All other gears up and down are smooth as you like. Just won't do 4th to 3rd and been like it since I've had it which is over a year.

Changed a bowden catch that was broke and also reset gears but still the same.

Next on the list is checking the oil as its got 150k on the clock, but got to soak the plug as it won't budge.

Any other ideas on what it might be??? Any help appreciated.

what car and engine do you have?

This is a bit odd! Are you sure that it IS in fact the gearbox level plug that you are trying to remove - as it is in constant contact with oil, it is unlikely to seize. If you are in fact looking at the level plug, it may be that someone has over-tightened it. In either case, soaking it in plus-gas or whatever is unlikely to make much difference.

Depending upon what model you are talking about, you could try disconnecting the linkage, selecting third or forth gear, get an assistant to hold the gear-lever in the same position as the selected gear and re-tighten the linkage.

If you do this, be prepared to have more than one go, as you could end up being able to select third and forth, but then struggle with another gear.

Regards.

Its a 1.4tdi

Deffo the transmission level plug with the 17mm hex bit. I'll get it out I just need to get some leverage with a breaker bar. But its in there tight alright.

Thing is I can get 3rd and 4th when shifting up through the box I just can't get from 4th to 3rd when shifting down. 4th to 2nd is fine and 2nd to 3rd is fine.

Any ideas. Hoping to get the oiled changed today. Hoping I don't need a box rebuild.

Fill level plug

The oil level is correct when the gearbox is full to the lower edge of the filler hole.

• ‒ Fit plug (arrow).

When filling with new oil note following:

• ‒ Remove plug (arrow).
• ‒ Top up oil to lower edge of filler hole.
• ‒ Fit plug (arrow).
• ‒ Start engine, engage gear and allow gearbox to turn for approx. 2 minutes.
• ‒ Switch off engine and remove plug (arrow).
• ‒ Top up oil to lower edge of filler hole again.
• ‒ Fit plug (arrow).

Cheers thats all alright and I'm confident I'm ok changing the oil..

Problem is this likely to fix the problem I have with changing down 4th to 3rd and what are other likely causes.

Thanks.

The chances are it's a worn syncro cone so fresh oil might ease the problem but it wont cure it!

Yes thats what I've heard elsewhere so I'll change the oil live with it and save for a rebuild I think thats my only option then....Just got to find a reputable company to do it.

Learn how to double de clutch, you needed to do this in gearboxes that did'nt have syncromesh!!

Can you explain a bit more please?? Think I tried something like this before when somebody suggested it. clutch out in neutral blip the accelerator and clutch again. It didn't work before but I will try again.

Edited 27 March, 201412 yr by smithysmoo

In 4th dip the clutch pedal, as you pull it into neutral, blip the throttle then put the clutch back down and, when the internal speed in the gearbox matches the 3rd gear speed the selector should allow a seemless shift down to the 3rd gear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_clutch

Yeah I did try this before but without any success...I will give it another go and see what happens.

It takes a bit of getting used to but it does work

Ok I'll change oil and retry....If it still don't work I'm guessing its something other than the syncro??

You should'nt need to double de clutch, but doing it correctly will get around a poor syncro problem, but at the end of the day you are going to need to get the box fixed!

Just got a quote for £800 for a full rebuild (not far off half the price of the car)...shocking....will keep hunting but I'm guessing its a minefield out there.

Are you sure that the clutch is correctly adjusted?

If there is more than about 6 mm of 'free play' on the clutch lever (gearbox end), try reducing the free play to that amount BUT do NOT eliminate the free play, or you risk causing the clutch to slip.

Regards

Gearbox oil changed and it will let me double clutch now so does that mean deffo its the syncro?? and if so what sort of cost should I be looking at for a box rebuild to fix this.

Thanks

PS I will have a look at the clutch but every other gear is fine.

If you cant change down without double declutching the syncro is still at fault, depending on your gearbox code the complete 4/3 syncro hub assy is listed @ around 75€uros Probably cheaper to get a known good s/hand box??

Theres a 2nd hand box on ebay for £100 which the guy says is all good...Problem is you ain't never going to know until I've paid to have it put on..

Are you sure its not the gear lever adjustment? Does it go into 3rd ok when the car is off?

Btw get the oil from VW £12 for 2 litres which is a little more than needed.

Yeah goes fine into 3rd up and down when the car is off...and goes into 3rd from 2nd just not down from 4th and I've reajusted the gears and didn't make any difference.

Not sure how you got the oil so cheap they quoted me £19 for 1 litre so I got it from Halfrauds with my discount card at £10 a litre.

If it doesn't do it when the car is off i think your problem is with the linkage somewhere. Try grabbing the weight where the cables meet to see if it will go the rest of the way in when you try. i.e Try it in the car, when it doesnt go in, try it manually. Might help to have a helper to find out where the gear is, up/down etc.

Everything is fine with the car off or stationary its only when the car is moving it won't downshift 4th to 3rd...So hard to see whats happening as its fine if I'm just sat on the drive. Obviously impossible to see whats happening with the weight etc when I'm moving. Linkage all looks fine but I will will double check.

If it was a problem with the linkage it would be the same when running or stopped, as it only occurs while running this is because the syncro hub is'nt able to syncronise the gear speeds to allow the smooth change