox in terms of mileage had it been serviced at 80k? A dealership told me earlier that they have seen cars with the same gearbox having done over 280k miles. I'm not thinking I'll do that many but it has to be part of the decision as to whether I spend £4-8k on repairs to a car which has done over 140k miles already.

Indeed. The independent said they don't deal with auto gearboxes and he would have made that clear to my dad, but I guess he must have been preoccupied caring for my mum and he didn't get round to doing it. Out of character for him as he knew his cars and knew what needed to be done. It's a good point though about awareness around the proper servicing. I understand this is a sealed unit, but also acknowledge that the gearbox hasn't been serviced as per recommendation, but I would have hoped and still hope to get many more miles out of this car. It feels knew or at least did before the gearbox went.

Ok, thank you for all your comments and advice. I'll keep you posted with how I get on.

Thank you. Its a 2017 (6 year-old) and is the DQ381 7-speed gearbox. Turns out the oil was not changed at 80k so I'm not holding my breath with Skoda. Best case now is that I get a reconditioned unit and also get the MCU fixed which I understand has also been affected. Some places I spoke to only said they would be able to deal with the mechanical part of the gearbox. If anyone out there including your contacts @toot could help me source a good reconditioned DSG, I would be most grateful. Thank you

Speaking with the garage where his regular servicing took place, they do not carry out DSG oil changes, but he did have work carried out at the main dealership which I am checking now as well. Two companies, one based on Yorkshire (known to Dad's mechanic) and a one in Kent both said they would see if they could repair the gearbox and if not source a refurbished/remanufactured one and carry out the replacement. There is an automatic gearbox specialist nearby (STA in Aylesbury) and I am speaking with a local car parts company with a view to sourcing a refurbished gearbox. I understand the coding is important on the mechatronic and was led to believe that the gearbox MCU had to have the same code, or recoding would be necessary. Any advice around this would be welcomed. Thank you

I am also checking whether the oil service was carried out at 80k miles with the garage that he used.

Thank you @tootfor your helpful and swift reply. Yes I believe mine is a DQ381. I had not read that post. From what the mechanics have told me, the casing of the gearbox has blown (caused by the dif ??). They did not mention the MCU as being the likely cause, it sounds to be more of a mechanical failure. I will speak to Skoda, even if my chances are hopeless, as I don't think it should be acceptable for this to happen to a car which is just 7 years old, rendering it an economical write off. Assuming they turn me down, and I wanted to get the car repaired, what would be your advice? As I mentioned I have had offers to attempt to repair the gearbox itself (not MCU) and have attempted to source replacement which varies between £1500-2500. If I had any certainty that the car would be fixed and working as well as can be expected for its age/mileage, I would be prepared to spend the money. I can't bring myself to part with the car in the circumstances.

My father passed in March this year (2023) and left me his pride and joy a 67 plate Skoda Superb 2.0 TDi Estate Laurin & Klement. He loved to car, it was serviced regularly as per the schedule, and well looked after, although he did do a lot of miles (144k) whilst he was looking after my mother who has severe Alzheimer's disease. In August, driving along a gravel road I noticed a bang sound and assumed I'd gone over a large stone or hit a pot hole. Later warning light came on saying transmission failure and reverse gear was not available. I took the car to my local garage to have it checked out immediately. From the oil on the underside of the car, it was obvious that something bad had happened, indeed a bit of the casing dropped to the floor when the bottom plate was removed. The cost of a new gearbox is £5800 which is beyond my means. Since then I have been reading up about this gearbox, trying to find a replacement, but not entirely sure how to take things forward. My garage recommended speaking to Skoda UK to see if they might cover the repair costs as a good will gesture so I gave them a call. They said the car would need a diagnostic check carried out at a Skoda dealership, so I arranged for it to be moved to my local dealer. I got the call yesterday to say that it was a complete failure and that it would need a new gearbox which with fitting would cost around £8.1k. Does anyone think I have a leg to stand on here in terms of getting a result with Skoda UK or the dealership? I have a strong sentimental attachment given it was my dad's car, so am loathed to sell it for scrap, but the reconditioned / remanufactured route also sounds risky, even though I have spoken to several "experts" who offer repair/replacement services, which of course is not cheap, but is more like half of what Skoda are quoting me.