After being away for about 2 weeks, my gearbox started to whine. The car is Fabia 2005 1.4 16V with 35000 miles. The symptoms are: when I start it if the clutch is not pressed and car stationary there will be a slight rumbling, then in gears if the clutch is pressed and the car stationary you can't hear anything, if the car is in 1st, 2nd and slight in 3rd it will whine even if the clutch is pressed, but if the car is moving and is in neutral you can not hear anything. I topped out the gearbox oil and is doing the same. Is it anything to do with not moving it for 2 weeks and being in gear for so long? Could be the clutch?

Anybody?

Nobody? Does anybody knows if Skoda dealers are doing gearbox refurbishment or they are changing the gearbox with new one? I'm in Orpington(Kent) area, any good gearbox specialist around?

Steady mate. Drive it for a few miles and see if it settles. Clutches don't whine. No rotating parts within. Much more likely to be the release bearing. Release bearing may whine rumble or rattle if worn and often worse in neutral and less when you put a little pressure on the pedal. The release bearing is often poorly lubricated. All its got is the bit of grease in it from when it was fitted, in your case 35000 miles ago and by now it will have mostly dried out. This can lead to a noisy bearing and disuse can make it noisier. It's something that seldom fails and can be left in a slightly noisy state for years till the clutch plate needs changing.You won't have done anything to the box or differential by leaving it parked up in gear for a few weeks. Gearbox noises are seldom made better or worse by pressure on the clutch pedal.

I'm a bit worried because it sounds more like input shaft bearing than release bearing. The noise stops when I push the clutch pedal to the floor when stationary, but is still present if the car is moving,in gear and the pedal is to the floor. I already did about 250 miles, still making noise, maybe I will try to change the gearbox oil. Otherwise the gear selection is OK, I think I can feel some vibrations in the clutch pedal.

Just an update, I changed the gearbox oil, it is shifting smoother(it was OK before too), but the noise is still there(I'm not sure if it is quieter or is just placebo).The oil was darker(but not black) and there was almost no metal bits coming out, so probably is still in good condition. Could it be indeed the release bearing? Anybody had a release bearing making noise when the clutch is not pressed and no noise when the clutch is pressed? I think I can hear it in 4th gear a bit, not sure on 5th as the road noise cover it, but is definitely there in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.No noise if I'm stationary and push the clutch pedal, noise if I'm not stationary and push the clutch pedal and is in gear, no noise if it's out of gear. And more noise on acceleration than deceleration.