Guys and gals,

I have a strange one for you, basically i'm not sure what is happening.....i'll try and explain the best I can.

About three months ago my gears got really sticky and hard to engage, esp reverse and 1st at times I really had to wrench out the gear stick to engage neutral. So I took it to skoda who suggested a gearbox oil change, this was duly completed and I got my car back.

It was better to drive and after the car was driven for about 20 miles the gears were much better and it has been ever since, with a sticky gear occasionally but from what I remember this has always been the case.

My problem now is when I do a rolling 1st gear with the cluctch engaged (i.e when pulling up to a junction) the gear crunches as if i've just shoved it in with the clutch half engaged or something. When I stopped the car to an almost stop and select first gear it goes in lovely as normal without any crunches at all. Totally confused?

Anybody got any ideas because i'm at my wits end with it.....

Thanks in advance

Marc

Mine baulks when i try to engage first gear whilst still rolling so i tend to stop then select with no probs. (38000 miles btw)

perhaps a knackered syncro on 1st?

mine goes in nicely when rolling up to junctions, with no crunching - 70,000 miles on a box with unknown history.

I've got 80k on mine n 1st is spot on, it sounds like it may be your clutch. Try going from reverse into 1st and vice versa with the clutch fully engaged. if its not a smooth transaction it sounds like your clutch. I had a Nissan Micra a few years ago and from 1st to reverse & the other way was a night mare, crunching, grinding etc and it was a knackered clutch.

I had problems selecting 1st and reverse with my vRS. It was fine one night, knackered the next morning! Skoda Assist came out and suspected a knackered synchro on 1st, recoverd it to the dealership to be fixed but they discovered it was the clutch. Can't remember exactly what had happened, but the clutch plate had broken as opposed to being worn out so it was replaced under warranty... twice! I think if it is the clutch you need to get the flywheel replaced too. Skoda haven't done so on mine and it's really juddery now, I'll be taking it back AGAIN once my house move has completed.

Clutch assembly, clutch hydraulics needing bleeding, or clutch slave cylinder starting to go?

you should never engage 1st gear while still moving down the gears always use the brakes thats what they're there for.

So you never select first gear when in the last stages of rolling up to a corner that's just too slow to use second on, but isn't a mandatory stop?

I had this same problem in my old Suzuki. So personally I learnt to drive around it, and no I never engage 1st while I'm moving.

you should never engage 1st gear while still moving down the gears always use the brakes thats what they're there for.

Why not:confused:

I don't believe that one either. You don't need first above about walking speed (well except when moving off), but that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't take first on the move.