Hi there,

I'm new to all this and know next to nothing about cars so please bear with me!

Any assistance with the following would be greatly appreciated!

In September 2006, I purchased a VW Polo, X reg (registered Oct 2000) 1.4 SE from an independent trader. It had 2 previous owners, just over 50 thou miles on the clock and seemed to be in very good condition. A problem with the idling was sorted out prior to me purchasing it.

Within 24 hours, the central locking went. This was fixed at the trader's expense.

Within a month, the electric windows failed and the electrics were found to have been connected incorrectly. I paid for parts and labour.

Within 5 months, there was a strange ticking noise coming from under the bonnet and this was diagnosed by my local VW mechanic as being a problem with the gearbox. The car was under warranty (just within the 6 months) and therefore the trader begrudgingly arranged for the gearbox to be stripped down and repaired. At this point, my mechanic told me that it was already a reconditioned gearbox - I was not told this in the 'full service history' that I was given at the time of purchase. Because of the trader mucking me around, I was without the car for ten weeks whilst the gearbox was sorted.

Since the repair of the gearbox, I had travelled just under 800 miles. On Saturday, I was bombing along the M25 when suddenly, the gear stick popped out of 5th gear, just like that. I tried to put it back into gear but it wouldn't go. It was also making bad noises in 4th gear. I coasted over to the hard shoulder and spent an hour waiting for the AA to tow me home.

I have spoken with the gearbox specialist who actioned the repair recently and they have suggested that the problem is due to the gears overheating which is, in turn, due to there being insufficient oil within the gearbox. This, apparently, would be an error on the part of the mechanic who put the gearbox back into the car. I have been told that there is a bit of a design fault with this type of gearbox in that it takes some time for the oil to filter through to the 5th gear and therefore once oil is put into the gearbox, it should be left for about 10 minutes before being topped up again. It would seem that this was not done and that there was not enough oil in the gearbox.

** APOLOGIES: I try not to be so much of a girl but hey, I freely admit that I know NOTHING about cars apart from keeping oil/tyres/water topped up and regularly checked! So forgive me if I am getting it all wrong / misunderstanding what I have been told . . . **

I have also been told that this is a relatively common fault in Polo gearboxes. All I know now is that I have a car which is facing a third gearbox repair and it is not even 7 years old - can this be right?!

Can anyone please tell me if they have ever heard of 5th gear popping out and then the gearbox failing and, if so, if it is known to be a problem with lack of oil - or something else. I have booked the car into a different gearbox specialist but they can't strip it down until next week. In the meantime, I have to speak with the mechanic who put the gearbox in the car for me as, to be honest, if it's his fault I am going to do all I can to get him to pay for the new gearbox (I have been quoted roughly £600 to repair it, money that I cannot really afford!)

And, is it true about Polo gearboxes being a bit rubbish? I've only had this car for just over 10 months, travelled just over 3000 miles in it and it scares me that it's on at least the 3rd gearbox. . . .

SORRY for the rambling post - but I'd appreciate any helpful replies!

Thanks for your time and help.

yes low oil can cause 5th to jump out

surley you have some kind of comeback if the repair only lasted 800 miles...

They ar'nt the best boxes and do suffer from g/box oil leaking out of the selector shaft seal and the dropping level killing gears.

Leaving the g/box oil to settle for 10 mins is bollocks, 5th gear is splash lubricated so once the oil level is correct,there is no need to check it again.

I would check that the selector shaft seal was fitted correctly and that the box hasn't lost any oil.If thats all as it should be, the recon firm should do it free under warranty.!!