Was on the way to college this morning and I ground in a couple of gears, didn't think anything of it.. It still early assumed it was just me. The day went on, got to college parked up another grind in reverse when parking, again didn't think anything of it as it tends to do this if I stick it in reverse too quickly. Finished college, started the drive to Harlow to pick something up changing gears getting progressively harder and harder to a point where I have to wack it in gear. Even pulled away in 4th because it was easier than changing. Parked up again tried reverse and nothing but grind, grind, grind.. The grind wouldn't stop until I forced it through the grind to get it in reverse. This happened a few times, someone on here said something has to slow down when going into reverse?.. I'm waiting to try and put it in gear and nothing happens it been smooth through the gears up until today with the occasional reverse grind.

Hope you enjoyed the story but what I want to know is, what wrong with my car?! Gear box? Clutch? I'll see how it is tomorrow, hopefully it will be better..

Thanks.

Try adjusting the clutch this may cure the problem

How do I do that?

On the right side in the engine bay near the battery,

Two nuts with a spring behind them,slacken off the first one anti clockwise then turn the one behind clockwise adjust to suit & secure.

Thanks!! That sounds too easy! It was fine when I started again this morning but as the journey got longer it started getting hard and grinding in reverse again. Anyone else had this problem? Did adjusting the clutch help?

Why would it be ok when I first start driving?

oil maybe leaking from gearbox bottom selector shaft seal which is awkward to change but can be done,do not drive & create more damage.

Check to see whether the underside of the box is leaking oil.

Best to change the seal or at least brim the box with oil before driving it

I find slightly overfilling the box saves the box dying so quick,have the front of the car slightly higher than the rear while topping it up

Yeah it is quote moist with oil actually, how do I refill the gearbox and what with? I.e what type for my car, is it like engine oil where it has to be specific or will any gearbox oil be ok?

well you need to drain oil with large allen key on the left and replace the seal i mentioned at the back of the box buy from TPS OR VW

then fill up at the front which is also allen key with a tube type filler the oil is gearbox type.

Ok, thanks. Does anyone know where I can get a seal, with no wait. So I don't have to wait for delivery? Thanks.

What size Allen key do I need, what other tools will I need? I have a morning to do it in and don't wanna get to it and not have the right tools like I always do when I start things..

17mm? allen key not sure on that one

tps

trade parts specialist

for the part.

Part number of the seal


085301227


radial shaft seal

Here's how to replace the seal 085 Gearbox Renewing selector shaft seal with gearbox in situ.doc

nice one nige

That looks very helpful, thank you. Is there anywhere I can go and get the part without having to order? I really need to do it tomorrow morning.

Phone your local VW or TPS (trade parts specialist) if you have one local, they might have it in stock, if not TPS can normally get items within 48hrs

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220945014987?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_2905wt_952

Thanks! I'm gonna top it up for the time being until I get more time off to do it. I've just ordered that. I came home from college too late to get a 17hex socket from there though so I'm going to have to go in the morning then come home to do it, I hope they have one.

I just looked in my Haynes manual and it says that transmissions from cars after 1995 will have a filler plug on the front and and cars made before, will have it on the side. Mine is on the side like the cars made before, does this mean it has had a transplant sometime before or what?

Halfords don't supply 17mm hex bits so I have ordered one, I'm going to try a 17mm bolt in the meantime but I can't find pliers or grips..

Strange I bought a set from Halfords, as to the gearbox filler/level, ignore Haynes !! yours is a 96 so it was around the time of the change, my old 6N was also a 96 and the filler was on the diff case

Yeah I know, the Halfords neat me is quite small but I tried another local one that is huge! And they didn't either.. I had a mechanic at work look at it today and he said my clutch cable is really bad and the linkage bushes have seen better days. He said there's no precision in the gearbox that a vw should have.. I wouldn't know, its my first car.. He said it feels like a fiat gearbox which can only be bad. I've ordered a clutch cable just need to get it fitted and need to get a quote for the linkage bushes. How much do you think a garage would charge to put the cable on and change the bushes?