Hello

       I just found these forums,and wondering if anyone else has experienced the same problems that I have had.I bought my Citigo in April,and ever since I have owned it,have had trouble selecting first gear,and also reverse gear.It seems to be worse if I havent used the car for a few days.At first I thought it was because it was a new car,and would bed in,but it isn't getting any better at all.I took it into my local Skoda dealer in Swindon,who told me that they hadn't come across this problem before,but they kept the car for a few days,and today when I called them,they admitted there was a problem,and that they need to take the gearbox out,to see what the problem might be,they said that I may need a new gearbox fitted.I have only done around 2500 miles!!

     I queried whether they could just replace the car,considering how old the car is,and how low the mileage is,but was told that Skoda would only repair the car,not replace it,and that was all I was entiltled to.I was told that was why Skoda give a warranty on their cars!! i have now booked it in to be looked at, in two weeks time.Has anyone else had problems,or am I just unlucky? This is the first Skoda that I have owned,normally I buy Renaults,and have never had any sort of problems with them,it is a shame as I really like the car,but,not happy to need to have a new gearbox already.

Do a search on here and on the up! owners website for gearbox problems,will make interesting reading for you.

If the only problem is selecting first or reverse when the car is stationary, then it's more likely to be the clutch that is at fault, rather than the gearbox.

 

If you can park overnight on level ground with some space to the front or the rear, then try this when you first start up. Before you start the engine, put the gearbox in first if you have space in front, or reverse if you have space behind. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor, release the handbrake, then start the engine. If the car moves, however slightly, then the clutch is dragging, and that's your problem.

 

It might not be what the problem is, but it's cheap and easy to check.

I think this is more clutch related than gearbox. The gears would bulk when cold. My Octavia gearbox was stiff when cold but when hot was faultless. Even my Sport is stiff Shen cold and I release the handbrake to get reverse better. When hot it's smooth.

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk.

Much the same here. I've had an instance when it wouldn't go into reverse without crunching, into 1st then back to reverse and all smooth from then on. Happened maybe a couple of times but when warm is really smooth changing in any gear.

Yes! I'm having this problem too! More than once in the past week I've been stuck at green traffic lights trying to get the car into 1st! And reverse takes a few attempts too!

Would be interesting to find out which model of Engine, gearbox and build dates from the cars affected to see if a pattern emerges?

 

(All above available from the first page of the service book or on the sticker by the side of the tyre well in the car)

Mines an elegance 75...can't find that sticker though!

Did you look under the boot floor mat on the left hand side towards the rear seats?

Just remember reverse can be more tricky as its a straight cut gear.

Ah, my boot is full of stock for work! Will have to look Thursday evening when all the stock is gone

Sticker is the same as the one on the inside cover of the service book.

It's a bit worrying reading about all these gearbox problems. There's obviously a problem there and it's worrying that vw and skoda seem oblivious to it.

I'm not worried as my car is under warranty but I'd think twice about buying one out of warranty until vw iron out the gear box problems.

Maybe there's someone with contacts with skoda on here who can raise this issue and get us an answer rather than the usual line of 'we have never come across this before'

It's a bit worrying reading about all these gearbox problems. There's obviously a problem there and it's worrying that vw and skoda seem oblivious to it.

I'm not worried as my car is under warranty but I'd think twice about buying one out of warranty until vw iron out the gear box problems.

Maybe there's someone with contacts with skoda on here who can raise this issue and get us an answer rather than the usual line of 'we have never come across this before'

Buying out of warranty?....that'll be a while then!

True, but I guess there will be a few cars coming to market in a couple of years or so and the buyers could be sitting on a massive repair bill.

The thing is VAG are selling thousands of Up, Mii and Citigo's a month and a few reported problems can be blown out of proportion by speculation. Given the correct information e.g. Gearbox and build date. This can be put into perspective and lessons learned. After All nothing is perfect and you hear more of the bad things that happen compared to the good that go un-reported. 

With this being a new engine and gearbox I'd expect some teething problems in the first year. But you'd hope that vw would realise what the problems were by now, especially as they have had a history of making weak gearboxes in the past.

Apart from the odd time that it doesn't want to go into reverse, the gearbox is now a dream after it was Combe'd.

It's into the dealers soon to have it checked out and a new gear knob.

Hi

  Update to this problem.Fish bros,my local dealer,took the car in for a few days,and agreed that there was a problem,as they too,couldn't  engage either first or reverse gears easily.I booked it in for repair,yesterday they called me to say that they had ordered a new gearbox! Not very happy to be honest,I have only done about 2500 miles,never heard of a car needing a new box after so few miles.I thought Skoda cars were supposed to be very reliable.I currently have a loan car,which is the same model Citigo as mine,and the gearbox is fine,so I hope my car will drive as well as this one does when i get it back.If not,I will have to look into wether I have the right to refuse the car,something Fish Bros tell me that I dont have.Hope to get it back on Saturday,so heres hoping everything will be ok!

I guess some if the reported gearbox problems are due to the fact it is a new gearbox design and construction. Lets face it VAG have a pretty appealing record of bringing new technology out. Just think how bad the following were when they came out for reliability:

coil packs

DSG

1.4 twincharger engine

DPF's

2.0PD Engine

To name but a few. All of these have had serious design flaws when they first came to market that VAG denied were there but worked flat out to update and in some cases fix.

I guess the citigo gearbox falls into this category. It's not too bad for us new buyers but there are gonna be a few peed off people who buy these cars out of warranty only to find they need a new gearbox.

If it's any consolation my car is in for similar problems.

 

Noisy grinding/clattering clutch noise, difficulty engaging 1st and reverse. At low rpm a chattering noise. I've driven other Citigo's where the gearbox/clutch was fine. 

Such a shame as it's a great car. 

If it's any consolation my car is in for similar problems.

 

Noisy grinding/clattering clutch noise, difficulty engaging 1st and reverse. At low rpm a chattering noise. I've driven other Citigo's where the gearbox/clutch was fine. 

Such a shame as it's a great car. 

 

Your's sounds like ours lol

Reverse gear has been slightly notchy with mine but no more than any other car I've owned when going from a forward gear straight into reverse.

When I say difficult to engage reverse, I should have said impossible to get reverse unless I drive the car forward slightly. Works until you get someone park too close to the front of your car.

What if you depress clutch and then release it again. Reverse gear should engage this way. Normal behaviour for manual transmission.

Let's not create issues in our minds.