Hello,

This is my first time posting, so I hope I'm posting in the right place. Apologies if I'm not.

I have recently bought a 1999 Octavia LX with 74,000 miles on the clock.

I am finding it fairly hard to get the car to go into 1st and 2nd gear, but 3rd, 4th and 5th

are really easy and smooth.

The problem with 1st and 2nd happens most of the time, but can normally be resolved by going into neutral and trying again or pushing the gear stick hard into gear.

I have heard that changing the gearbox oil can help. Has anyone else had this trouble and if it is worth changing the gearbox oil can anybody give me instructions on how to do it?

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

maybe the rear engine mount has gone a bit saggy, or the clutch slave needs bleeding

Sounds like the syncro

Mine was much easier to get into 1st after changing the rear engine (dogbone) mouont for a slightly stiffer one.

Mine was worn synchromesh on 2nd and third.

Mine has new oil, but while much better isn't resolved.

My next steps are:

- Adjust the gear linkage

- Change dogbone as i am getting a bit of vibration at idle.

- Worry as the next possible options are not what you would call cheap.

Sounds a bit like a draggy clutch (OP problem), which suggests the slave cylinder might be leaking. If you get it into gear, and sit engine running, in gear, handbrake off and foot on clutch, does it try to move off without you moving your clutch foot?

I don't know if it is that ken since i have same symptoms and the car isn't suffering from dragging clutch, even does this with engine off.

I'm going to tackle the adjustment ASAP and will get some pics and a how to up on here when i do.

Fairly sure my issue is just with 3rd, so I reckon it's the throw being slightly too long (hardly ever use first except from rest).

As to the OP's problem, I'm trying to rule out the cheap things rather than start asking questions like "which ratios are on which layshaft?"

I replaced my slave cyclinder as I thought it was leaking, but it turned out to be the actual coupling fitting on the end hydraulic pipe that was leaking. I had to let a dealer fit that in the end :-( The new pipe fitted (whole lenght from the master cylinder) seemed to be a diffrent shape, as it is now held in place with an additional tie-wrap!

Yep but adjusting gear ratios on a 1.9 TDI 110 is easy, as long as you can get the airbox out of the way.

I haven't got a Haynes (yet anyway), or a garage for that matter.

I have...

It is very poor compared to the old books, with huge sections just saying go to a dealer father than anything useful.

For example no info on changin the dogbone mount at all.

The BX one was excellent, the pug one was not as good, the octy one is pretty cr*p.

I'd agree; the BX one was the last really good one I had, but some of the technical spec sections are handy, even when the "workshop" content isn't.

Case in point in the Xantia manual - "some dismantling may be necessary (to reach the clutch adjuster)", where a more accurate statement would have been "you will need to remove the air filter case before you can even see the clutch adjuster".

Mines had crappy change from 1st to 2nd since new, 2 dealers found no problem, despite adjusting "links" and replacing gearbox oil twice (once when they said it had the wrong oil in!). I even tried another 4x4 to prove a point but it was even worse! So I gave up and assume these cars don't have a good gear change. My wife says I'm over sensitive. I think she's talking about gear changes. Also 3rd aint great if your in a hurry. Oh also had new clutch so not that. If anybody has a solution please put me out of gear change misery.

Musky, mine's not a 4x4, but I'm entirely happy with the change, apart from thinking that the throw is a little too long fore and aft cos I miss 3rd more than I think I should (and I sit as close to the wheel as my legs will let me with the seat set as high as the sunroof will let me).

Thanks for all your help. Was hoping that I might just get away with a quick gear oil change that I could do myself. Unfortunately it seems I'll just have to lug it down to the garage man.

Anyway, thanks a million for all your responses. Very helpful

Rusky...

The oil change and gear adjustment you can do yourself.

I would do those two before you spend your money as it will cost you about 1 to 2 hours of your time, the correct tool to undo the gearbox drain and the oil.

You need 2 litres of 75w-90 gear oil. I used fully sythetic stuff, eg skoda G50, miller TRX synthetc

The gear insructions are in haynes or I can post them with pics if i can do mine.

HTH

Got my 4x4 on 32,000 and 1st to 2nd is rubbish - doing it smoothly takes too long and a fast getaway is a clunky getaway. Sometimes it just won't go in 1st and reverse.

BUT I read this article;

Shifting Technique

particularly the gear changing bits and my changing has improved.

The more advanced drivers here won't need any advice - I once drove an Elise with a racing driver and I thought my 0-100 was mint but she could tell I hadn't quite physically slotted the stick perfectly - couldn't believe it.

not a bad write up that

i'll try it when my car comes back today from the dealers after having 1st and 2nd syncro and reverse idler replaced

after my complaning of ****e gear changes whoops sounds like it aint gonna be any different after reading this little lot

oh well