I seem to be having problems with my gearbox, or at least I don't think it is the clutch as it only affects 3rd gear and reverse. It isn't so much a problem with reverse gear, I consider it a VAG "feature" as it does it on my parents VW Lupo - when you put it into reverse sometimes it isn't all the way in so when you try to use the throttle to reverse it just revs because it is in neutral, so you have to clutch again and push the gearstick in and then it actually goes into gear.

Anyway, with 3rd gear, going up or down the gearbox, it will make a horrible grinding noise after releasing the clutch (and the gear stick will vibrate like mad) - so I have to re-engage the clutch and it will go into 3rd gear just fine. When it first started doing it months ago I assumed it was pilot error as it only did it once a month or so, I though I had just released the clutch too early, or didn't push the gear stick forward the whole way. But more recently, in the past week, it has been doing it several times on my commute (50mins) every day. It is far too frequent for me to be doing something wrong, and a few times I had prevented the grinding as I could almost feel something blocking the gearstick from going in all the way to 3rd gear.

It has never "fallen out" of gear, as in you accelerate for a short distance then suddenly you are in neutral and the gear stick flies back. It is just when trying to engage 3rd gear.

It has a full service history, but does have a high mileage. 125,000+

Does this sound like a fault you have heard before, is the fix simple? I'm assuming it isn't, and it involves me going to a dealer and pulling my pants down whilst texting Santa to let him know Christmas is cancelled. My last service I was quoted £500, and I ended up paying £800 - so I need to find a proper skoda dealer too, not just some random dealer who happens to be listed on the skoda website but doesnt even sell VAG cars.

Edited 10 December, 200916 yr by luke_a

sounds like worn syncromesh to me. Gear box out, strip down and replace the baulke rings

As it's clearly a gearbox fault, why not try a transmission specialist rather than a Skoda dealer? It'll most likely be cheaper, and you'll most likely get a better job, as they'll have more experience in that specific area. Wonder if you can find out where all the cab driversin your area go?

The other option is a replacement box from a scrappy, and could be the cheapest option

What car have you got, and where did you take it to cost £800 to service, what did they do to it, and what area do you live in

What car have you got, and where did you take it to cost £800 to service, what did they do to it, and what area do you live in

Sorry on the old forum it said the car with the post, seems this one only shows it in the Profile.

Skoda Octavia MK2 1.9 8v TDI Elegance Estate (2005)

Was just a cambelt/waterpump replacement and a service, most people on here said £500, the dealer said £500, ended up taking them 2 days (even though I dropped it off when they opened) and costing £800.

I can't seem to find any dealers that just do Skoda around Warwickshire, there seems to be everything else under the VAG group but the only places listed on the Skoda website are peugeot/subaru/independent dealers. The stupid thing is the website claims they all do new, used, service, etc... but they clearly don't, they just seem to have diversified into servicing Skoda's (badly) to try and earn a few quid out of a popular car.

Edited 12 December, 200916 yr by luke_a