I have done a search and seen a few threads about sticky gear shifts on the VAG 6 speed boxes but wasn't sure if its the same issue as I'm having?

Just noticed today while driving quite slow usually in 1st and 2nd, a few times I couldn't get the gear stick to go into 1st and 2nd and had to really shove it to get it in or try again. I made a concerted effort to ensure the clutch was fully depressed as it is much heavier than my previous car so that's not it. Any ideas? It felt, through the gearbox, like the gearshift was hitting something solid stopping it from going in. it seems quite intermittent but is really annoying as I've found myself lost between gears a few times. Any ideas? Any solutions?

I have done a search and seen a few threads about sticky gear shifts on the VAG 6 speed boxes but wasn't sure if its the same issue as I'm having?

Just noticed today while driving quite slow usually in 1st and 2nd, a few times I couldn't get the gear stick to go into 1st and 2nd and had to really shove it to get it in or try again. I made a concerted effort to ensure the clutch was fully depressed as it is much heavier than my previous car so that's not it. Any ideas? It felt, through the gearbox, like the gearshift was hitting something solid stopping it from going in. it seems quite intermittent but is really annoying as I've found myself lost between gears a few times. Any ideas? Any solutions?

Could be any number of things. Firstly you'll wanna check if it's the synchromesh, the way to do this is by double declutching(sp?), next time the gear sticks pull it into neutral, let the couch out fully then put it back in and attempt to push it into gear. If it goes in without problems it will be your synchro, and unfortunately that's the expensive one. If it is still hard to put into gear, you can check the gear linkages (a handful of rods connecting your gearstick to the gearbox). One may be loose and causing issues. The only other thing ican think of is possibly the clutch is adjusted funny.

Might be an Idea to state your car has a Helix & SMF! That's a fairly important piece of info.

Mine seems stiff on a cold morning, but is OK when it warms up. I think next year I will have my gearbox oil changed. I'm not sure weather to change the oil grade or stick with standard stuff.

Might be an Idea to state your car has a Helix & SMF! That's a fairly important piece of info.

Haha, aye, good point.... I meant to mention that in the post but I was writing it late on and my mind was a little addled.

my mind was a little addled.

Hey, Welcome to my world

My 4K post

Do you feel honoured?

Edited 7 November, 201015 yr by Mike B

Totally, you should have saved yourself for the right person though

To clarify on the original issue it really is intermittent and seems mainly to be me struggling to get it out of 1st gear, happened twice today. Can't really declutch and reclutch as the car lurches and slows when you declutch after the revs have dropped. Might stiff be just me getting used to the heavy clutch.

I'm led to beleive that it is an inherant trait of your particular set-up!

Oh well. Noticed it seems to happen at low revs and if I blip the throttle it seems to slip out ok. As long as its nothing terminal

Oh well. Noticed it seems to happen at low revs and if I blip the throttle it seems to slip out ok. As long as its nothing terminal

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but did you ever solve this problem Dougie? I am having the exact same problems that you described on my Fabia and it's very frustrating!

I think it is just one of those things with the Helix clutch smf setup. It doesn't really happen often and I suspect if is maybe due to me not fully depressing the clutch. It's easy not to when you're not concentrating as the clutch is quite heavy with this setup. Doesn't seem to be an issue now I'm used ti it.