Sluggish gear change

[staro30]

Hi,

Not been using the car too much obviously but a sluggish and stiff gear change has appeared quite suddenly. Into reverse. From 2nd to 3rd. Super slick only a couple of weeks ago. Been reading - could be low on gear oil. Do I have to get under the car to locate and top this up? 

Could I check anything else? Could it be because just not been for a long run for months?

Car has run like a dream from 29k to 105k over the last few years with no service and no need to top up oil, clutch fluid, etc!

Have id'd the following oil for my Fabia Mk2 Tdi 1.4 - VW Volkswagen Audi Skoda Transmission Oil Manual SAE 75 1L G060726A2

Cheers

Jon

[sepulchrave]

It's not the gear oil, it's the linkage, adjust and reset the linkage to take account of cable stretch and wear, lubricate everything plastic with silicon and everything metal with spray grease while you're at it.

[staro30]

Thanks.

How much labour do you think that is for a local mechanic? Couple or hours or all day?

Cheers

[sepulchrave]

46 minutes ago, staro30 said:

Thanks.

How much labour do you think that is for a local mechanic? Couple or hours or all day?

Cheers

 

Not even, an hour would be plenty.

[mrgf]

I would try what Sepulchrave suggested as they seem very informative ob this subject but I did want to mention... You state you have had "No service" From around 29K to 105K, if you mean to the gearbox, fine but if you mean to the car as a whole, you are seriously missing very important oil changes, at every 10K. Now you may well be doing them but if not, you are asking for long term trouble and big expense! These cars are very susceptible to the use of wrong grade oil or no oil changes. They need to be done religiously, along with the oil filter. Many other things should be done too but missing an oil change is asking for trouble!

[Truls84]

I bet its you linkage. Its easy to do yourself if you can get under your car in a good way. Either with the car on a lift or with a grease pit.
Its just as easy to change both gear linkages and the gear "fuses" at the same time to save you trouble in the future.

[Brucemagoose511]

Error code is "low compression in cylinder 3" and dealers consider it needing a replaced engine. So I don't see much point in going for speculative repairs.  

[sepulchrave]

12 minutes ago, Brucemagoose511 said:

Error code is "low compression in cylinder 3" and dealers consider it needing a replaced engine. So I don't see much point in going for speculative repairs.  

 

Dude, this is a bit random, if you have an unrelated problem it's much better to start a new thread where we can help you.

[Brucemagoose511]

Apologies, totally wrong thread.  Any mod please feel free to delete!

[staro30]

Starting to lose power steering too. The light comes one and power steering has gone. Then it comes back after a few minutes. Then fails again when pulling into my drive.

Its been to the garage with the advice above (gear linkage/grease, oil change, power steering fluid maybe) and its been returned as 'all done' but its still the same! Waiting for a call back. No bill yet. Anyone local to Peterborough/South Lincs who recommends an honest garage for Skoda Fabia? Not overly keen on the dealership.

[sepulchrave]

Check alternator output and battery voltage. ECU cuts power to the steering when the voltage drops too low.

[staro30]

So it had its first oil change in 75k miles and gear linkages greased but gear stick still stiff and now won't even go into 1st! Reverse is hard. 2nd fine. Off to a different mechanic tomorrow! 

[sepulchrave]

36 minutes ago, staro30 said:

So it had its first oil change in 75k miles and gear linkages greased but gear stick still stiff and now won't even go into 1st! Reverse is hard. 2nd fine. Off to a different mechanic tomorrow! 

 

Did I mention that changing the gearbox oil is a complete waste of time and money a month ago?

I see that the linkage has still not been correctly reset and now it's actually worse.

You need to find an independent VW specialist and ask them to reset the linkage.

[staro30]

Gear box oil hasn't been changed. Engine oil change has. Will search for a local VW specialist.

[staro30]

Gear linkage fixed by different local mechanic. All fine now and only cost £20!

Power steering issue is either the steering rack and/or the controller. Both these items new and fitted will cost £1300!!!!! The car is hardly worth much more than that!

Battery and alternator have been checked.

I lose power steering only when low speed such as pulling into drive or car parks.

If the steering dashboard light isn't on then likely to get through MOT. 

Anyone had experience of this issue and what was the outcome? 

[sepulchrave]

It's NEVER the steering rack, god alone knows why you've been told it needs replacing, the rack is a purely mechanical device and only has to be replaced if it's leaking oil.

If you're losing steering at low speeds then it HAS to be a bad battery, I don't care if it's been checked, testing batteries is very difficult to do and I strongly suspect that the voltage is dropping at low engine speeds while the PAS pump is yanking 60A out of it.

Just spend £50 and fit a new one instead of £1300 on a load of work that doesn't need doing.

[staro30]

Thanks for your advice. Mechanic did state it might just be the controller and not the rack. A new controller and fitting about £350-400. Rack was the expensive bit at £600. Never had a new battery in 6-7 years so will try that. Will let you know. 

[staro30]

Hi Sepulchrave,

 

I have purchased a new battery but just need to get that rusted battery bracket off!

My multimeter is giving a reading of 12.37 volts on the existing battery. Should I bother to fit this new battery as you suggested?

 

Thanks

Jon

[sepulchrave]

3 hours ago, staro30 said:

Hi Sepulchrave,

 

I have purchased a new battery but just need to get that rusted battery bracket off!

My multimeter is giving a reading of 12.37 volts on the existing battery. Should I bother to fit this new battery as you suggested?

 

Thanks

Jon

 

Yes, because the reading means nothing unless the battery is under a 60A load whereupon I guarantee that the voltage would drop like a stone.

How long do you think the existing battery has been trapped in there under a rusted solid bracket?

[staro30]

About 6 years. I've WD-40'd it a lot, let it soak but it won't budge. My socket spanner isn't the longest. Think I'm starting to round it too so will have to try the local garage again I think.

[sepulchrave]

10 minutes ago, staro30 said:

About 6 years. I've WD-40'd it a lot, let it soak but it won't budge. My socket spanner isn't the longest. Think n I'm starting to round it too so will have to try the local garage again I think.

 

Six years means the battery is toast.

[staro30]

So the new battery is in and I have driven the 4 miles home and sadly the power steering is not kicking in. It remains off with a brand new battery so sadly I am close to scrapping this lovely car as spending the quoted £750/£1300 for a new steering rack/controller is not worth it on a 105k 59 plate! I will give the car one last big run next week (150 miles) and hope that somehow helps! Will let you know how I get on.

[mrgf]

Staro30, I know you said you have a brand new battery but did you charge it first? I have nearly always spotted a new battery that is supposedly fully charger, to be around 60-70% charged and that, as far as the car is concerned, is half-charged and Fabia's hate semi flat batteries! I now take the precaution of fully charging any new battery, prior to fitting it and won't rely on the car doing it for me. If you think about it, stop start technology prevents the system working at around a 70% battery charge!

[staro30]

I didn't charge it before fitting it. I have a charger so I can still try that  then give it a good run next week. Good idea?

[staro30]

I've charged the new battery in situ in the car and within 5 mins it goes from 'amber' to 'green' indicating its fully charged. A multimeter test also reads 13.64

Sadly despite sepulchrave's strong assertions that the loss of power steering is down to the battery it looks like my local mechanic was correct. Albeit I doubt I'm going down that route and I'll try to trade it in or scrap it. Shame really at 105k. I've had Ford an Vauxhall petrol cars go way beyond 105k!