My 2009 Octy 2 1.9TDi - gearchange is fine & smooth when cold, but often during a run the horizontal movement across the gate in neutral becomes progressively more stiff, until it becomes difficult to select gears. Listening to it when its hot and the stick is waggled there is a creaking sound from the gearbox end of the cables. Some time ago my MOT guy lubricated the cable ends - no better. Doesn't happen when its cold. Its not predictable - happened recently in heavy traffic and I couldn't select first. Yet on a long run on open roads it was fine. Does anyone have any suggestions - could it just need adjusting?

Edited 6 July, 201213 yr by john.errington

Strange the search didnt find this thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/78687-vrs-mk1-stiff-gearbox-cables/

My local garage stripped out the airbox and found..

"Look at where the linkage fits on to the top of the gear box (in engine bay) and take it off. The pin is surrounded by 2 plastic collets take them out and clean out the hole where the collets fit with emery cloth and refit.

The problem was that the gear change knuckle is made of some kind of alloy which corrodes and pushes the collets onto the pin stopping it working. So the gunge needs cleaning out."

Seems better but I'll report back in a few weeks when I know for sure. Then once I'm certain its not the box maybe I'll go for a gearbox oil change.

BTW my local SKoda branch charge £40 for one cable and £30 for the other. They tell me they have NEVER ordered any - so the cables must be pretty reliable.

One other thing to try and maybe at the same time as above, changing the box oil.

When i first bought mine i noticed the selection of gears would get progressively worse as the more i drove it.

Took it to a local garage and he reported he had never seen oil like it, would easily been mistaken for way over due engine oil. Turns out the owner before me did alot of town driving, seems these cars do not like urban at all.

This is was 6 month ago and the box is still smooth after the change.

I'd do the box oil, as it's cheap and could well be the cause.

Any idea what I would pay to get it done?

I'd guess the genuine oil is probably about £10-15 and then 30-60 minutes labour depending on your garage.

Looking at about £50-£75 I'd say.

If you do get it done, make sure they undo the filler cap, before the undo the drain.

That way if they can't undo the fill, there isn't an issue.

Following the repair as above the gearchange now seems fine. Time will tell. I might still get the box oil changed; however I'm thinking it would be a good idea to change the cambelt (two have failed on me in previous cars and at £2k a go I dont want it happening again!)

Hi John, out of interest, you mentioned in your topic about difficulty selecting gears. Did you ever have any problems taking it out of gears whilst attempting changing to next gear or was it only getting into gear.

I am attempting to solve a similar problem, of which also only does it when hot after driving through traffic. Feels like taking out of gear without dipping the clutch.

Just trying to eliminate possible causes.

@Tojodrew

You're 11 years late for the party!