Hello, hope someone can offer some advice about my dads Fabia 2011 estate.  He often cannot engage reverse gear and driving his car today (admittedly I am not used to his car) all gears felt very heavy and clunky, especially reverse, first and second.  Took many attempts to get reverse.  No dash warning lights.  Dad is not the best of drivers now so we may be riding the clutch or pulling away in the wrong gear.  Had the car a while now but only on 56k miles.

Whats my best option in diagnosing the problem?  Take it to Skoda or an independent garage?

Any advice much appreciated - Andy

I think the clutch is the problem unless the clutch hydraulics are failing.

1 hour ago, Andyhh said:

all gears felt very heavy and clunky, especially reverse, first and second.  Took many attempts to get reverse.

Cheapest thing to do would be linkage alignment; other likely causes are clutch hydraulics or friction plate. Whereabouts is the biting point?

thanks Ken, Biting point seems normal when driving his car but will check again tonight.

 

I think the clutch may not be disengaging properly which won't affect the biting point necessarily.

I have had an issue with the selector arms on the top of the gearbox being tight on their pivots. May be worth identifying these under the bonnet, have someone move the gearlever through various gears and apply a little assistance by moving the levers under the bonnet to see if it make the selection easier. If this works lubricate carefully to stop contamination of the clutch etc.

 

On 11/10/2021 at 19:26, Andyhh said:

 

 @AndyhhAny update that may assist in the future.