First of all i would like to say hello to everyone. First post but not my first visit. I have been lookin through the site since yesterday and i think its a marvelous site. Lots of info. I just wish i had looked through the site before "fixing" my car.....

Its a 1995 1.3 polo and has served me well. However, gear selection was getting difficult. Bit sticky with crunching sounds. So instead of visiting this site and lookin for advice i decided to put some oil in the gearbox! Yes youve guessed it......I removed the plastic plug on the top of the gearbox and put the oil in the clutch inspection hole. I thought this was the oil filler hole. The clutch is now slipping like a drunk man on roller blades!

Will this problem go away on its own when it burns off? how long will it take? Or should i undo some of the bolts at the bottom of the gearbox. Seperate it slightly from the engine and let the oil drain out?

Incidently, it was only a little oil. Maybe half a cupfull.

any advice would be appreciated....

Oh dear!

I hope that you can see the oil dripping from the bottom of the bell-housing, as it isn't an oil-tight joint there, it may well run out in time.

Don't drive it, but if some oil has already come out, you could try running and revving the engine in an attempt to 'centrifuge' the oil off of the clutch.

You could also try some brake cleaning fluid through the same plastic cover, but don't over-do it, as you could wash all of the (intended) lubrication from the splines.

Your original problem sounds as if it may be caused by the clutch requiring adjusting.

Oh dear!

I hope that you can see the oil dripping from the bottom of the bell-housing, as it isn't an oil-tight joint there, it may well run out in time.

Don't drive it, but if some oil has already come out, you could try running and revving the engine in an attempt to 'centrifuge' the oil off of the clutch.

You could also try some brake cleaning fluid through the same plastic cover, but don't over-do it, as you could wash all of the (intended) lubrication from the splines.

Your original problem sounds as if it may be caused by the clutch requiring adjusting.

Thanks for that. i now think that the original problem was clutch cable adjustment. Unfortunatley i did drive the car after putting the oil in...The clutch is still slipping though. But only when it starts to warm up??? Doesnt slip when the car is cold??? dont understand this. When you say to use brake cleaning fluid do you just mean brake fluid itself?

When you say to use brake cleaning fluid do you just mean brake fluid itself?

oh dear oh dear oh dear..

i think it would be best for you at this point to get a new clutch, bring it to a garage and get it done..

oil contamination is a very bad thing in a clutch, basicaly its fooked I'm afraid.

and NOO!! not brake fliud, he maens brake ckeaner, its a type of de-greaser..

no offence but if you dont know what that is, its time to bring it to someone who knows what there at..

best of luck tho mate.

No, whatever you do, DON'T put brake fluid in, that would make it slip even more!

From accessory shops or motor factors, you can buy Brake CLEANING fluid, this is a bit like dry cleaning fluid and is used to clean up brake components and at the same time, dampen down the dust. It cleans up oily deposits and evaporates quickly. It is also non flammable (so don't use petrol instead of it.)

What I have suggested MIGHT just save you having to have a new clutch.

The reason that it tends to slip more when it's hot is simply that the oil becomes thinner and there is less friction and the clutch relies on friction to give you the drive to the gearbox.

Has any oil drained out of the bell housing joint ?

Just noticed that I said rewing the engine, it should, of course been 'revving the engine'

Regards.

No, whatever you do, DON'T put brake fluid in, that would make it slip even more!

From accessory shops or motor factors, you can buy Brake CLEANING fluid, this is a bit like dry cleaning fluid and is used to clean up brake components and at the same time, dampen down the dust. It cleans up oily deposits and evaporates quickly. It is also non flammable (so don't use petrol instead of it.)

What I have suggested MIGHT just save you having to have a new clutch.

The reason that it tends to slip more when it's hot is simply that the oil becomes thinner and there is less friction and the clutch relies on friction to give you the drive to the gearbox.

Has any oil drained out of the bell housing joint ?

Just noticed that I said rewing the engine, it should, of course been 'revving the engine'

Regards.

Once again guys, thanks for the info.

I will try the brake cleaning fluid and see how it goes. Cheaper option than changing the clutch. If it turns out that i do have to replace the clutch. Will it be the complete clutch or just the pressure plate?

As for the bell housing, i dont think any oil has came out. Should i try seperating it to see if any oil comes out? is it a big job?

It may not be too easy to persuade the gearbox away from the engine by just slackening off the bolts, as you would be fighting the resistance of the driveshaft etc. , but you could always try.

If you do go down that road, be sure to disconnect the battery first though.

If you are brave enough, you could try drilling a single six mm hole in the bottom of the bell housing, but you really do need to know just where to drill or you could cause yourself a LOT of expense!

It wouldn't be the pressure plate which has suffered, it would be the driven plate, the linings of which will have absorbed some of the oil, however, this is academic, as it is normal to change the complete clutch once it is out of the car, due to all of the work which is involved in removing and replacing the gearbox.

It may not be too easy to persuade the gearbox away from the engine by just slackening off the bolts, as you would be fighting the resistance of the driveshaft etc. , but you could always try.

If you do go down that road, be sure to disconnect the battery first though.

If you are brave enough, you could try drilling a single six mm hole in the bottom of the bell housing, but you really do need to know just where to drill or you could cause yourself a LOT of expense!

It wouldn't be the pressure plate which has suffered, it would be the driven plate, the linings of which will have absorbed some of the oil, however, this is academic, as it is normal to change the complete clutch once it is out of the car, due to all of the work which is involved in removing and replacing the gearbox.

Thanks for that advice. I will try the brake cleaning fluid first today or tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes. I cant beleive that i put oil in the wrong place. I wonder if anyone else has made the same mistake? anyway thanks for now.

I don't suppose that you're the first (or the last) to do something like that, we all live and learn, the problem is, learning can be expensive! but at least YOU will never do that again.

Do let us know the outcome.

Best wishes.

I don't suppose that you're the first (or the last) to do something like that, we all live and learn, the problem is, learning can be expensive! but at least YOU will never do that again.

Do let us know the outcome.

Best wishes.

Well here we go again. Reading some of the posts here and i have found the original cause to the clutch problem. I checked out the pedal box on my 95 polo and found the bracket behind the clutch cable is broke. it wasnt fully sheared so i was still able to engage the gears albeit not so well. the bracket was twisted and almost off the pedal box causing the cable to drag etc. So now I've got the pedal box to remove.

Is it a big job? would someone be able to explain briefly in a step by step manner what the removal procedure is?

I know, i should get a hold of a manual. But i would have to wait a bit and I'm off a few days so id like to give it i go.

Incidently, i did put some brake cleaner down the gearbox plughole (see previous posts and advice) and it was starting to help with the clutch slip. So thanks for that one "caretakerplus".

removing the box is a VERY big job.

If you have to ask, it's probably for the better you don't do it.

Just stump up to a garage and they'll probably be able to weld it whilst it's in place, just stripping back the carpet etc.

a few people have had it done this way, it's not always a replacement job, they can often be repaired.

removing the box is a VERY big job.

If you have to ask, it's probably for the better you don't do it.

Just stump up to a garage and they'll probably be able to weld it whilst it's in place, just stripping back the carpet etc.

a few people have had it done this way, it's not always a replacement job, they can often be repaired.

Have already started to dismantle it. I think the hardest part will be removing the steering column. Will tackle that part tomorrow as it was starting to get dark. thats just me, alwys like to have a go myself first! Hope i dont regret it.......LOL

Do you know what shear bolts are?

You're going to find out in the morning.

Do you know what shear bolts are?

You're going to find out in the morning.

Thats why i stopped. When i spotted them. A drill, sharp chisel, hammer and a couple of hours work. Thats me being optimistic. I will post the progress tomorrow night. If i have any fingers left to type with after the job!

Do you know what shear bolts are?

You're going to find out in the morning.

Thats why i stopped. When i spotted them. A drill, sharp chisel, hammer and a couple of hours work. Thats me being optimistic. I will post the progress tomorrow night. If i have any fingers left to type with after the job!

Found this link on a vw corrado forum. Explains the removal and refit of the steering column which is similar to the polos. Its got pictures and diagrams and shows the position of the shear bolts etc...Should be helpful to anyone that wants to tackle a polo pedal box removal.

ps...hope I'm allowed to add a link??? sorry if I'm not.

http://the-corrado.net/forum/viewtopic.php...848&start=0

Somewhere on this forum, I have read that someone repaired their pedal box by drilling and bolting it. It might be worth a search before you go much further.

Regards again.

Somewhere on this forum, I have read that someone repaired their pedal box by drilling and bolting it. It might be worth a search before you go much further.

Regards again.

An update on the pedal box removal....Well, what a job! Awkward, time-consuming, really difficult etc etc... Managed it myself with the removal of the shear bolts -which hold the steering column on- the most difficult job. I ended up using a small grinding stone attached to a drill to grind off the bolts. Ofcourse, there were lots of bits and bobs to loosen, seperate, remove, cables etc. (hope i remember where they all go) Going to have the pedal box welded, then i will try to reattach. Really difficult job. One wonders what a garage would charge for this job as i think it would be pretty difficult for anyone. Anyone else done this job?

Somewhere on this forum, I have read that someone repaired their pedal box by drilling and bolting it. It might be worth a search before you go much further.

Regards again.

An update on the pedal box removal....Well, what a job! Awkward, time-consuming, really difficult etc etc... Managed it myself with the removal of the shear bolts -which hold the steering column on- the most difficult job. I ended up using a small grinding stone attached to a drill to grind off the bolts. Ofcourse, there were lots of bits and bobs to loosen, seperate, remove, cables etc. (hope i remember where they all go) Going to have the pedal box welded, then i will try to reattach. Really difficult job. One wonders what a garage would charge for this job as i think it would be pretty difficult for anyone. Anyone else done this job?

Pedal box now welded up and back in place. steering column was awkward to refit. but all sorted now. definately wouldnt do this myself again as it was very time consuming. so my advice to anyone considering doing this job and like myself not too sure of the amount of work involved, leave it to someone with the necessary skills! Thanks to all who replied.