Worrying symptoms randomly occuring when attempting to change gear.

 

Sometimes it feels like it wont come out of gear, it seems jammed. After a struggle it relents, so I have been able to complete my journey. Other times when changing up it makes horrible grinding noises as I attempt to pass the neutral position.

On another occasion I was trying to check I was in neutral by rocking gear knob left/right as you do, but it seemed very stiff and felt most odd.

 

This is intermittent,  I can drive miles without noticing anything wrong, the car drives just fine with no odd gearbox noises.

 

I have had the car 5 years, now at 48k miles.

 

Anyone know what the trouble likely is?  I am currently on hols in Cornwall and hoping to get home before I get it checked over ☹️

Should have said its six speed manual transmission, petrol engine.

It sounds like the dis-enagement clutch thrust mechanism is faulty (broken thrust vane??).  Is the clutch heavy when trying to change gear (that could be the clutch slave cylinder gone south) or does the clutch go to the floor?

I would get it on a back of a low-loader back to Bristol where it can be repaired by your local garage.  Don't try and drive it as you will damage the gearbox and clutch even further.

The clutch feels no different now to all the 5 years that I have owned the car. How does that explain the intermittency? Most of the time the car drives fine.  Could it be something out of kilter with the gear change linkage?

 

Keith

 

12 hours ago, KeithJR said:

The clutch feels no different now to all the 5 years that I have owned the car. How does that explain the intermittency?

That a good thing - which means that Slave cylinder is okay - which probably means the issue is further down in the gearbox - which is bad.

 

12 hours ago, KeithJR said:

Could it be something out of kilter with the gear change linkage?

Unlikely, but its a quick/easy job getting the linkage lubricated.

A local garage took it out for a spin and couldnt fault it. So I hope to drive back to Bristol Friday, and its booked in to a Bristol garage on 24th for a thorough checkover. Driving around today and no nasty surprises.

15 hours ago, KeithJR said:

A local garage took it out for a spin and couldnt fault it. So I hope to drive back to Bristol Friday, and its booked in to a Bristol garage on 24th for a thorough checkover. Driving around today and no nasty surprises.

I would get the gearbox oil changed - I personally don't care for the 'lifetime oil' statement from Skoda for the manual gearboxes.  Gearbox oil changes have made a huge difference in terms of performance of the box.