Hi there I hope someone can shed some light on my gear change issue.

With all the cold weather we just had I have noticed a very stiff gear change in my Octy yesterday. I drove my son to the child minder I stopped dropped him off and got back to the car. Clutch down I couldn’t get the car into first, having applied some pressure it finally gave in. I then drove down and got to the main road. I got into first without any issues but noticed I couldn’t shift to second as the gear knob was stuck in the first. Yet again I applied a bit more force and it gave in. I don’t really like applying pressure on gears I suppose it’s not a lot of force but these use to just slide in without any issues.

I decided to pull up, went through all the gear changes no issues were found when stationary. Then I slipped it into first and moved few meters forward, then stopped and again I couldn’t get it out of first again, switched off the engine, then tried again and the gear went out of first without any problems. Switched the engine back on pressed down the clutch and noticed the engine making a slightly louder clank(sound) with the clutch pressed all the way down, I have never really noticed it until now and not sure if it’s related.

Have also experienced these issues when in third gear and reverse, so it seems the top gears have got the issue from reverse to third.

I have read on here that the gear box oil change will fix these things I’m slightly concerned about the noise the engine makes when clutch is pressed down as well.

What do you guys think?

Change the gear box oil, regardless of what they say about sealed for life. Replace it with VAG spec gearbox oil. I did it with millers and other people used silkolene in their boxes before and for some reason it just doesn't quite like it (MK I Octy though).

Also get the linkages adjusted and lubricated along with the shift weights and pivot points.

Other thing to check is that the brake fluid has been changed recently (last two years) and if it was that the clutch was bled through too.

cheezemonkhai - thank you for your suggestions I will surely have the oil changed. Will the dealer carry this out?

cheezemonkhai - thank you for your suggestions I will surely have the oil changed. Will the dealer carry this out?

For a fee. Some may tell you it never needs doing, but it does at around 50k miles.

For a fee. Some may tell you it never needs doing, but it does at around 50k miles.

Mine has done 100K so more of a reason to do it I suppose.

Agree on changing the oil.

Guessing its similar to the Mk 1 Octy, If you decide to do it yourself a tip from bitter experience, make sure the filler will undo before you drain it out, I had a mechanic do mine & it took about 20 mins to get the filler undone after already draining out the oil,

Ok seems like this issue is back and it's not even cold had DMF and clutch replaced including the release bearing about three weeks ago there was no issues to start with. It only gets stuck in first gear now. I didn't want to force it out so I switched the engine off and it disengaged smoothly. Have not had my gear linkages done yet. I was stuck in heavy traffic this morning so a lot of clutch pressing/depressing 1st and 2nd gear only. Just as I pulled into my work car park and tried to park the car I noticed it stuck in 1st. 

 

Any ideas fellas?

 

Get the gear cables reset. If you search my past posts there is a video on how to do it. 

 

Here you go 

 

Edited 12 July, 20178 yr by CWARD