Hi Briskoda forum,

Although this is my first post, this forum has helped me numerous times with fault finding and repair methods. A goldmine of technical and practiacl advice, for which I thank you.

I have a 2001 Fabia Combi, which has done 88,000 miles. It has the 6Y5 1.4mpi AUA engine with the ESK 4 speed auto gearbox, I believe made by Jatco.

I have shared many of the same problems with you, replacing O2 lamba sensor, anti rollbar bushes, steering angle sensors etc, all solved with your assistance.

But now I've come up against a problem that has me beat.

I made the mistake of taking my car to a VAG main stealer here in Spain, to have the gearbox oil changed. Before someone starts to take this topic down the road of VAG stating that gearboxes are filled for life, I cannot agree with that position. Like many of your contributors, I am a time served machine tool engineer and have opened up too many dead gearboxes. Oil is always cheaper than a gearbox.

Prior to the the garage visit,when cold the car would occasionally be hesitant in changing up through the box. When the engine is hot the problem only rarely occurs. I originally put that down to either clogged filter or incorrect oil level.

 

After the oil change the gearchange problem is more pronounced. I have taken the car back the the garage twice, to have the oil level checked with the engine at the right temperature, with no success. I also know they put the correct VAG oil in the gearbox, as I saw the containers.

I've lost faith in the local VAG garage here.

It doesn't feel like the clutches are slipping, because the bite is strong and consistant, it feels like the management system isn't telling the box to change at the correct revs. The garage has found no fault codes registered, nor have I.

Once the car is in top gear it still drives welI and I still intend driving the car back to the UK(Essex) in the spring, is there a good specialist in the Harlow area?

I know there will be someone with far more experience in these matters than I, so I really would like to know your thoughts.

 

My son had a very similar problem with the Jatco four-speed in his focus, I replaced all six solenoids on the distribution manifold under the gearbox and changed the oil and filter and the problems vanished and the gearbox behaved like a new one, took a few days of checking to get the oil level spot on since entrained air kept coming out and dropping the level.

Thank you for your reply Sepulchrave, I hadn't even considered solenoids! It looks like I need to add them to my must check list.

I understand that with this particular gearbox the oil level is critical.

 

Thanks again for you advice

Greetings..my skoda fabia combi has a similar issue..on morning start up,i have to wait afew minutes fo the car to warm up..when i select drive and acelerate,the car revs go up & the car moves slugish...then sometimes when driving it seems to stick in one gear,as i ease off the gas pedal then it changes...what can the problem be?