Must have hit it on something down there, no other obvious damage. :(

Ordered one from Jorily, wary of loss of gearbox oil (when replacing the switch) due to stories of speedo cable head 'dropping off' into the box ?

Sounds like a common occurance,

Anyway to avoid this happening ?

Edited 20 May, 201016 yr by iansmith

I think you've been unlucky there, usually you'll only break one when taking the box out. Drive more carefully or fit a sumpguard!

You will lose some oil when you change it, but if you're quick it will be minimal. However, it's probably worth checking the gearbox oil level anyway!

ok well as darren says if you are quick and have the new switch in you hand ready you can do it without losing hardly any oil, especially if you jack the front up as high as you can.

the speedo gear can be a pain but i tend to pull the cable out carefully and tip it so it keeps the gear on the end as it comes out, then fill the end of the gear with grease so it sticks on the cable to refit, its really not as bad as folk make out as it is quite hard to get the gear to drop right inside the box.

if it does tho it will get trapped in the gear selector and leave you stuck in 2nd

ok well as darren says if you are quick and have the new switch in you hand ready you can do it without losing hardly any oil, especially if you jack the front up as high as you can.

the speedo gear can be a pain but i tend to pull the cable out carefully and tip it so it keeps the gear on the end as it comes out, then fill the end of the gear with grease so it sticks on the cable to refit, its really not as bad as folk make out as it is quite hard to get the gear to drop right inside the box.

if it does tho it will get trapped in the gear selector and leave you stuck in 2nd

Thank you for that info ,

Where would a safe jacking point be to jack up the whole front end ?

And which way to tilt the speedo cable,backwards,frontwards,drivers side,passenger side ?

jack it up under the gearbox and put it in axle stands on the chasis rails or sills, tilt the speedo drive towards the passenger side so that the gear is pressed against the drivers side of its hole gently, the hole it can fall thru is towards the passinger side if you see what i mean so you want to push the gear away from that

^^ i'm sure i've misunderstood what jimbo is saying but i'm sure he does not mean jack up the car by placing the jack on the bottom of the gearbox...

if you are just replacing the swtich i wouldn't even bother jacking it up, just whack it out, whack new one in... job done, if you are quick you might loose about a teaspoon of oil

Oh, to add to that, do it when the gearbox is cold (i.e. engine is cold too) - gearbox oil is a LOT more viscous when it's cold so you'll lose less then.

^^ i'm sure i've misunderstood what jimbo is saying but i'm sure he does not mean jack up the car by placing the jack on the bottom of the gearbox...

if you are just replacing the swtich i wouldn't even bother jacking it up, just whack it out, whack new one in... job done, if you are quick you might loose about a teaspoon of oil

err yea mate thats exactly what i mean, the gearbox casing is more than tough enough just avoid the selector rod at the back.. and about the only place we lift them from if we want both wheels off the ground at once.. only suggested it as there is even less chance of loosing any oil if its pointing up tho, as tom pointed out tho just swap it quick

i hope you're joking.. ^^ the engine mounts aren't designed to take that sort of stress/weight from lifting the whole front end of the car

its worked for the last 15 years mate.......... never ever seen a busted gearbox rubber yet and i have been fixing the skoda's since the first fwd cars were sold here.

its not like i would leave the car like it for hours just while the stands are put in place

It's done now, wacked it in as quick as I could,and very little oil lost into an old bowl under it.

Really SMELLY stuff,gearbox oil.

Swilled the bowl with a bit of aerosol brake cleaner and tipped it behind the shed.

Dont go behind there much,maybe it will keep down the weeds

EP is horrible stuff, but try B373, it's HIDEOUS.