Hey everyone!

Ive been looking for a Fabia VRs for quite a while now and one has recently come up for sale near me at the right price.

Shes a 2006 with 30k miles and at 27k she had a new flywheel and clutch fitted by Skoda.

I noticed when I was out driving her that the gearbox seemed to be very rattly at idle with the clutch out, and when the clutch was pressed it would quieten down and when a gear was selected it would go completly silent. Also notice a bit of a rattle between gearchanges.

The guy said it is nothing to worry about as all PD130s have a rattle and his has been doing it from virtually brand new.

Just want to get your opinion on this as I really don't want to be buying it and finding out she needs a box down the line lol!

Thanks for any feedback!

If it helps, my PD100 is the same. Whether it is meant to happen or not, it does with mine!

I wouldn't have thought you'd be needing a new gearbox anytime soon, never really seen anyone on here having a full replacement even after 100K. Linkages crop up every know and then and gear oil change but as far as I recall from general reading, that is it!

That is usually a sign of dual mass flywheel being faulty when the rattle quietens down with clutch pedal depressed

That is usually a sign of dual mass flywheel being faulty when the rattle quietens down with clutch pedal depressed

Well as I said the flywheel was replaced under warranty 3k odd miles ago and apart from the rattle there are no other symptoms of DMF failure ie vibration. Whats making me think its the box is the fact that when a gear is selected the noise stops immediately.

I had never driven a PD130/150 before but I had heard to expect a bit more noise than with the 5 speed boxes.

Other than the rattle the car drives 100% with no gear selection problems, bangs or whines.

Thanks for your replies

First off I know nothing about car mechanicals, but I'd be asking/wondering why it needed a new Clutch/DMF at 27k? I'm an incredibly clutch-unfriendly driver and mines at 50k and feeling fine.

First off I know nothing about car mechanicals, but I'd be asking/wondering why it needed a new Clutch/DMF at 27k? I'm an incredibly clutch-unfriendly driver and mines at 50k and feeling fine.

Some will just fail I suppose.

Mine is on 90k and still fine but then i'm friendly to the clutch/DMF for a start.

Give it a few more unfriendly miles and you might start hearing the dreaded noises. I think the worst thing is to boot it when she's at about 1500rpm, not good.

If rattle seems excessive, DMF may have been replaced with an SMF. This cures the potential DMF problem, but does make the transmission more noisy.