Horrible gearbox... how bad is it?

[hogwarden]

Hi there...
My GTI is an 8v on a M plate. 85KW (ADY) engine (unfortunately!). 140K...ouch.

I have an intermittent problem with the gearbox...
...It is sometimes difficult to get the box in and out of gear.
It can stick in 3rd or 4th or 5th, or refuse to go into 2nd or 3rd unless I waggle the gear-lever in neutral a bit... then it changes nicely. The problem never occurs when the engine is cold... only when the engine is warm and has sat idling for a couple of minutes.

Guess what the VAG dealer said? You guessed it..."Needs a new clutch and gearbox, mate." "Bo**ocks to that" I said... well at least not at their prices!

The facts that the problem is so intermittent and waggling the lever fixes it lead me to believe there's nothing wrong with the box OR clutch at all.

Could this be a symptom of a simple problem in the linkage?

If you reckon the problem lies in the box... how much should I expect to pay for a recon + fitting and not be ripped off?

Thanks for your help...

Howard:))

[Scott]

Howard,

I had a very similar (if not the same) problem in the Mk3 Gti I just got rid of.
After about 15mins when the car had warmed up it was very difficult to get it into any gear without a lot of 'persuading'. This was at a 98,000 miles, so count yourself lucky you got to 140k!!!
Like you I hoped it would be a simple linkage or bush problem, but local VW specialist said the diff was on its way out so needed gearbox replaced!

Apparently (according to VW specialist) "the diff gets tiny hairline cracks all over the inside of it, which allows it to expand when hot, making gear selection tricky". Not sure about the technical side of this, not being a gearbox expert!

I had a 'recon' 2nd-hand unit put in for ?400 all in. Just double check you get the right one put in as a Mk2 16V box will go into a Mk3 Gti 8V no probs! Car will drive like sh1t off a shovel around town, but will give you higher revs at motorway speeds as shorter geared!  

Hope oyu sort yours out.

Scott

[8vgti]

I've got the same problem in my other halfs 1.6 cl, but it is fine going into gear, but when on the motorway it is then difficult to get out of gear......could this be the gear linkage or something more serious??

[golfvr6]

Howard,

I had a very similar (if not the same) problem in the Mk3 Gti I just got rid of.
After about 15mins when the car had warmed up it was very difficult to get it into any gear without a lot of 'persuading'. This was at a 98,000 miles, so count yourself lucky you got to 140k!!!
Like you I hoped it would be a simple linkage or bush problem, but local VW specialist said the diff was on its way out so needed gearbox replaced!

Apparently (according to VW specialist) "the diff gets tiny hairline cracks all over the inside of it, which allows it to expand when hot, making gear selection tricky". Not sure about the technical side of this, not being a gearbox expert!

I had a 'recon' 2nd-hand unit put in for ?400 all in. Just double check you get the right one put in as a Mk2 16V box will go into a Mk3 Gti 8V no probs! Car will drive like sh1t off a shovel around town, but will give you higher revs at motorway speeds as shorter geared!  

Hope oyu sort yours out.

Scott

The differential has NOTHING to do with the gearchange AT ALL, i'm afraid the garage was trying to have you there.
I would get all the linkages checked for starters.

[hogwarden]

Thx all...
VW dealers seem to say all sort of wierd, baffling things usually culminating in 'needs a new gearbox mate'. (And charge ?70/hour for it!)

I see in an earlier thead a discussion giving a good price for a recon gearbox... so I can tell when I'm being ripped off... should I need a recon!

Hehe... I don't do much motorway driving... and the ADY is utterly powerless (I think it's the weediest engine of all those in the MK3 8v?) so a mk2 16v box... hmmm... tempting!

I'll get the linkages checked out by another garage... or... is it something I could look at myself? Should look in the Haynes, really!

I heard that there is a part on the very top of the gearbox which can become 'clogged'... and need a damn good clean out. Any more info on this anyone?

Howard:))

[hogwarden]

So it's not the linkages.
I found a tech I can trust and he confirmed there's not enough play in the linkage for it to be the cause.
But he has a quote for over ?600 for a recon box and inc VAT it'll be ?900 all in.

Please does anyone know where I could try for a better quote in the Hampshire area?

H:))