Passat tdi gerbox grief

[Bren]

Fatha has an 03 plate 130 tdi PD passat.

 

On the way into Liverpool gears became difficult to select - so much so he cancelled his trip and got back to Widnes in 4th gear.

 

I had a quick look - cannot select any gear which makes me think linkage as opposed to box itself.

 

Anybody wiser than me had any such experience?

[SiC]

5 speed or 6 speed? I can't remember which year they introduced the 6spd.

 

However I know the 6spd boxes are made of cheese.

[Cavcraft]

Stand to be corrected, but I think these suffer with linkage problems. 

[Bren]

Its the six speed. Obviously if it needs much more than the linkage fixing then its goodnight vienna.

[garbaldy]

These are the last of the good VW's and are capable of massive mileages,

I may have one coming in soon fir parts not sure if it is the six speed though,

[Bren]

This one has done around 140k and is on its original clutch. Obviously a clutch and dmf is not economical on a car like this.

[Asimo]

"Can't select gears" often turns out to be clutch not disengaging completely. Does the gearbox feel the same if the engine is stopped?

[sierraman]

Worn out clutch or collapsing DMF?

[twosmoke300]

Clutch is most likely .Dont remember these having much in the way of a gear linkage just a rod with a pinch bolt into the back of the box

[Willy Warpit]

Not much help regarding your gear selection problem but I had a 6 speed TDI Passat

from new as a company car and did over 100,000 miles in it on both the original clutch and

gearbox so if was made from cheese it must have been the hard inedible sort.

 

It was a surprisingly quick car too

[Dirk Diggler]

It'll be the dmf; I ignored one because it was driving ok, just stiff to change gear and clunking into reverse; until I broke the gear lever cagey bit (hope that's not too technical lol) and it was a ballache because there's a few different types; was a 5 speed 100 brake

[bigfella2]

Not much help regarding your gear selection problem but I had a 6 speed TDI Passat

from new as a company car and did over 100,000 miles in it on both the original clutch and

gearbox so if was made from cheese it must have been the hard inedible sort.

 

It was a surprisingly quick car too

I feel I must apologise for being of the VAG persuation. But I don't get where this 6 speed box is made a cheese stuff comes from either, never really heard of any going wrong, 1400/1600 mk4 golfs and sdi's well that's a different story.......

[Willy Warpit]

See post #2 I don't get it either that's why I posted what you have quoted.

[SiC]

I feel I must apologise for being of the VAG persuation. But I don't get where this 6 speed box is made a cheese stuff comes from, never really heard of any going wrong, 1400/1600 mk4 golfs and sdi's well that's a different story.......

I based that statement on a combination of both plenty of internet reports and also previously looking at Golf Mk5, Audi A4 and Passats. As a 6spd is often better geared in top gear than 5spd'ers, I'd preferred one. However there was a large amount of them with failed and replaced boxes examples for sale.

 

No smoke without fire and all that.

[Bren]

Gear lever is jammed and cannot be moved.

If you press the clutch the car can be pushed.

[scaryoldcortina]

Is there any oil in the gearbox?

[Bren]

I think if it was low on oil it would have let us know much earlier

[the judge]

Any luck Bren?

[Cavcraft]

These are the last of the good VW's and are capable of massive mileages,

 

Couldn't disagree more, these and the Passats, Golfs and Polos before were bloody awful things. The vans and the Sharans were brilliant, but the rest of that era and a fair bit before was just awful.

[Bren]

To be fair the car has been superb no FTP like modern VAG until today. Sadly at 140k and 13 years old you are pushing your luck.

[vaughant]

They are pretty good cars but like any others have their issues although boxes generally last well so I'd go with the others and say DMF at fault.

On my seat Ibiza cupra the cables ran a bit near the wanky de-cat, melted the bungs a bit and I struggled to get foward gears I.e 1,3,5. 2/4/R were perfick. Changed the exhaust back and moved the heat shield, job done.

 

DMF/clutch is a weak point on these, without a ramp apparently easier to pull the engine out front ways with the bumper etc removed out of the way as the box is a heavy bugger and the driveshafts give grief.

 

I'd fix it personally as I think their immense cars but then I'm fixing a 2.2 zafira so don't take my advice* as gospel.

[Longblackcoat]

Stand to be corrected, but I think these suffer with linkage problems.

Yep, I had that. Replacing the cables is an absolute bitch.

 

Nothing wrong with the box or clutch - just the cables.

[Pete-M]

If it is the cables on the wonk I'd suggest (engine off) selecting a gear at the gearbox end, starting with clutch dipped. If it's in gear it's not the cables.

[Bren]

Fatha has informed me there was smoke coming from underneath the car. I assume that it must have been the release bearing melting. He rang the garage that he uses who quoted £700 plus the recovery but then said it's a lot to spend if the box has caused the clutch to fail. I think euthanasia is best.

[sierraman]

Scrap it. If he's getting another of the same type though take anything reusable off it such as turbo etc...

[Pete-M]

Fatha has informed me there was smoke coming from underneath the car. I assume that it must have been the release bearing melting. He rang the garage that he uses who quoted £700 plus the recovery but then said it's a lot to spend if the box has caused the clutch to fail. I think euthanasia is best.

Speak to Steve at Aintree Clutch.