Just heard back from Greg. They're none the wiser really!

He can't tell if it's the gearbox or clutch.

He says the clutch pedal is a little stiff but not slipping at all.

Also he's noticed it isn't doing it all the time as I did this morning driving it in.

I'm still convinced it's a hydraulic problem as it only does it with the engine running. Gearchanges with engine switched off are silky smooth.

Might try bleeding again as I think I might have done it wrong. I did it on my own with the eezibleed and when I pumped the clutch pedal I think I pulled it up too fast which probably sucked some air in.

Phil

That's annoying rare for Greg to be beaten!

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

Lol.

At least I know he's being honest and not saying I need this and that fitting to just find it not fixed which is what he said.

Phil

Do you want a hand m8? Should be free Friday evening if you want me to come round?

He's the most honest mechanic I've ever Met lol

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

That's a very kind offer! Can't do friday evening though I'm afraid.

Phil

That's a very kind offer! Can't do friday evening though I'm afraid.

Phil

Sure we can work a day out m8, you helped me with mine m8 one of the great things about the forum is we help each other out

Sent from my GT-I9100. Not a Crapple!

True! Yeh give me a txt when you think you might be free maybe one day next week?

Btw... I just found out that by sheer coincidence my collegue has her car in at the same garage today. She has been taking her cars there for years she says.

Phil

sounds like a clutch mechanical problem, as from what i can gather from the fault description the clutch is dragging to the degree that its not clearing, hence gears crunching, difficult to get into or out of gear etc, maybe the cover plate has wear on the fingers, or the pressure surface has some damage,

but then again a hydraulic fault could cause the same concerns

Car is with Roger Holmes vag specialist in York today to try and diagnose the problem.

I'm a bit scared...

Phil

Car is with Roger Holmes vag specialist in York today to try and diagnose the problem.

I'm a bit scared...

Phil

If he cant sort it pop next door to "Garage Services" The lads there should sort it for you.

Just had a call.

He said the gear linkage was a little loose so he has replaced a washer and tightened it up and re-set the adjustment and it seems much better now. I had noticed it had a fair bit of play it in.

He did, however, advise that the fuel pump is leaking diesel onto the clutch bell housing and will need some attention at some point. Any ideas what this could be?

If he cant sort it pop next door to "Garage Services" The lads there should sort it for you.

And thanks. I did spot them on the way in actually... as I was doing the laps of the place trying to find the place! lol

Phil

Oh dear.

Think it's knackered!

Changed the gear oil the other day to VW G 060 726 A2.

Out in it this morning changed to 4th and put my foot down and heard an awful grinding noise.

It's now making a very loud knocking/scraping/rattling/grinding noise all the time. It subsides slightly if I put my foot on clutch.

Buggar!

So..

AA called out this morning.

He had a listen and it definitely seems to be coming from the diff/gearbox area.

The noise is apparant at idle but goes when clutch is pressed. Gone to Roger Holmes VAG garage in York so will have to wait till they get the box off to see what's wrong.

Armer Auto:

Had a DMF make that noise when it was dying and it also caused some clutch issues.

Might not be that, but it's something to give you a little hope.

Wasn't there a rivet in these boxes that lets go when it wears a bit?

Had a DMF make that noise when it was dying and it also caused some clutch issues.

Might not be that, but it's something to give you a little hope.

Wasn't there a rivet in these boxes that lets go when it wears a bit?

Hi.

Yes there is but that rivet I think is on the shift mechanism and would cause the loss of gears and all the gears are engaging just fine.

I'm not sure. Breakdown of what is/isn't happening:

All gears engage fine

Clutch is biting ok and still functions

Noise is still present when coasting with clutch down and in gear

Noise goes if clutch pressed while idling and parked up

No noise can be heard if first engaged with handbrake on and clutch brought to biting point

Whining noise has been apparent in first and second gear for a while

If it was DMF would I not loose drive all together i.e. when lifting clutch it would not "bite" at all?

I did notice before it started knocking there was an increase in vibration when accelerating. Nothing major just something I noticed.

I dunno... will just have to wait and see...

What else are credit cards for?!

Phil

Well garage just phoned.

Not entirely happy with their answer as it sounds a bit like a load of b******s.

He has said that the reverse switch is loose and the indent pin is broken. The indent pin is the little pin used to lock the gearbox when adjusting the levers. Does this serve any other purpose? I knew about this pin as I broke it and glued it back on to stop gear oil leaking out.

He said that because of this the box was trying to drive in 2 gears at once (sounds like rubbish to me) so they will try this then if not they will have to strip the box down to find the problem.

Also how much oil should be filled in the box after a change? I was told by the seat garage about 2.2 litres and read that this is about level with the fill hole (I can't fill it any higher than this anyway!). This also matched up with how much oil I was left with in the last of three 1 litre bottles after re-filling.

Got that stone in your stomach feeling... ugh!

Phil

Is the diff held together by rivets like the vrs one is?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

Is the diff held together by rivets like the vrs one is?

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

No idea! I suspect it will be the same as the vRS one as it's the same box as the early (HDS?) long geared vRS gearbox.

Been doing some reading on the net and it seems the whining problem is quite common on these boxes and is associated with the bearings inside the box... not looking good.

The whine btw could also be heard at tick over like a high pitched whirring noise that went when you pressed the clutch.

I think basically I am looking at a gearbox rebuild, new clutch, DMF, release bearing, slave cylinder and while they're at it replace rivet on shift fork for a sturdy bolt.

££££££

If this is the case I don't think we can go ahead with it and will likely look at selling as is and get some money to put down on a new leased car.

Phil

Whirling sound that goes away with the clutch being depressed is usually the release bearing

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

Whirling sound that goes away with the clutch being depressed is usually the release bearing

Sent from my Galaxy S2 not a Crapple!

Yes I thought that but there was also a wirring noise in 1st/2nd more pronounced when on overrun in those gears or changing down at higher speeds to those gears.

I'm totally confused now... it could just be the DMF that's gone as all the gears were engaging and pulling ok so obvisouly nothing collapsed in the box that's causing the loud knocking which I have also seen can be a symptom of the DMF.. a loud knocking at idle.

Phil

I've just spoke to my dad who has started using Roger Holmes (moved from DM Keith, York) & he has nothing but praise so far. My dad used to be a mechanic and so far seems happy with his explanations of faults, not to mention extremly chuffed with the fact his aircon in the Octavia is now working after DM Keith said there was nothing wrong with it!

Well that's comforting to know and i did actually have a really positive experience last time the car was there.

I guess I just need to trust that they will get to the bottom of it and be thankful that they are trying the obvious/cheap things first before going straight in and cracking open the box!

Phil

Oh dear... I feel totally gutted...

Roger Holmes have got back to me...

Gearbox rebuild is on the cards.

Plus new clutch, flywheel and all other associated bits and we're looking at circ. £1500...

Speachless...

Don't know what to do...

Be cheaper to source a new (second hand) box and drop it in surely?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/skoda-fabia-vrs-ibiza-fr-6-speed-gearbox-1-9-tdi-polo-JNC-/320942491849?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4ab9a9c8c9#ht_1266wt_1158

Be cheaper to source a new (second hand) box and drop it in surely?

Yeh possibly.

He says there's no rush and to have a think so I may look into that and suggest it then get them to stick a new clutch and flywheel on the used box unless I get a decent low mileage one.

Phil