Looking for someone to advise me on what I 'think' may be a missing gearbox bolt/grommet or whatever. Long story but while investigating a loss of power steering I've found an accumulation of oil under a hole in the gearbox.

It looks like something should go there but the hole is not threaded so it can't be a bolt. Any ideas?

Here's a summary of what I've found:

• Picture shows underside of gearbox. Image in upper right is just an enlarged view of that area
  
• Looking up through the hole I can see a toothed cog so to me I reckon this should be sealed. Perhaps I'm wrong?
  
• Have looked up on ELSAWIN and can't get a clear view on what should be there
  
• Car has total loss of power steering. Power steering error light on and was the original reason for investigation
  
• Included RossTech VCDS log. Don't believe it's relevant to the gearbox issue but may provide context for someone more knowledgable than myself
  
• YouTube video showing area can be viewed here (around 20 seconds into the video you'll see a comment)
  

Fighting fires on a few fronts here so don't want this thread to venture into steering etc, will keep it focused on what appears to be a gearbox leak.

Car details – Skoda Fabia VRS TDI, 2006, right hand drive UK car.

New to the forum, apologies if I've missed some useful info and thanks in advance for any help.

VCDS log (for info only, don't see any gearbox specific related issues here)

Friday,23,December,2011,23:59:42:10074

VCDS Version: Release 10.6.4

Data version: 20110418

Chassis Type: 6Y - Skoda Fabia I

Scan: 01 02 03 08 09 15 17 19 25 37 44 46 55 56 76

VIN: TMBWU26Y27******* Mileage: 171770km/106732miles

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 01: Engine Labels: 038-906-019-ASZ.lbl

Part No: 038 906 019 NJ

Component: 1,9l R4 EDC G000SG 7331

Coding: 00102

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 6CD3C083361B

TMBWU26Y27******* SKZ7Z0F3620207

4 Faults Found:

17068 - Glow Plug Control Module (J179): Implausible Signal

P0684 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

19463 - Camshaft Position Sensor (G40): No Signal

P3007 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

18058 - Powertrain Data Bus: Missing Message from Instrument Cluster

P1650 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent

17552 - Mass Air Flow Sensor (G70): Open or Short to Ground

P1144 - 35-00 - -

Readiness: 1 2 0 0 0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 6R0-907-37x-ESP.lbl

Part No SW: 6Q0 907 379 AQ HW: 6Q0 907 379 AQ

Component: ESP 8.0 front H04 0002

Revision: 00000000 Serial number: 00000000000000

Coding: 0000296

Shop #: WSC 13765 000 00000

VCID: 8C13200396DB

1 Fault Found:

01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)

004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

Freeze Frame:

Fault Status: 00100100

Fault Priority: 1

Fault Frequency: 1

Reset counter: 61

Mileage: 171769 km

Time Indication: 0

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 08: Auto HVAC Labels: 6Q0-820-045.lbl

Part No: 6Y0 820 045

Component: Klimaanlage X0840

VCID: F2EF5EFB943F

1 Fault Found:

01596 - Motor for Outside/Recirculated Air Flap (V154)

30-10 - Open or Short to Plus - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 09: Cent. Elect. Labels: 6Qx-937-049-C.lbl

Part No: 6Q1 937 049 D

Component: 0000 BN-SG. 1S34

Coding: 26030

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 3C7330C306FB

4 Faults Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

49-00 - No Communications

01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)

49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

00975 - Heated Rear Window (Z1)

28-10 - Short to Plus - Intermittent

01598 - Drive Battery Voltage

07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 15: Airbags Labels: 6Q0-909-605-VW5.lbl

Part No: 1C0 909 605 K

Component: 01 AIRBAG VW51 08 0009

Coding: 12337

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 2C530083F69B

2 Faults Found:

00532 - Supply Voltage B+

07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent

01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)

49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 17: Instruments Labels: 6Y0-920-xx3-17.lbl

Part No: 6Y0 920 973 S

Component: KOMBIINSTRUMENT VDO V04

Coding: 28402

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 50AB7473BA73

1 Fault Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

49-00 - No Communications

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels: 6N0-909-901-19.lbl

Part No: 6N0 909 901

Component: 003M GATEWAY CAN 1S34

Coding: 00014

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: F0EB54F39A33

2 Faults Found:

01309 - Power Steering Control Module (J500)

49-00 - No Communications

01317 - Control Module in Instrument Cluster (J285)

49-10 - No Communications - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 25: Immobilizer Labels: 5J0-920-xxx-25.clb

Part No: 6Y0 920 973 S

Component: IMMOBILIZER VDO V04

Coding: 28402

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 50AB7473BA73

TMBWU26Y27******* SKZ7Z0F3620207

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 6Q0-959-433.lbl

Part No: 6Q0 959 433 E

Component: 60 Komfortger·t 0002

Coding: 00018

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 3D753DC71DE1

1 Fault Found:

00849 - S-contact at Ignition/Starter Switch (D)

25-10 - Unknown Switch Condition - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 55: Xenon Range Labels: None

Part No: 6N0 907 503

Component: Leuchtweiteregelung 0005

Coding: 00010

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: ECD34083B61B

No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 56: Radio Labels: 1U0-035-156.lbl

Part No: 6Y0 035 156 E

Component: Radio YD5 0015

Coding: 00403

Shop #: WSC 13765

VCID: 387B2CD332C3

4 Faults Found:

00878 - Connection to Speaker Front Left

36-10 - Open Circuit - Intermittent

00879 - Connection to Speaker Front Right

36-10 - Open Circuit - Intermittent

00880 - Connection to Speaker Rear Left

36-10 - Open Circuit - Intermittent

00881 - Connection to Speaker Rear Right

36-10 - Open Circuit - Intermittent

End ---------------------------------------------------------------------

the other side of that hole is inside the bell housing if you have oil coming out of it then you could have a rear crank oil seal leak or a input shaft seal leak

the other side of that hole is inside the bell housing if you have oil coming out of it then you could have a rear crank oil seal leak or a input shaft seal leak

Thanks Nath, much appreciated. Should the hole be covered with something? In other words, should I be looking to replace a lost part?

I'm thinking yes and a trip to the Skoda dealer suggests so but the chap didn't seem too sure. Hoping the Skoda ETKA files will confirm but don't have them installed yet.

No it shouldn't be covered as if it does let oil to leak from the clutch bell housing then it needs to be open to allow the oil to drain to try and prevent contamination of the friction lining. If you can tell, the condition of the oil will tell you where it is coming from. Relatively clean will mean it is coming from gearbox input seal, dirty black oil will mean it is coming from the crankshaft rear main seal.

Ian