Hi everyone. I've just brought my 07 reg 1.9 Tdi Fabia estate (54,000 miles FSH) home and it drives great except one thing - the gearbox sounds like it's about to explode when I change from 1st to 2nd gear. All other gear changes are fine. I can feel crunching/grinding in the gearstick, as well. I'm so gutted. After spending 2k in parts in the last few months on A4 estate, before giving up on it, I'm at my wits end. Many thanks. 

Your only hope is that the gear linkage can be reset or the clutch bled, other than that it sounds like the synchro rings may be worn, you can check the gearbox oil level and top up as necessary but ignore any idiot that jack-in-the-box's and says that snake oil will fix it. It won't.

Oh God, not again. New gearbox? Should I dump it back to the dealer and walk away? 

First reset the linkage (highly doubt it will fix it) and check gearbox oil

If it crunches when changing gear then that's most likely the synchros worn or damaged. Doubt its the clutch as you would get a very loud crunch from reverse if that wasn't disengaging properly

 

My gearbox has a problem on 1st and 2nd gear where it wont go in without force, and 2nd and 3rd will crunch if i shift into them slowly.

I changed my gearbox oil and found a fair few metal fillings which made me think its likely to be the syncros gone

I'm just about to change the gearbox in the next week or so as I've tried all i could with my current gearbox short of getting it reconditioned which would cost too much

 

I would seriously consider taking the car back as it will probably get worse and cost you lots if it does need replacing

I'm surprised its only done 54k miles, mines on 104,000 and I thought that was a bit low for a gearbox to give up

 

The five-speeder is generally reliable however it is vulnerable to damage from low oil levels, once the level has been allowed to drop too low then wear takes place very fast. Since you've bought it from a stealer I'd definitely throw it back at them, give them a week to sort it or refund your money.

38 minutes ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

Oh God, not again. New gearbox? Should I dump it back to the dealer and walk away? 

 

 

I would certainly contact the seller ASAP and ask to return the car for them to check and rectify the problem, I'm suprised it didn't show on your test drive, would have expected some indication of wear and tear too be honest

To be fair, the crunching only started after driving at 60 mph for thirty minutes or so. My test drive was only for twenty minutes around town etc 

Sorry to double post, but here's a bit of an update. I have driven the car today for forty miles and its only crunched into 2nd four times. It only seems to happen if I shift into 2nd after 3000 revs (bit excessive, I know) the box does 'chirp' when going from 3rd to 2nd occasionally, as well. Still synchro? When's the gearbox oil get changed on the service schedule? It has FSH, but only 54k on the clock - too soon for a change? Many thanks ;-)

2 minutes ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

Sorry to double post, but here's a bit of an update. I have driven the car today for forty miles and its only crunched into 2nd four times. It only seems to happen if I shift into 2nd after 3000 revs (bit excessive, I know) the box does 'chirp' when going from 3rd to 2nd occasionally, as well. Still synchro? When's the gearbox oil get changed on the service schedule? It has FSH, but only 54k on the clock - too soon for a change? Many thanks ;-)

 

As with any previously owned car, unless you can actually question the previous owner directly all you can do is accept that you don't know how the car has been previously treated, has it ever had a tow fitted, it's the estate has the load space been hammered ie used like van ? assuming the worst a gearbox oil change whilst maybe not ' due ' may solve your issues, the contents or hopefully lack of in the old oil ought to give the garage an insight into possible problems too

49 minutes ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

Sorry to double post, but here's a bit of an update. I have driven the car today for forty miles and its only crunched into 2nd four times. It only seems to happen if I shift into 2nd after 3000 revs (bit excessive, I know) the box does 'chirp' when going from 3rd to 2nd occasionally, as well. Still synchro? When's the gearbox oil get changed on the service schedule? It has FSH, but only 54k on the clock - too soon for a change? Many thanks ;-)

 

Gear oil isn't on the service schedule.

A gearbox oil change will solve nothing, there is either enough oil in the gearbox or there isn't. Unlike engine oil, gearbox oil is not contaminated by combustion products, is not subject to thermal loading and oxidation, is not pumped and therefore remains effective for at least the entire design lifetime of the car.

sounds like the synchros if its worse at high revs.

Mine is hard to get into 2nd at anything over 5000rpm but below that its ok

gearbox oil change will not make it any better unless its currenly low on oil. I would still get it drained at least to see what the state of the oil is

I believe there is an internal magnet which catches the metal shavings so even in the drained oil you may not see any metal fillings.

Its very difficult to diagnose a gearbox without removing it and disassembling.

Thanks for replies. The car is two owners from new. Last one was an old bloke who had the car for seven years and only did about 4k a year in it. Only sold the car to the local dealership when his licence was revoked. No tow bar and almost mint apart from a few stone chips and some flat paint work. It's driving really well, though.......I'll contact the dealership tomorrow. Any suggestions on how to word what to say? (Don't trust dealers at all - especially after the bloomin Audi!) 

Edited 26 February, 20179 yr by GeneralDogsbody

I think I would ask to speak to the sales manager and politely point out your concerns regarding the gear change, I'm a firm believer that a polite non threatening approach avoides unnecessary confrontation. Don't accept any inference that there isn't an issue or that " they all do that it's an older car " ask for a senior technician to accompany you on a test drive preferable letting him drive, if you are honest with them about your concerns hopefully they will work with you and resolve any issues they find. If they don't find any or say that the issue isn't terminal ask for your concerns to be logged including the date and mileage on the car, including the short time since your purchase date, then if the issue gets worse or you need to have the issue examined elsewhere you will have proof you raised your concerns. 

Thanks for the very helpful post, David. I'm printing it off - I always forget what to say when I get annoyed! If they log the problem and then it gets worse in say, six months, would I have a leg to stand on, as the car only has a one month warranty? Cheers

8 hours ago, GeneralDogsbody said:

Thanks for the very helpful post, David. I'm printing it off - I always forget what to say when I get annoyed! If they log the problem and then it gets worse in say, six months, would I have a leg to stand on, as the car only has a one month warranty? Cheers

 

If you only have one months warranty whilst I would still take the advised approach under the current situation I would insist that the car was proven to be acceptable and fit for purpose agreeable to both yourself and the seller, then if you are still unhappy with the car get an independent check done ASAP and in the event of issues still there or any found on the check get the car back to the seller to be rectified under their warranty once again ASAP. Yes it's a pain but better to be a pain now than look back and wish you had done it !!

PS, softly softly approach DON'T allow yourself to get annoyed any aggressive approach won't do you any favours, if possible take someone with you, preferably 6 ft 6 and built like a red brick **** house ( only joking) but being accompanied may stop to make you think and will be a second pair of ears and eyes.

A bit of an update on the noisy gearbox. I have noticed that the 'box only crunches when it's warm, and the change into 2nd is after 3000 rpm. Any other time it's fine. Reverse selects ok (But not when on a kerb?!)

 

I have been told my a mechanic friend of mine that an oil change/cable reset might me worth a punt (as many of you clever lot on here have indeed said) 

 

Now, do I go for the standard Skoda oil + Forte additive, or Fuchs Sintofluid on it's own? (Or even with the Forte added to it, as well.......) I know a few people of this parish have spoken against additives, whilst others swear by them #Soconfused 

 

Many thanks in advance

 

Edit: Could the oil 'turned' when the car was parked up for six months without use, by the previous owner? 

 

 

Edited 30 March, 20179 yr by GeneralDogsbody

Just get the standard VW oil its cheap enough. 

Sounds as if its low on oil if reverse is difficult when parked on a kerb.

My new (second hand) gearbox had been left for a while after it was removed by the breaker, and to start with the gear changes were a bit stiff (still miles better than my old box). Changed the oil as a precaution and just put the miles on the gearbox and its really free'd up alot, goes straight into gear with no effort required.

Definitely a synchro problem on 2nd gear if its revs dependant and I'm guessing as the oil heats up and thins out it makes it worse.

You can add whatever you like to the gearbox oil, it won't make a blind bit of difference, nothing will magically add fresh material to the worn synchro ring.

 

Just top it up if the oil level is low, don't waste any more time and money on it, the wear has already happened and only a rebuild will fix it.

Thanks for the quick replies. How much is a new gearbox? Recon'd any good? Will I need a new clutch, as well? 

I would certainly replace the clutch if removing the gearbox, no idea about costs, I do absolutely everything myself, I have no fear of any job on a car.

Look for a second hand gearbox from a low mileage car

I got one for cheap and just made sure when I picked it up it felt smooth and not too much play in input shaft.

Or if you have the money then go for recon as all the bearings will be replaced as well as worn synchros

Downside of reconditioned is they are usually higher mileage gearboxes that have been rebuilt and sold for a lot of money

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

I would certainly replace the clutch if removing the gearbox, no idea about costs, I do absolutely everything myself, I have no fear of any job on a car.

 

I'm glad you're confident, Sep. Fancy sorting out my car? *Wink*

55 minutes ago, clarendon462 said:

Look for a second hand gearbox from a low mileage car

I got one for cheap and just made sure when I picked it up it felt smooth and not too much play in input shaft.

Or if you have the money then go for recon as all the bearings will be replaced as well as worn synchros

Downside of reconditioned is they are usually higher mileage gearboxes that have been rebuilt and sold for a lot of money

How much is a gearbox recon roughly? 

I'll be having mine done / replaced at some point as I am getting the crunch in first gear, sometimes having to hold the gear stick forwards to ensure it doesn't kick back out into neutral. 

 

Apologies to the op for going slightly off topic! 

 

JRJG 

2 hours ago, Jrjg said:

How much is a gearbox recon roughly? 

I'll be having mine done / replaced at some point as I am getting the crunch in first gear, sometimes having to hold the gear stick forwards to ensure it doesn't kick back out into neutral. 

 

Apologies to the op for going slightly off topic! 

 

JRJG 

The gearbox in my black vRS had a full rebuild 20k miles ago. The receipt is for £1300. Don't know if that's the going rate or my mate was ripped off though .....