Hello,

Looking for some advice, got myself a brand new Fabia 1.2 TSI Monte Carlo last week. I am loving everything about it so far however occasionally when I'm trying to engage first gear it feels like it doesn't want to go in without a couple of attempts, i'm fully depressing the clutch and I'm not trying to force it.

Does anyone know if this is common for a new Fabia?

Many Thanks

It does sometimes happen in my (admittedly old now) Octavia. I seem to remember it was a bit awkward getting my Alfa in reverse sometimes, too.

I've heard lots of people say similar things - maybe it's common?

Hi Louis, Welcome to the site and congrats on the purchase of the Monte, they are superb!

It's not usual for this to happen but not totally unheard of either in any make of car. I'm ex Honda and Nissan tech and have encountered it every so often. I've just been driving a brand new Honda Jazz with the same issue. It has 1200 miles on the clock. I've determined it needs stripping for a fix but that's rare. The gearbox takes a time to run in just like the engine (I'm sure you know that anyway) and the gear selectors do need time to 'learn how to play together nicely'! Is it worse with the engine hot or cold? However, I take it the rest of the gears select normally, particularly REVERSE gear? TO CHECK REVERSE when you next encounter the first gear selection problem, don't continue to try and select 1st gear, just continue to hold the clutch pedal down (don't let it come up at all at this point) and try to engage reverse. If it goes in ok without a crunch or clunk that means it's unlikely to be the clutch causing the problem. If that's the case then don't worry just drive it but let the dealer know that first gear baulks sometimes when you try to select it. Stress you do not use force, and you will monitor the situation. They may ask you to pop in to let them check it. Do so if that is the case otherwise just drive it and I'm sure it will run in ok. If not you can take it to the dealer for assessment. Just another point, I take it that when you raise the clutch and push down again it selects 1st ok? There can be three main things causing it plus a less common one: a slightly sticking clutch disc, a poorly adjusted gear selector cable, a very roughly finished syncro cone or gear, or a rough or bent selector. Usually they settle in within a thousand miles or so unless the selector is bent, and that's very rare indeed to find that issue. Of course there are other things such as air in the clutch side of the hydraulics, but the main ones are the ones I've listed and usually come across the most. Try to use the gearbox lots to help the bedding in process for both the engine and gearbox. Do please keep posting to tell us how you are getting on with your new car. Don't worry about it, it will either go away or be fixed by the dealer under warranty. Good luck and Happy New Year!

Edited 7 January, 201313 yr by Estate Man

Excellent, thanks for such a detailed reply. It does shine a bit more light on it for me. At the moment the car only has 160 miles on the clock, it's possible that it is still settling in.

I'll keep a tab on things and try a coupe of things that you have mentioned above.

Thanks again!

I think first and reverse gears are not sychronized so sometime they cannot be engaged at once. My two previous Skodas Octavia and Fabia and the Roomster now does this occassionaly.

When this happens I do put the knob in neutral, release the clutch pedal and then I press down the pedal again and everything is fine. If persists, then I select another gear and then back to first (or reverse)

Hi stratosg, yep...reverse gear has no syncromesh, but first gear has syncro. Reverse gear uses first gear but with an idler gear engaged to make output shaft turn in reverse. That's why there is no syncro using that system. Few cars have syncro on reverse so it's not too uncommon to have to go up and down on the clutch pedal if it fails to engage first time. First should go into gear each time without any trouble. If it doesn't, you may need some adjustments.

Dear Estate Man thank you very much for that precious piece of information. I really thought that first gear was not synchronised. Well I am learning while getting older. The bad thing is that I am getting older...

The first gear hesitation happens very very rarely so I do not think it is an issue, since this occurence sequence is the same the last eleven years of Skoda ownership.

Hi Stratosg, yeah...I know. I'm getting older too! If you are indeed troubled with your first gear selection it can probably be easily fixed with a cable adjustment. Your dealer would take just 10 mins to do it I would guess.

Excellent, thanks for such a detailed reply. It does shine a bit more light on it for me. At the moment the car only has 160 miles on the clock, it's possible that it is still settling in.

I'll keep a tab on things and try a coupe of things that you have mentioned above.

Thanks again!

Hi,

It would be a good idea to write/email a note to the dealer and keep a copy, if the problem persists.

My wife has a manual Fabia 1.2 fully run in and the gearbox is a peach.

Tony