hello guys, im new here, I've looked through every forum but maybe you guys can help.

I have a 2015 mk3 otcavia rs diesel, 80k on clock. Recently, gearchanges have been atrocious.

I am having to go up to 2 mph or completely stop to put it in 1st from moving, otherwise it wont go in without force and gears 2-3 are so notchy and often feels like something is blocking the gear going in unless i let it slip in with little pressure.

The changes are somewhat better when car is warm, but from cold i am really having to be patient with it.

I have changed the oil in the gearbox about 400 miles ago it did nothing.

The clutch also feels juddery and grindy somewhat but its not splipping and the bite point is about 3/4 up i'd say. To my surprise when i took it to garage they couldn't find nothing wrong with the clutch.

Gearchanges with engine off or running but not moving are smooth as butter. its only once i get rolling it feels like trying to jam a bolt into a nut without screwing it or often feels like it first bumps into something metallic then goes into gear, its horrible.

One thing that happened once, the clutch got stuck down for about 1 second then came back up, that's only happened once though hence taking it garage but couldn't find anything.

Is my gearbox gone?

thanks

With the engine off if you can simulate driving through the gears in sequence it is unlikely to be the gearbox.

The high bight point and the brief stuck down peddle suggests a clutch / actuator problem.

Has the clutch system been bled of air?

Have you posed the problem in the Mk 3 forum? (2015 car)?

Did the garage say they saw the problem? or do they just not want to investigate?

2 hours ago, pikpilot said:

With the engine off if you can simulate driving through the gears in sequence it is unlikely to be the gearbox.

The high bight point and the brief stuck down peddle suggests a clutch / actuator problem.

Has the clutch system been bled of air?

Have you posed the problem in the Mk 3 forum? (2015 car)?

Did the garage say they saw the problem? or do they just not want to investigate?

So, the clutch hasnt been bled, they said they couldnr find nothing wrong with the clutch and they suspect slave cylinder.

Got quoted 1.6k along with a clutch change.

Is there any reason the changes are smoother after ive been driving a while? And is there anything i can try before i go and spend heaps of money?

Thanks.

Bleeding the clutch actuator (slave cylinder) is an easy and cheap job if external to the clutch housing. Should have been done at 2 year brake fluid change.

2 minutes ago, pikpilot said:

Bleeding the clutch actuator (slave cylinder) is an easy and cheap job if external to the clutch housing. Should have been done at 2 year brake fluid change.

Hey brother, thanks for replying. The actuator is inside the gearbox

Its inside the actual gearbox hence the price..

Although the slave is in the gearbox there must be a bleed nipple externally. It does sound like the slave may be failing or the master letting fluid past the seals or air in the system. I bled my Mk2 but had to use a pressure bleeding kit(gunsons) to clear all the air after master cylinder replacement. I would bleed the system first and see if it improves. When I did mine the fluid came out black at first then eventually normal. Just make sure you dont let reservoir drop too much as its also the brake reservoir as you will need VCDS to bleed the ABS unit.

Alasdair

Thank you guys, i will change brake fluid and bleed the system and come back to this thread. Thanks for the help, hopefully that does it.

I wouldnt bother changing brake fluid at the moment. Just make sure you keep reservoir topped up when bleeding clutch so you dont let level drop enough to risk gettig air in brake system. Hopefully there is air in clutch system and by bleeding it your gearchange will improve. Might be a good idea to reset the selector cables at the same time and check the plastic bit the cables attach to above gearbox is moving freely and not stiff. Had a Seat altea that the gearshift especially in 4,5th was really stiff then I snapped the plastic bit as it had seized.

Looks a bit like this

Is it a hassle gettinf to those cables or should i tske it garage, thanks alasdair

Cables are no problem on mine. You have to lock up gearstick with think 8mm drill bit and then release and reattach cables. Think theres a you tube vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeOoDJuhSx8

Cant remember if I had to remove air box etc.

As said also check that the cast weighted part on top of gbox selector and plastic bit are moving freeely.

Alasdair

I've just had similar problems with our Roomster. It turned out to be the plastic gear selectors in picture above. Couldn't tell with them in place, had to take them off and waggle them by hand. One had cracks and excessive movement. It's surprising how slight movement can cause loss of gear change.