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Fabia Mk 1 saloon, 2003, 16v, twin cam, 100BHP, BBZ engine. All services by main dealer from new. 61,000 miles, average annual mileage now 2-3k.

 

Noticeable whine occurred late last year,  especially in 1st and 2nd gears, following discovery of gearbox input seal leak at annual service in 2014 and complete replenishment of gearbox oil in 2015 (My request).

 

Whine reported for annual service earlier this week. Now diminished (Oil topped-up ?) but minor rumble/rattle persists ?

 

Main dealer says its fuel pump whine.

 

Anyone ?

 

Nick

If the noise goes when the clutch is depressed it's either the release bearing or input shaft bearings.

Depends how much it's annoying you but box out either way.

Possible worn input shaft bearings

Its not the clutch release bearing because that would only make noise with the clutch depressed.

Its not the clutch release bearing because that would only make noise with the clutch depressed.

 

Yep.

Thanks guys. That confirms what I thought.

 

Most of the noise, which sounds like a Hoover with worn bearings or one of those kids toys with a kinectic energy flywheel, seems to be coming from the passenger-footwell side of the "Transmission tunnel" ridge and goes away when the clutch is depressed,  so I agree its gear box. Its certainly not fuel pump (either the LP electric one in the tank or the HP injector pump) or the alternator or the starter.

 

But, I'm always  keen to learn from  qualified Skoda mechanics, especially in main dealerships, who may have an entirely different take on it . . . . for  public    consumption.

 

At the annual service two years ago, I requested that they have a look at the gearbox for leakage (Although there were no sounds then) and they reported that the input shaft seal was leaking into the clutch bell housing.  I knew that there was an oil leak somnewhere at the bottom end of the engine/gearbox because of some deposits on the tarmac where I park-up overnight.

 

After contacting Skoda UK to determine whether it was OK to replace the "Filled-for-Life" gearbox oil,  I got the main dealer to replace the gearbox oil at last years main service and it would seem as if fresh oil has caused the leakage rate to increase, because I've done less mileage (2,000) 2015/16 than 2014/2015 and yet the noise came on towards the end of last year. After, this years service, the distinct whine on 1st and 2nd gears went away, but as is evident from the video, albeit with the volume turned to maximum, there is a slight residual rumble in the gearbox. So I assume that the dealership topped-up the gearbox oil, but wouldn't admit to it.

 

I suppose now is the time to  stick a tray underneath overnight when its parked, just to see how much is coming out through the bell-housing and then its a decision as to whether to have the engine out and get the input oil seal replaced and/or whether the gearbox input bearings need to be replaced. And of course, if your having the engine out you might as well have the clutch replaced. So, all-in-all that could be pretty expensive.

 

Alternatively, I could just soldier on for the next five years (When I would hope to replace it), doing 2,000 -3,000 miles a year and topping-up the gearbox oil level  every year.

 

Does anybody know how long these gearbox  noises will go on before it becomes something more serious and these type of  gearboxes cease to work ?

 

Nick

Edited 4 March, 201610 yr by Clunkclick

Does anybody know how long these gearbox  noises will go on before it becomes something more serious and these type of  gearboxes cease to work ?

 

Generally a gearbox will continue to work long after they get noisy as long as they don't run low on oil.

Never had any problems with my AUB version engine which is older & only had 61,000 ish miles when I sold it last year. However in the 14yrs I had it I twice did a gearbox oil change for preventative maintenance...

 

I got the gearbox warm & fully drained it (let drain for 2hrs) & filled with new oil, I used Millers Motorsport but the same "w" range/rating as the VAG stuff.

More fool me.

 

I  didn't realise that VAG had implemented this "Filled-for-life"  bull****, so  didn't check the service invoices and assumed that a "Service", especially by a main dealer, meant a service old school style. And of course, the main dealer's staff didn't tell me they hadn't changed the gearbox oil, as it wasn't on the VAG supplied service schedule in the first place and they were "Only following Chessington's orders (policy)" . Skoda UK HQ wouldn't tell - naturally.

 

This went happily on 'till I noticed the oil build-up on the parking space tarmac. By which time, the die had presumably been cast. So it only got its first gearbox oil change after 12 years (58,000 miles approx.) when I checked the situation with Skoda UK HQ at Chessington (And, of course, only an engineer could answer the question, rather than a first-line customer service bod - sheer dishnonesty on the part of Skoda UK and the VAG group in general.

 

Contributory  fault from myself ? Possibly. I had done the servicing myself on my previous car (VW Golf Mk 1) and had religiously changed the gearbox oil every 4 years (20,000 miles for me). And the 'box was sound-as-a-pound when it went to the scrappies @ 75,000 (Body rot).

 

Where's Mrs Merkel when you want to strangle her ?

 

Lets hope the various class actions against VAG in the States do 'em over proper. They deserve it.

 

 

Nick

Edited 4 March, 201610 yr by Clunkclick