Anyone ever paid to have their gearbox opened to assess its condition? Unhappy with clunky 1st gear (only 25k on the clock mind you - not owned it from new myself) so am tempted to get the gearbox opened and assessed but am unsure whether it's financially worth having it opened up unless having work done at the same time. My thinking is though... how do you know what may or may not need doing unless its condition is assessed? Car is running etc, but for low mileage and a 15 plate I can't say I'm happy. 

 

Never had gearbox work done before so would have no idea what to expect, ask or where to start. 

Just now, CReese123 said:

Anyone ever paid to have their gearbox opened to assess its condition? Unhappy with clunky 1st gear (only 25k on the clock mind you - not owned it from new myself) so am tempted to get the gearbox opened and assessed but am unsure whether it's financially worth having it opened up unless having work done at the same time. My thinking is though... how do you know what may or may not need doing unless its condition is assessed? Car is running etc, but for low mileage and a 15 plate I can't say I'm happy. 

 

Never had gearbox work done before so would have no idea what to expect, ask or where to start. 

Gear linkages all look good to me from visual inspection. Engine off and gears are all smooth. Start and stop helps at red lights. Start and stop turned off, 1st gear is crap when going from neutral back into 1st, in my opinion.

@CReese123Just out of curiosity i had a look at the other posts you made to see what gearbox you have, so i see a 5 speed and you did an oil change.

 

It would be handy if the posts on the same subject were kept in the same thread. Maybe just me though that likes that.

 

 

Getting the gear cables reset would be a very sensible first step. Youtube can probably show you how.

7 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

@CReese123Just out of curiosity i had a look at the other posts you made to see what gearbox you have, so i see a 5 speed and you did an oil change.

 

It would be handy if the posts on the same subject were kept in the same thread. Maybe just me though that likes that.

 

 

Fair point to note and I'll keep that in mind for future reference. Yeah, 5 speed. 

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

Getting the gear cables reset would be a very sensible first step. Youtube can probably show you how.

I'd read up on that but not something I'm overly familiar with. Had enquired with local garages about the possibility of this, but when they can't give a fixed or even rough quote on resetting the cables/linkages, I've been hesitant because I always thought this to be fairly straightforward for mechanics.  

Any VW/Skoda specialist independent should be happy to do it.

17 minutes ago, Wino said:

Any VW/Skoda specialist independent should be happy to do it.

Do you have any ideas how much I'd be looking at or the amount of time it'd take? Also do you think they can diagnose if it is this issue? Also understand bushings etc can fail but I struggle to see how this can be anything major surely. Hoping a simple fix anyways 

10 minute job max if you know what you're doing.

Have a look on youtube, you may find that you're happy to give it a go yourself.

If it fixes it, the diagnosis is "that was the problem", if it doesn't it wasn't.

13 minutes ago, Wino said:

10 minute job max if you know what you're doing.

Have a look on youtube, you may find that you're happy to give it a go yourself.

If it fixes it, the diagnosis is "that was the problem", if it doesn't it wasn't.

 - Can you take a look if this is what you mean bud? Watched three videos along this line. Although all appears fairly simple, I struggle to see what changes are actually made? The guy retracts the springs, locks the transmission in place, then flicks the springs back out? 

Will have a look tomorrow. 🙂

To respond to your request you first need to explain what you mean by "clunky first gear"

 

Are you talking about a noise or vibration when driving in first gear? If so under what conditions, acceleration, constant revs, over-run etc?

 

Are you talking about a notchy or resistant gear selection from standstill?

 

Are you talking about a clunk when the gear is selected or when the drive is taken up?

 

Only the first one is likely to be diagnosed through gearbox removal and even then very unlikely through a visual inspection without a complete strip down.

Edited 26 September, 20214 yr by J.R.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

To respond to your request you first need to explain what you mean by "clunky first gear"

 

Are you talking about a noise or vibration when driving in first gear? If so under what conditions, acceleration, constant revs, over-run etc?

 

Are you talking about a notchy or resistant gear selection from standstill?

 

Are you talking about a clunk when the gear is selected or when the drive is taken up?

 

Only the first one is likely to be diagnosed through gearbox removal and even then very unlikely through a visual inspection without a complete strip down.

Notchy and resistant first gear selection at stop and standstill traffic. Don't have this issue when stop and start system is engaged because the engine cuts out and restarts. However, when stop and start disengages and the engine is on at standstill, going from neutral into first is clunky and resistant; rather annoying to say the least. 

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

To respond to your request you first need to explain what you mean by "clunky first gear"

 

Are you talking about a noise or vibration when driving in first gear? If so under what conditions, acceleration, constant revs, over-run etc?

 

Are you talking about a notchy or resistant gear selection from standstill?

 

Are you talking about a clunk when the gear is selected or when the drive is taken up?

 

Only the first one is likely to be diagnosed through gearbox removal and even then very unlikely through a visual inspection without a complete strip down.

As said, this is only at standstill, any sort of movement and gear selection eases in 1st. Down and up shifting is fairly normal and all other gears fine, including reverse. 

 

Clunkiness and resistance is when trying to select 1st gear and presents itself when halfway through selection (after going left from neutral and starting to push forward with the gearstick into first).

not a smooth 1st at all... very clunky to say the least. 

Clutch drag.

 

To confirm this pull the lever towards second gear as far as the point where you meet resistance in first gear (the synchroniser engaging) and then swiftly move it into first gear, if I am right then it will engage first gear correctly unless you have serious clutch drag and second gear baulks also.

Edited 26 September, 20214 yr by J.R.

7 hours ago, J.R. said:

Clutch drag.

 

To confirm this pull the lever towards second gear as far as the point where you meet resistance in first gear (the synchroniser engaging) and then swiftly move it into first gear, if I am right then it will engage first gear correctly unless you have serious clutch drag and second gear baulks also.

The clutch and flywheel are brand new. I'd be shocked if it's the clutch. 

@CReese123do you mean brand new 25,000 miles ago at the factory or have they been replaced since. Have you checked if any warranty work carried out in the car before you bought it? 

Was the same thing happening before the clutch and flywheel were changed? Or was that before your ownership?

 

If it's clutch drag causing the problem, what happens when you select reverse gear?

 

Do the gears grind?

 

Our Fabia, and my Rapid sport for that matter, can be a bit obstructive into first gear first thing after a cold start.

The easy option, if it doesn't select easily first time, is to put the selector in a "neutral position" lift the clutch briefly then press the clutch down and select first as soon as the clutch pedal is to the floor.

 

You are pressing the clutch pedal completely to the floor, aren't you?

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, johnh510 said:

If it's clutch drag causing the problem, what happens when you select reverse gear?

 

Do the gears grind?

 

We don't know the OP's gearbox but I would bet my house that it has synchromesh on reverse gear, it has been more than 25 years since I owned a vehicle lacking the modern refinement, my first car with it was in 1987, a Ford XR4x4, possibly the MT75 gearbox, most manufacturers followed suit very quickly

1 hour ago, johnh510 said:

The easy option, if it doesn't select easily first time, is to put the selector in a "neutral position" lift the clutch briefly then press the clutch down and select first as soon as the clutch pedal is to the floor.

 

This would be extremely counterproductive especially in the case of a dragging clutch having caused synchro wear on first gear.

3 hours ago, CReese123 said:

The clutch and flywheel are brand new. I'd be shocked if it's the clutch. 

 

Did you by any chance get persuaded by the garage to have the clutch replaced to resolve the problem of first gear engagement?

 

I ask because it does seem strange to be talking of removing a gearbox to inspect (what exactly?) for a problem that has all the indications of clutch drag but it's exactly the sort of line a garage who has taken a customers money for work which has not resolved the problem would trot out.

 

 

3 hours ago, Wino said:

Was the same thing happening before the clutch and flywheel were changed? Or was that before your ownership?

 

Yeah it was happening before the clutch and flywheel change. The clutch and flywheel change were unrelated to this gear issue I find myself having.

44 minutes ago, J.R. said:

 

Did you by any chance get persuaded by the garage to have the clutch replaced to resolve the problem of first gear engagement?

 

I ask because it does seem strange to be talking of removing a gearbox to inspect (what exactly?) for a problem that has all the indications of clutch drag but it's exactly the sort of line a garage who has taken a customers money for work which has not resolved the problem would trot out.

 

 

No I was not persuaded for the clutch change for the 1st gear issue. 1st gear issue was there before the clutch and flywheel change. 

2 hours ago, johnh510 said:

If it's clutch drag causing the problem, what happens when you select reverse gear?

 

Do the gears grind?

 

Our Fabia, and my Rapid sport for that matter, can be a bit obstructive into first gear first thing after a cold start.

The easy option, if it doesn't select easily first time, is to put the selector in a "neutral position" lift the clutch briefly then press the clutch down and select first as soon as the clutch pedal is to the floor.

 

You are pressing the clutch pedal completely to the floor, aren't you?

 

 

 

 

Reverse gear goes in no issues at all.