i need help and charity gearbox troubles **sorted i think**

[wampablo]

well where do i start started my journey this morning from leicester to banbury. got most of the way there about 9 miles aways from where i needed to be when i heard a noise coming from the engine. sounded like something rattleing about under there so changed down a gear and the noise went i was in 5th anyway changed back up and all of a sudden i lost 5th still have 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th but no 5th. still have the rattle noise coming from the enigine mostly under load but it is apparent when coasting aswell just not so bad. no loss of power still pulls ok. its an 8v gti digi i think so what do you think it could be im thinking gearbox has shagged 5th if so how much are they and which one is it ?.

just typical that this has happened now my luck just gets better each day !!! lost my job last month so im now skint so hopefully one of you has a box just laying around that ya dont want ? worth a try if ya dont ask ya dont get anyway thank for any help any one can give

[wampablo]

ok just took the car to a mate that has his own garage. and he has confirmed the worse its shagged !!! sounds like 5th gear ahs smashed oh joy for me !!!!!!!!! not and as ive said b4 ive not got alot of cash being as i lost job so if you have a box going really cheap or free let me know many many many thanks

Paul

[rubjonny]

sounds liek you had low gerar oil, 5th is 1st to die if this happens.  you may get away with swapping on another 5th gear but then again you may not!

[Ben Lessani]

I had my old g/box in the garage - not sure if its still there though. 1-5 work fine, but reverse is slightly broke, it pops out as if a tooth is broken. Its all yours if you want it (and if I can find it).

I'll be in Glasgow this week, Manchester next.

[wampablo]

ben yr a star mate but theres no way i can get to manc or edin. thanks for the offer dude really appreciated

[Diamond Hell]

sounds liek you had low gerar oil

Rubbish.

5th gear is effectively a separate module, bolted to the end of the gearbox.  It relies on 'splash' lubrication, even with the right oil level. 

So while it IS always the first in the firing line as the miles roll on, this is because it runs hotter and the synchros and gears de-temper because of the poor lubrication, NOT because of a low oil level.

 

[rubjonny]

Nope sorry yopu're wrong. 5th gear is actually partially submerged in oil, and even if it wasnt how exactly will splash lubrication work if there is low oil?

have a look at the end cap pic on this page:
http://www.brokevw.com/020oil.html

note the filler plug location, the oil level when correct is up to the bottom of this hole. you'll note that this equates to just below half way up the green cap which covers the larger 5th gear partially.  also note the round bulge around the filler, this is where the 5th driven gear is, again see how when at the correct level this gear is half submerged.

[wampablo]

guys guys please who ever is right or wrong still doesnt change the fact that my box is creamed now does it ?

[Diamond Hell]

Sorry pablo - don't like mis-information, especially when it's making out you've neglected an oil leak in your box and it's your fault the box is knackered.  Fifth gear on these gearboxes do fail as mileage increases.

Half-submerged = relying on splash lubrication.  Think about it before making yet ANOTHER ambiguous post.

you'll note that this equates to just below half way up the green cap which covers the larger 5th gear partially

Possibly try reading your own posts when arguing one way, yet providing evidence of the opposite?  If it's 'just below' then the bearings aren't going to get the full benefit, nor are the hub components as they aren't continuously submerged - they rely on oil being dragged up (and 'splashing') as the components rotate.  This is why these components 'always go first' - sub-optimal lubrication, not 'low oil level'.

Thanks for playing.

[rubjonny]

ah ok sorry, misunderstood what you meant by splash lubrication :embarassed:

However the very reason 5th gears are in their own little box makes a low oil situation bad news for them, all the main gears in the box have lots of oil being splashed all over them thanks to the diff being right at the lowest point, and prettyy much always being in oil even if low. howev er the 5th gears gont get any of this all they get is a bit of oil flow into the bottom of the casing.  Low oil situation = 5th gears die first, but the rest will quickly follow.  Depends how quickly you catch it...

If you really think that 5th gears never die from low oil email broke about it so he can correct his site