Gearbox failure on 2005 Fabia VRS

[coiner]

Hi all

 

My 2005 Fabia VRS has unfortuntately suffered a complete gear box failure at 95,000 miles meaning it needs a replacement or selling for parts. Worst thing is that I just spent £500 a few weeks ago to get it through its MOT. 

 

Does anyone know any good places to source second hand boxes as I have been quoted  approx. £1200 for a new one including labour. Apparently the one in it is completely knacked so cant be reconditioned.

 

Been quoted £400 for labour to replace the gearbox so just need a decent priced gearbox to go in. Suppose I will get the clutch done too as cost will only be 30 mins labour plus cost of parts. 

 

Any advice greatly appreciated! 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMB]

Should be able to find one on ebay, although it's always a bit of a gamble. What's your gearbox code?

Edited 4 October, 2016 by TMB

[stevobeavo]

I've had every bearing, gear, syncro and I believe even a shaft replaced in my gearbox so unless the casing is busted then I can't see why it can't be repaired.

Unit 18 charged me almost half the labour cost to remove and refit my gearbox, so I find that very step. Also the trouble with buying a second hand gearbox is it might also have problems, this has happened to me on my previous vrs.

[Phil-E]

We had a Seat Cordoba PD130 a few years ago that suffered a gearbox failure too.

The garage sent it off to be re-conditioned. In the end they found the casing was damaged so they gave us another re-conditioned one.

Even then with a new clutch and flywheel the bill came to less than £1k. Would have been less if they could have re-conditioned our box.

Shop around and find a garage that either knows what they're doing with gearboxes or that will send it to a specialist to be done.

[kaspar]

Thanks for the replies

I think they said there is a big hole in the casing and that's why it's not economical to recondition.

Not sure of the gearbox code. Is there a way to find out without calling the garage?

Sounds like I could get it done cheaper elsewhere but the trouble is the cost of moving it.

[Phil-E]

Ah yes. I guess once it's at the garage it's a bit awkward to move elsewhere.

2005 should be a BLT engine? And so the gearbox should be 02M.

Another way to tell is what where the revs at while doing 70mph? If it was 2000 rpm or less it's not 02M. If it was more like 2300rpm then it is 02M.

[TMB]

Not sure of the gearbox code. Is there a way to find out without calling the garage?

 

 

It's on a sticker in the front of your service book, and also on a duplicate sticker under the boot carpet.

 

In my case, my gearbox code is FNK

 

Edited 5 October, 2016 by TMB

[coiner]

 

It's on a sticker in the front of your service book, and also on a duplicate sticker under the boot carpet.

 

In my case, my gearbox code is FNK

 

 

Thanks a lot. Will get the garage to have a look.

 

Some on ebay don't provide a code just the model and year of car. Do all 2005 Fabia VRS gearboxes fit all other 2005 Fabia VRS's then?

[andsoutham]

It will most likely be an HDS box. As long as you get a gearbox from a fabia vRS of any year it will all bolt up the same. If you get a gearbox from a previous 2003 vRS then it will be a FSM gearbox that has longer ratios but fitment is the same

[Phil-E]

Oh yeah. I think I got my dates wrong. It was 2004 wasn't it that the new box was used from.

 

As above... any from a vRS but the older one has longer gears which isn't a bad thing... means you're doing 70mph at less than 2000rpm!

[kaspar]

Many thanks

These replies have been really helpful. As you can tell, I'm not very good with mechanical issues.

*ive signed in with my phone and it's an old username, feel free to merge if mods prefer*

Edited 5 October, 2016 by kaspar

[coiner]

Think Im going to put a used gear box in it and get them to check the clutch and fly wheel when they are doing so to see if that needs replacing too.

 

Been quoted 260 for labour now plus 350 for a used box with a 3 month warranty. 

 

Ive just been looking at clutches and flywheels and am surprised at the high cost of flywheels! Will they be able to look at the flywheel and see it if needs changing? Currently I have a SMF. 

 

Cheers

[Phil-E]

SMF shouldn't need changing as there's nothing to wear out on it.

[daz_vrs]

I had my gear selector break on my 2005 vrs last year sticking the box in 3rd. Was quoted £500 to put it right. Coupled with the fact I might as well get the clutch and dmf done while the box was out it was adding up to around a grand. Thought I'd check on eBay and was really lucky to find a working box with the same code as mine only 30 miles away in auction with no bids. I won it for £35. Got a local indipendant garage to put it in with new sachs clutch and dmf at a cost of 475. Wasn't too bad in the end.

[wja96]

I face this every time I get the car serviced. SWMBO likes it serviced by Robinsons Skoda in Norwich. They undoubtedly look after us, but they're not cheap. Our last MOT had £1000 worth of work done to keep the car "as new" including various bits that didn't really NEED doing but maintained the car in as near new condition as possible.

So, £1000 on a car that is probably worth £1000. It doesn't seem sensible but in reality you're getting something that will last at least a couple of years and you know YOUR car which is more than can be said for something more expensive that replaces it. So we keep spending the deposits for the next one on this one because that's it for another 20,000 miles of reliable motoring.

£1600 to have the gearbox and clutch/DMF replaced is buttons compared to what another car could cost you. Whether you get it done by the dealer or an independent, it's still good value because ultimately - what can you replace a Mk I vRS with?

Edited 11 October, 2016 by wja96

[PRING]

Wow how times have changed.

 

Had a box fitted to mine (140k) because of elongated holes making it seem like the mounts needed changing.

The second hand box (110k) including fitting was £60 😂😂

Unfortunately now this box has started to go (15k later).

However, will be having another box delivered to me (hds) plus fitted for £80 this Sunday 🤣😆 peanuts considering this conversation and prices!

My car has ‘all the right mods’ for reliability and more reliable power -  Fmic, hard pipe kit, pd160 intake, pipercross panel, egr delete, 1756 turbo, new braided oil feed lines, DS downpipe, 4 bar map sensor, seat sport strut brace.

brakes - 312 discs and ds2000 sport pads, braided lines all round and sport fluid.

Everything has been replaced underneath with all superpro bushes including axle, whiteline r arb, st sus etc etc etc. even new sub frame bolts and washers, T rods, ball joints, stub axles, bearings, drop links, top mounts.

 

Spent about 5k so far on this little runaround. Could of bought a decent car for that !! However, I do have a decent car being forged as I write this ! 🙈🙈

 

I really love this little fab and its journey.