I have lost 5th gear on my 2001 1.4 Polo SE. At first it started to drop out of gear on the motorway when slowing down slightly but could be put back in, then I had to double de clutch to re engage, now it won't go in period.

My problem is I'm in Basel in Switzerland, have to drive home to UK next week and can find no one to take on the job in less than 3 weeks. The VW dealership in Basel have looked at it, say the clutch is fine, 5th is broken, but if I don't over rev (over 4000rpm) I should be fine to drive back in 4th. They also say the front wheels cannot lock up. Otherwise I've been told the whole box may seize and I risk locking the front wheels at speed and causing a serious accident.

Am I safe driving back to UK carefully a distance of about 700 miles?

oil level is probably low from what seems to have happened

did they top-up the level at VW?

do that and it 'should' get u home in 4th...but say bye bye to good mpg or drivin quickly

i expect the fifth gear syncromesh is shot... it's lucky because you can change those without taking the gearbox out

oil level is probably low from what seems to have happened

did they top-up the level at VW?

do that and it 'should' get u home in 4th...but say bye bye to good mpg or drivin quickly

I can't find where to top up the oil for the gearbox in the polo manual. Is it something that has to be done by a garage or can I do it myself? Thanks for your advice so far

i expect the fifth gear syncromesh is shot... it's lucky because you can change those without taking the gearbox out

I thought it was probably the synchromesh too, because up to the point where it wouldn't go into 5th at all, I could get it there by double de-clutching. Is this problem likely to continue down through the gears in due course or is it a specific problem to 5th gear which I understand was an afterthought on this box anyway?

i wouldn't have thought so no! the 5th wears out fast because firstly it's used more and also it is higher so if the box is low on oil it get starved of oil

Hi, I am new to the forum.

I too have 5th Gear missing on a 1995 M 1.6 cl I have been told that on this box 5th was an add on and you just have to buy the gear and unbolt the cover and slide it back on the shaft put the circlip on and reassemble, needless to say I've not got round to it yet we have been driving the old girl for over a year now and not had any problems with 4th, just take it easy, stay about 60 and she toddles along.

any advise on replacing 5th gear would be appriciated as it does sound to simple to be right.

yeah it's dead easy replacing 5th on those.... dont even need to remove the gearbox from the car to do it.

Lol, post from the past, Did you get back ok then?

yeah it's dead easy replacing 5th on those.... dont even need to remove the gearbox from the car to do it.

were down on the island next weekend, wouldnt mind a chat on how it'sdone

new gear box time, mine kept doing this, put it in 5th gear, and a few mins later popped out and started grinding, gearbox is fooked, hope you got deep pockets mate

I've done this to two boxes this season.

I've fitted a four speed now,as its pointless fixing fifth if its just going to break again in a few hundred miles.

Its a weak gear,as reported above,due to being an after thought on this design. It cant take the 1.6 long term,clearly cant take my modified 1.6 short term,or any engine if the oil is low (which is filled via a 17mm slot plug by the offside driveshaft coupling,reachable from above). Its the weakest link of an otherwise well engineered car,and thats a real shame.

Mikey - buy new 5th gear parts rather than unknown secondhand 'boxes, then you'll have better luck. Plenty of more torquey and more powerful cars manage thousands of miles inbetween new 5th gear bits.