I have a MK3 Octavia estate 1.6 greenline. And for some strange reason just recently, selecting reverse now has a grinding noise. 

 

It does not happen all the time does this happen, it can happen from cold starts when it feels like it. 

 

It can also not happen at times? Is this just me or is it a common fault? 

 

I am new round here so be kind 😁

This is a diesel***

Don't now if this applies but, there's no synchromesh on reverse so if you select reverse while still rolling forward, or even a couple of seconds after coming to a stop, then the non-synchromesh gears will make a noise as they try to mesh whilst one is still rotating.

There has been synchromesh on most gearboxes since the Sierra MT75 boxes in the late 80's, every Skoda and VAG vehicle I have owned since then has had synchro on reverse gear but I was corrected on this forum after making a generalisation and informed that some of the lower power rated gearboxes on older Fabias etc had no reverse synchro.

 

First thing is to establish whether the OP's gearbox should have synchro on reverse gear, second is does it grind while engaging the gear or the gear fail to engage and grinds when the clutch is brought up?

Edited 13 July, 20223 yr by J.R.

EDIT: Ignore me - I'd somehow jumped to the conclusion it's a DSG!! 🙄🙄

Edited 13 July, 20223 yr by Gaz

Its a 6 speed manual i can not believe i missed that out from the post. 

12 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

Don't now if this applies but, there's no synchromesh on reverse so if you select reverse while still rolling forward, or even a couple of seconds after coming to a stop, then the non-synchromesh gears will make a noise as they try to mesh whilst one is still rotating.

This can happen from a cold start straight into reverse. I have been told it is very odd. 

11 hours ago, Mk3occy said:

This can happen from a cold start straight into reverse. I have been told it is very odd. 

How many miles has the car done? I ask because that almost suggests that the clutch is slightly dragging at times.

 

6 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

How many miles has the car done? I ask because that almost suggests that the clutch is slightly dragging at times.

 

It has done 87k.