Hi Folks,

 

 

New to this forum as I just bought a 2002 Fabia 1.4 Mpi for the wife but While driving it back we noticed that it started getting difficult to get into 1st and had to take off from traffic lights in 2nd gear a couple of times. 2nd can be a little rough but it will go into it.

 

I started it again today and drove it for a while and again it started doing it.  Its as if it only happens when the car heats up a bit.

 

I would take it back to the previous owner and run him over with it but he has moved abroad.  Have it booked in with a mechanic but I would like to hear your views first.

 

Joe

 

 

Hi Folks,

 

 

New to this forum as I just bought a 2002 Fabia 1.4 Mpi for the wife but While driving it back we noticed that it started getting difficult to get into 1st and had to take off from traffic lights in 2nd gear a couple of times. 2nd can be a little rough but it will go into it.

 

I started it again today and drove it for a while and again it started doing it.  Its as if it only happens when the car heats up a bit.

 

I would take it back to the previous owner and run him over with it but he has moved abroad.  Have it booked in with a mechanic but I would like to hear your views first.

 

Joe

 

Mine's an MPI and it's  exactly the same. The gears are fine when everything is cold but when it warms up they become reluctant to go in - especially first and second. I was thinking of changing my gearbox oil to see if that makes any difference.

Hey, welcome to the forum!

I had the same problem with my vrs, but it also had problems going in reverse and happened all the time.

As it happens when the engines hot, I would definitely check the gearbox oil first - levels and air.

I'm not sure if your gearbox has the same set up as mine, but if it is and the oils not the problem then it could be the gear linkage/cable needs adjusting. There is a guide on here somewhere?

From there I'm afraid it may get a bit more expensive, such as slave master cylinder or problem with gearbox itself.

Hopefully it is just something simple. I tried all the above and in the end it was the gearbox and it was replaced.

Fingers crossed for you, I know how annoying it is!!!

Tried the gear cable adjustment procedure on mine, made no difference at all. The gears never crunch though, they just sort of go stiff to get in when it's warmed up. When I first got the car I hated it but I've got used to dipping the clutch again if it won't engage first from standstill. I only recently managed to find the oil level plug, so I'm going to check the oil soon.

I had the same problem with my Fabia. I already changed the gearbox fluid and it seems to run smoother now (or it's the placebo effect). I will also change the brake fluid, since the hydraulic clutch is using it. I think it might make the difference. You need 2L of gearbox oil. The operation takes less than 1h.

+1 for gearbox oil as it's the cheaper option of two. Check if you have 'clutch drag' as the clutch plate may not be fully disengaging when the clutch pedal is fully down. Try giving the clutch pedal a few pumps before putting it into first and see it this makes a difference, that could mean it may need bleeding.

 

Definitely try changing the gearbox oil first though.

 

Good luck.

Thanks Folks,  the mechanic is booked for tomorrow.  He said it could just be the oil needs changing and the clutch bled as Skoda are a bit delussional when they say the oil in the GB is filled for life.

I had the same problem with my Fabia. I already changed the gearbox fluid and it seems to run smoother now (or it's the placebo effect). I will also change the brake fluid, since the hydraulic clutch is using it. I think it might make the difference. You need 2L of gearbox oil. The operation takes less than 1h.

 

How did you drain out the gearbox oil? I don't think there is a drain plug on the MPI. I heard that you're supposed to use a vacuum pump through the speed sensor hole. Only other way I can think of is to pull a driveshaft out.

Skoda are a bit delussional when they say the oil in the GB is filled for life.

Dealer life = 3 - 5 year for warranty.

@TMB - it is possible to change the gearbox oil. I changed for mine at 165.000km (~100.000miles). Allthough, it's easier to drain the old fluid than to put in the new one (for which you will need a pump, because there is no filling hole on the top of the gearbox). In this post you can see the two holes (filling and draining).

 

Gearbox fluid for life? I would not bet for this. There are metal grindings (usually resultant from wearing, but sometimes also from missing one gear when you hear that chhrr noise  ) and you don't want to have them there for a lot of time. The oil itself has cleaning properties to keep all the moving parts in good shape.

 

A good friend of mine drives a VW Polo, with a 1.4MPI motor, similar with mine. For some reasons, last autumn, he was forced to drive about 500km using only two gears (2nd and 4th) to get home.

The gearbox wasn't accepting any others and getting it into gear was a nightmare, no squeezing noises, but moving the gear lever was hard.

When he arrived, he got it on a car elevator, filled the gearbox with fresh fluid and the car is working today like a charm.

Edited 19 February, 201412 yr by Alexandru

@TMB - it is possible to change the gearbox oil. I changed for mine at 165.000km (~100.000miles). Allthough, it's easier to drain the old fluid than to put in the new one (for which you will need a pump, because there is no filling hole on the top of the gearbox). In this post you can see the two holes (filling and draining).

 

Gearbox fluid for life? I would not bet for this. There are metal grindings (usually resultant from wearing, but sometimes also from missing one gear when you hear that chhrr noise  ) and you don't want to have them there for a lot of time. The oil itself has cleaning properties to keep all the moving parts in good shape.

 

A good friend of mine drives a VW Polo, with a 1.4MPI motor, similar with mine. For some reasons, last autumn, he was forced to drive about 500km using only two gears (2nd and 4th) to get home.

The gearbox wasn't accepting any others and getting it into gear was a nightmare, no squeezing noises, but moving the gear lever was hard.

When he arrived, he got it on a car elevator, filled the gearbox with fresh fluid and the car is working today like a charm.

 

Thanks for the reply but mine (1.4, 8 valve MPI) definitely doesn't have a drain plug on the bottom of the gearbox. The pic you link to is a Fabia vRS gearbox. 

I am sure that my Fabia is not the vRS model, it's a 1.4MPI 8valve engine (ATZ), 50KW / 68BHP.  The motor is made my Skoda itself, not used by VW, and from my research, was used on Felicia and Favorit, but with 1.3L and less torque. I can lift my car and check the part number for it or at least send you a pic of my gearbox .

Well it looks as though its more than an alignment issue or gear oil.  The guy who sold me this new about this problem as the garage said the gear oil was very clean indicating he changed it before it was sold.

I am sure that my Fabia is not the vRS model, it's a 1.4MPI 8valve engine (ATZ), 50KW / 68BHP.  The motor is made my Skoda itself, not used by VW, and from my research, was used on Felicia and Favorit, but with 1.3L and less torque. I can lift my car and check the part number for it or at least send you a pic of my gearbox .

 

My engine is AQW but it's basically the same as yours. Maybe some gearboxes have a drain plug and others don't. I've looked at mine thoroughly underneath and there's no drain plug, only the level plug. My gearbox code is FNK.  Would be interesting to see a pic of yours though

Well it looks as though its more than an alignment issue or gear oil.  The guy who sold me this new about this problem as the garage said the gear oil was very clean indicating he changed it before it was sold.

 

Doesn't mean he's changed it. I changed my gearbox oil at 115k miles and it looked like new, it'd just lost all it's properties as you'd expect over ten years.

Found this..... http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk1/power_transmission/gearbox_002/gearbox_mechanicsoperation_constructiondiff./inspecting_gear_oil/draining_out_gear_oil/

 

002 gearbox, which is what mine is, has no drain plug from October 2001. Mine is 2003.