Does anyone know what boxes Skoda use in their cars. I have a Fabia TDI which has just had to have a replacement under warranty at 28000 mls. Since this I have read about problems stemming back several years with certain VW boxes normally fitted to 1.4s and1.6 petrol cars. the code on my gearbox is EWT 9102 but I am not sure what this means, eg is this the same box you would get in a Golf TDI say. I have also heard a lot of Octavia Taxis get regular replacment boxes under warranty. Should I be worrying? Are Skoda Buyers being shortchanged? or is it all just another load of bull to get us to buy Fords? I would appreciate any info anyone has.

Thanks

Skodababe

My gearbox can be quite funny at times, when u slot it in reverse the gearstick does not engage properly.

Interesting...

We have a Fabia TDi with a funny noise from the gearbox. The dealer doesn't want to do anything yet so what was the problem you had?

Cheers

Checking ETKA, there are 22 different gearbox codes (ie 3 letter codes) for the Fabia alone. I do know that gearboxes are shared across the VAG range, but can't help on which gearboxes are common to the different makes.

Very interested in this thread guys.

Heard the same from some taxi drivers in Scotland recently all went at about 100,000.

The octavia tdi 110 i test drove at 70,000 had a very rough gearbox, the wifes fabia tdi is also rough 45,000 miles, dealer claims not to see a problem !

My octavia tdi 110 (13,000) miles is okay if a little sloppy.

Our car was a demonstrator and developed a sort of clunking noise when engaging gear. We took it to the local Skoda dealer who said, nothing wrong, everything within normal tollerances. we took the car back to the garage we bought the car from and at first they thought it was the clutch and I am not sure what happened next but they decided the gearbox was at fault and we got a new one and a clutch. I read an article about a taxi company from peebles who said they had several Octavias and all got gerboxes at around 90k. Our local taxi company has 6 and sells them once the warrantys are up usually at about 150k and they have all had 2 gearboxes by that time. I recon the dealers and Skoda themselves must know what is going on but they won't admit to it. What is ETKA?

The gearbox used in the Fabia will be the same / very similar to that used in the Audi A2 -- same engines as well.

It is quite common for gearbox noise on them - esp as just taking up drive - it's caused by excess backlash in the diff -- we have replaced a few gearbox's although it depends on the severity of the noise

ETKA is the electronic parts catalogue used by Skoda and some others(Audi,VW)

Hmm sounds interesting and exactly the same problem we have. Maybe I'll have another go at the dealers when it's next in for service!

Makes you wonder if the dealers are servicing the cars correctly. My Fabia SDi gearbox needed nearly a litre of oil to bring it up to the level on the 40k service. I think gearbox takes just over 3 litres when at the level. I'm sure the bung hadn't been off at the 20k service. There were no leaks anywhere. I'm having to do my own servicing because my dealer is hopeless.

Originally posted by TabsTaxi in this post

.... My Fabia SDi gearbox needed nearly a litre of oil to bring it up to the level on the 40k service....

This is interesting. I have a "grawnching, grinding" sound, especially at low speed on our Octy - thought it could be a wheel bearing but the dealer said it was "standard road noise". I mentioned the gearbox oil level (it happens in-gear and whilst coasting) and was told by the dealer the gearboxes are "sealed for life" which I thought was odd. Anyone know if this is true??:confused:

Sealed for life, my arse! I got told that when I said I wanted the gearbox oil changed at 50k. Dealer did it against their better judgement. Shift improved noticeably. Also had it changed at 103k, shift improved again. They are not supposed to change the oil, but can and will do it if asked. How Skoda/VAG don't expect the oil in the gearbox to breakdown is beyond me, hence I get the oil changed evry 50k, and bear in mind they are 50k of very hard miles in a modded car.

Originally posted by TaviaRS in this post

Sealed for life, my arse!

Thought that might be the case Tavia - Cheers

Originally posted by TaviaRS in this post

My arse sealed for life, my arse!

Is there something you'd like to tell us Jon?

I tend to do all my servicing now. All oils break down eventually, engine or gearbox. We usually set the oil change interval between 30 and 40k at Toyota. Don't have many box related problems that way!

Mine's due for a 50k service - maybe I will broach the subject ... or maybe I will just do it myself - mmmmm smelly old gearbox oil ...

The box on my Ibiza had to be changed after 8k because it decided that it hated third and wouldn't let me use it at times.

I think the gearboxes are a weakness though VAG history...which is a shame. I've had 4 VAG cars and 2 have had serious box troubles.

It's true to say that there is no change interval for manual gearbox's in the VAG range,however Autobox's are due every 40K.

The gearbox oil level should be checked as part of a 20K service, and therefore topped up if required - and it usually is required.........

Quite common to see driveshaft flange oil seals and gear selector oil seals "weeping" -- so eventually - as long as the oil is topped up - it will get changed.......

Can ordinary people acess ETKA? Anyone any idea?

Ta Skodababe

Although you can't buy it from Skoda, there are ways of obtaining a copy if you were inclined to. Ebay is a likely source.

Newbie - apols if this has been covered before?

My wife has a Felicia 1.9D. I had to change a CV boot for the MOT - which went great until the very last step of refilling the gear oil - vial the speedo drive hole. The drive gear itself has to be used as a dipstick to check the level (according to the Haynes book of lies). I fumbled and dropped it - and it went right down inside the gearbox! It's plastic so can't be magnetted out, and won't come through the drain hole as it won't get past the crownwheel of the diff. Next thought was just to leave it in the bottom of the box and get a spare, but next day started having gear selection problems, e.g can't engage 1st or 2nd from standstill (OK once it's moving.)

Hence I've had to remove the complete gearbox and take to an overhaul place for it to be split and the offending part removed! - What a B**T**D!

The real question is - why the hell did they design it such that this can occur in the first place?

I'd like to meet the 'engineer' responsible, and shake him warmly by the neck!

Anyone else had this problem - or realised it could occur?

Richard T

My last car was a 1999 Felicia 1.3LXi estate. Skoda had not put enough oil in the gear box to start with, and about 3 weeks after buying the car with about 1200 miles on the clock I was on a long drive from Troon in Scotland to the Midlands when the gear change got harder and harder!. Finally I could not change the gears at all and had to get the AA out. They put oil into the box and it then seemed fine. When I got home I complained to my dealer who checked the box and said it was fine. I was not overly happy, but 3 more yesr driving and 76K miles proved the dealer correct, as the gear box never give any more trouble.

Just a quick update folks as our car's been back to the dealer (for a different problem but they had another listen while it was there).

As you may or may not know the car has been making a clonking noise when changing gear (mostly first to second), whines a bit in fourth and the clutch seems to "pop" when it is released. the dealer has heard all of these noises but previosuly didn't want to do anything as it didn't seem bad. It's now got a bit worse and the other day, going round a RH corner there was a distinct knocking (almost like a CV joint on the way out).

Anyhow the service manager has now acknowledged that there is definitely a problme that needs furtehr investigation. He doesn't think it's the 'box but it may be driveshaft or roll bar related so it's back in next week. I'll keep you posted!

Skomaz - I had clonking and knocking noises similar to yours. Found the exhaust downpipe too close to the RH driveshaft, such that they were regularly touching - enough to wear a flat spot on the pipe and a shiny ring around the shaft! Also wore off the clip on the inner CV boot.

Cure was to slacken the centre joint on the exhaust and shove the pipes further into each other.

Richard T.

Cheers Richard I'll try and have a look and maybe "suggest" a few ideas to the dealer for him to check!

OK final update time... Our funny noises are sorted!

After further investigation (over a full day including a 60k service) the service manager said... can't hear anything!... but he said he had checked the driveshafts, cv joints, and everything else underneath!

So the following day (they still had the car) I gave him a full description again, noting that he had heard it three weeks previously and suggested a few ideas to him and in particular the knackered CV type knocking noise and off he went to have another listen (also mentioned that I knew VW had previously had problems with gearboxes and driveshafts). Later that same day I got a phonecall...

Apparently Skoda have issued a Technical Service bulletin regarding the driveshaft nuts... the ones that secure the driveshafts to the CV joints. These have recently been modified and the dealers have been told to keep an eye out for the old style nuts and replace them with the modified versions. These nuts have now been replaced and the car is like new again with NO untoward noises at all. The gearbox also feels much "tighter" and less "worn". The conclusion is (although no proof) that the original nuts were loose, allowing the driveshaft to move relative to the CV joint during load reversals such as changing gear... hence the noises.

So now all I would like to know is whether the car should have been recalled for such a fault and why, after repeatedly pointing the dealer in the direction of the driveshafts on at least three occasions did they not put two and two together and check the damn things to start with? Anybody any ideas?

So for those of you with similar noises I suggest you point the dealer to the driveshaft nuts and his technical advice!

Cheers

(PS... Not really having a go as at least it's been sorted!)