Manual gear change when cold

[Sliceman]

Had my 2019 petrol manual 245 estate for nearly a week now and love the car HOWEVER the gear change when cold is awful. It feels really metallic and notchy but does seem to get better when warm. Is this normal, what can be done to improve it? Worth contacting dealer?  Never experienced it on any of my other cars.......

[B.DIFFERENT]

Mine was garbage. I put a quick shift on it which made it loads better and more involving to drive (should have come out of the factory like this)1-2nd still felt notchie though.

[Mr_James_88]

I experienced this myself on an earlier 184 vRS diesel and was unable to overcome the symptoms after changing the clutch, flywheel, gearbox oil and linkage joints (it was a 2013 with some mileage, and not new like yours). 

 

I hit this forum where I saw an abundance of comments relating to a notchy 1st to 2nd experience from cold which appears to exist across the fleet. 

 

I hope yours can be improved. I loved my vRS but sold it for a DSG in the end. 

[shyVRS245]

11 minutes ago, Sliceman said:

Had my 2019 petrol manual 245 estate for nearly a week now and love the car HOWEVER the gear change when cold is awful. It feels really metallic and notchy but does seem to get better when warm. Is this normal, what can be done to improve it? Worth contacting dealer?  Never experienced it on any of my other cars.......

The manual gearbox in my 245 has always been very good even from cold, which suggests you may have an issue and I would book it in and get it checked out. Done 20,700 miles in mine with no issues. If anything it is getting better.

[Sliceman]

Granted the one i test drove was great and i loved it however it will have been warmed up at the time.

 

Mine is ok when warm too but naff, notchy and clunky when cold. Grrrr :( 

[shyVRS245]

Could be worse just read about the guy with the failed DSG after 550 miles and £6,000 warranty job. Imagine paying for that just after the 3 year warranty expires.

[Redboy]

1 hour ago, Sliceman said:

Had my 2019 petrol manual 245 estate for nearly a week now and love the car HOWEVER the gear change when cold is awful. It feels really metallic and notchy but does seem to get better when warm. Is this normal, what can be done to improve it? Worth contacting dealer?  Never experienced it on any of my other cars.......

If it's new, give it a few miles and as the weather warms it should improve and as the weather warms. If not, take it in to the dealers. 

[Scotty72]

1 hour ago, Sliceman said:

Had my 2019 petrol manual 245 estate for nearly a week now and love the car HOWEVER the gear change when cold is awful. It feels really metallic and notchy but does seem to get better when warm. Is this normal, what can be done to improve it? Worth contacting dealer?  Never experienced it on any of my other cars.......

Has it completed the 1000mile effective running in period - wondered if it would get better with more use/time? Irrespective sounds like a dealer visit - can you try another car maybe a demo at the dealer to compare?

Of course for them to fully diagnose it would require the car to be left overnight.. not great if you need it to get around.

[juan27]

5 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

The manual gearbox in my 245 has always been very good even from cold, which suggests you may have an issue and I would book it in and get it checked out. Done 20,700 miles in mine with no issues. If anything it is getting better.

 

+1.

 

However I must say my Mk2 VRS had a pretty lousy gearchange from new until it had done 40K miles when it seemed to sort itself out.  Dealer claimed it was fine when I took it in. 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

I've found all of the VAG Manual gearboxes that I have had notchy from 1st to 2nd when cold. My Golf IV had this trait as did my Octavia 2 FL once warm it was a lot smoother.

[Scotty72]

8 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Could be worse just read about the guy with the failed DSG after 550 miles and £6,000 warranty job. Imagine paying for that just after the 3 year warranty expires.

Except that it isn't if you read the update to that thread.. popped out DS driveshaft.. sounds like his was a Friday pm car.

[Scotty72]

2 hours ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

I've found all of the VAG Manual gearboxes that I have had notchy from 1st to 2nd when cold. My Golf IV had this trait as did my Octavia 2 FL once warm it was a lot smoother.

I seem to vaguely remember an interesting 1st to 2nd change when my Leon Cupra Mk1 was cold.. would be the same 6 speed box I'm guessing? It wasn't enough of an issue for me though, Turbo petrols warm up quickly

[shyVRS245]

2 minutes ago, Scotty72 said:

Except that it isn't if you read the update to that thread.. popped out DS driveshaft.. sounds like his was a Friday pm car.

I know thanked him for updating everyone. Must have had an influx of trainees on that particular Friday.

[shyVRS245]

1 minute ago, Scotty72 said:

I seem to vaguely remember an interesting 1st to 2nd change when my Leon Cupra Mk1 was cold.. would be the same 6 speed box I'm guessing? It wasn't enough of an issue for me though, Turbo petrols warm up quickly

Vauxhall's even new ones still have woeful manual gearboxes. We have a 17 plate Astra Estate at work and it's as notchy as an old cane walking stick.

[ords]

 

[Sliceman]

Well gonna mention it when it goes to dealers. 5 days old and the stop start system has well, er, stopped. Googled it and apparently possible software issue but surprised considering its so bloody new. I do hope i have not got myself a Friday afternoon lemon !

[teescom09]

My vRS gearbox was very awkward under power when new. It’s a lot better now, not the best , my Focus ST box is light years better but it’s ok and a lot better than it was. 

[Sliceman]

Hopefully it will be an improving situation. Feels like no oil in it initially ! Lol. Bloody cars !!!

[mrgf]

I remember a car magazine describing the Fabia as having a "Notchy" Gearchange but I think it came down to driving style. Its not the most refined gearbox but it is reasonable, if you do it properly.  I take a bit of time with students, getting them used to "Snicking" it through the gears, rather then "Clonking" it though them. 

I am currently sitting in a newish Ford Fiesta (I am going to elaborate on the reasons for this in a new thread, soon). and it is a lot quieter, smoother overall but still, students "Clunk"!  It really does come down to timing clutch, gear action and sensitivity, it seems!

[teescom09]

2 minutes ago, mrgf said:

I remember a car magazine describing the Fabia as having a "Notchy" Gearchange but I think it came down to driving style. Its not the most refined gearbox but it is reasonable, if you do it properly.  I take a bit of time with students, getting them used to "Snicking" it through the gears, rather then "Clonking" it though them. 

I am currently sitting in a newish Ford Fiesta (I am going to elaborate on the reasons for this in a new thread, soon). and it is a lot quieter, smoother overall but still, students "Clunk"!  It really does come down to timing clutch, gear action and sensitivity, it seems!

Yes it comes down to they are crap drivers initially. They just don’t seem to have any mechanical nonse whatsoever these days, pitiful. 

 

Ford have ALWAYS made the best by far manual gearboxes. 

[bigjohn]

8 hours ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

I've found all of the VAG Manual gearboxes that I have had notchy from 1st to 2nd when cold. My Golf IV had this trait as did my Octavia 2 FL once warm it was a lot smoother.

 

The six speed box on my tsi Superb is smooth and precise to/from any gear cold or hot although I've only owned from 14k miles (now over 70k miles) not from new.

 

22 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

 

Ford have ALWAYS made the best by far manual gearboxes. 

 

I've driven using really good Ford manual gearboxes (Ford Cortinas, Escort MKI & MKI & Mondeo) but I've also driven some horrible ones. The one in my Escort MKIII was very notchy in the lower gears and as for the self destructing 5 speed box in a Sierra (circa 80k miles).

 

The manual gearbox in a modern Ford Ka is actually the same one as a Fiat Panda and is prone to issues.

 

 

 

 

Edited 27 March, 2019 by bigjohn

[Sliceman]

Lol. I can assure you it is not down to my driving skill. Without bragging, I am a highly trained high speed professional driver who will have had more training than most on here.....

[Redboy]

1 hour ago, Sliceman said:

Lol. I can assure you it is not down to my driving skill. Without bragging, I am a highly trained high speed professional driver who will have had more training than most on here.....

 

Apparently nobody will need high speed training from 2022 with ISA mandatory across the EU, although we'll probably still require some high speed voting and highly trained politicians to persevere with Brexit. 

 

PS I still think it's the cold weather and newness that's afflicting your car. I used to think the same on my MkII VRS, 1st to 2nd was occasionally notchy in the cold for several years, eventually loosened up. 

[Sliceman]

7 minutes ago, Redboy said:

 

Apparently nobody will need high speed training from 2022 with ISA mandatory across the EU, although we'll probably still require some high speed voting and highly trained politicians to persevere with Brexit. 

 

PS I still think it's the cold weather and newness that's afflicting your car. I used to think the same on my MkII VRS, 1st to 2nd was occasionally notchy in the cold for several years, eventually loosened up. 

Lol. 

Yes cheers, here's hoping mate

[benterrier]

I've had lots of VAG models all with perfectly good boxes, 4 to 5 speed. The Octavia 1 I'm running now I had has done 161k and is silky smooth and has been from the word go.

I buy a 15 plate passat 6 speed one year old, 12k on the clock and notchy as hell between first and second. I have to a negotiate a sharp turn into my drive and change from 2nd to 1st gear at very slow speed, nearly had to stop the Passat to engage 1st. Now with the 18 plate 6 speed Octavia...  6k on the clock perfect. You should not have to put up with a crock of a gearbox thinking it's new and will get better.