Hi all,Any geniuses out there?I am desperate for an answer to my 2002 octavia diesel(120,000miles) auto box problem.It started sticking in 2nd,not changing up,reving(flareing),but only once in 100 miles.Then it seemed to just wear out as it only drove on impulse power as if the clutch had burnt out.(I know its not got one).

So one rebuilt gearbox later(£1500) it drives well but is still sticking in 2nd once in every 10 miles,but doesnt slip or flare.

It hasnt done it infrount of g/box specialist who says all internal electrics are new or skoda ,Who are stumped, say there are no electric or gearbox fault codes(but still put on an air mass thingy).It had a bad 10 minutes lately after which all the gear selector lights stayed on(off the next day).It started smelling today ,occasionally,in the car as if there was a gas leak in the street,(not catalitic smell& battery/charging ok).I thought I had sorted it out when I found a split pipe to breather But STILL sticks in gear.If I turn off the engine and restart it reset itself and is ok for 10 miles or only one mile!I carnt find any air leaks yet it still smells.Any ideas????????Thanks,Brian

Edited 18 November, 200817 yr by brianhamburg

I'd make sure the oil level is ok (requires diagnostics) and check the fault codes again, if its gone into emergency mode somethig should be stored.

Thanks,but level fine,fluid clear and not burnt.Skoda say"No codes stored & ecu fine"

I've known a bad cable to the gearbox cause a similar problem without logging any codes. It was the larger cable which IIRC operate the solenoids.

I'd agree if on a new box you are getting similar symptoms that it's a cabling or ecu issue.

My first thought was that it needed an oil change, but I'd expect an exchange box to have fresh oil, which points to cabling or ECU.

thanks for all your suggestions.

Took it to skoda again ,they said fluid level and got protectionist saying the gearbox man couldnt&shouldnt set fluid level but he said he mends the boxes for skoda and they have forgot to fill transaxel before now,ruining the box.!

The car finally stuck in 2nd.!

so I took it to gearbox specialist who could then see for himself.It had logged a code at last...the gear selector switch!He is waiting for one to be delivered tomorrow then we will see?

Fingers crossed,I am even happy to spend more money just to get it sorted.

Gearbox specialist fitted switch today.Worked fine when cold(as it always did)Then nearly put him through the windscreen as the engine revs died to 30mph,on the motorway,and the box sensing this changed down to 2nd.The car then stunk of gas.

Still no codes & no wiser exept he is stumped and wont drive it now!

Surely a duff exhaust calatist wouldnt cut engine??

If it does ,and an auto box is fitted,it would make sense???any body out there know??

Any way hes a good guy and says he needs to know what it is so he is sending it to a deisel specialist on monday,on a truck!

"diesel specialist" didnt want to know without any fault codes.! I discovered the thermostat didnt seem to de working so replaced that and the temp sender at back or the head(1 plug & 1 pull off clip-5 mins).It ran better but 10 miles and the torque converter failed and I only just made the 10 miles to gearbox garage with it slipping & hazards on the last 2 miles.They tried it the next day and it drove perfectly for 10 miles! then sliped and they agreed to send torque converter back to remanufacturer.Hope to get it back tomorrow???.....tomorrow now arrived and they want to fit a new oil cooler before they will guarantee...Was that always the problem??!

Edited 1 December, 200817 yr by brianhamburg

I am not sure what interest in this there is as none of you have any advice,including skoda or garages I asked,but heres the next installement.

Got gear box back in and perfect.No fault codes......Untill it got warm,10 miles.

On motorway the car died=nearly thrown through the windscreen!

ENGINE SEIZED !!!!

No fault codes,

So we presume originally the gearbox was slipping but there was also an intermittent overheating problem.

Temp gauge always perfect ,radiator working(hot)and no fault codes.????

maybe engine waterway blocked or oil pump??

Garages Standard reply is no fault codes=no fault mate.!

My end note is I am getting a superb now....MANUAL.

P.S. I offered Gear box man car for £500 if I carnt get engine fixed for less than £500.

I used it as a Leeds taxi so its painted black and white but he is still ready to bite my hand off at £500

( INCLUDING a twice perfect gearbox+£200 switch/cooler+£80 air mass thingy)

Any better offers out there?? email me at [email protected]

Sorry to hear of your trouble. No fault code does not mean no fault, by the sound of it the fault in the box was never found. Either you have been unlucky or quite possibly it's the gearbox that has siezed, not the engine. If it has damaged the engine in the process is another matter.

Have you had anything examined or do you just want to cut your losses? Would I be right in saying that the gearbox hasn't had oil changes between 40-80k? All the 01M failures I hear about seem to stem from the terribe state of the oil by 80k, it's been analysed and at 40k needs changing - VAG claiming it's lifetime is terrible, the box mfr's don't agree even.

If you were a bit nearer and it wasn't a black and white taxi, I'd have been interested.

Greg.

I am not sure what interest in this there is as none of you have any advice,including skoda or garages I asked,but heres the next installement.

Got gear box back in and perfect.No fault codes......Untill it got warm,10 miles.

On motorway the car died=nearly thrown through the windscreen!

ENGINE SEIZED !!!!

No fault codes,

So we presume originally the gearbox was slipping but there was also an intermittent overheating problem.

Temp gauge always perfect ,radiator working(hot)and no fault codes.????

maybe engine waterway blocked or oil pump??

Garages Standard reply is no fault codes=no fault mate.!

My end note is I am getting a superb now....MANUAL.

P.S. I offered Gear box man car for £500 if I carnt get engine fixed for less than £500.

I used it as a Leeds taxi so its painted black and white but he is still ready to bite my hand off at £500

( INCLUDING a twice perfect gearbox+£200 switch/cooler+£80 air mass thingy)

Any better offers out there?? email me at [email protected]

Is it the engine or the box that has seized? Did the wheels lock?

You won't really know until the two are separated.

Damage to the engine may have occurred when the box seized. It is far more violent than stalling an engine.

If the engine is still good then you will probably need a new box and you will be asking gearbox man what he is going to do for you.

I'm thinking "gearbox seized" too. If it's seized in gear, you'd get the same symptoms as a seized engine until the 2 were split, when the engine would turn over normally, even if the engine's fine.