growling gearbox problem

Post by **vanjam** » 18 Sep 2006, 22:06

Just some pointers on diagnosis please-have checked wiki and done various searches.

This is a 4 speed box on a 1.9 petrol w/c with a new clutch <15k ago. It is devloping an intermittent problem: in the last few weeks it has started to occasionally sound rough when idling in neutral, a relatively subdued grumbling sound. On other occasions it makes a loud grinding noise similar to gears being crashed (even though I'm not crashing them!).

The latter sound seems to occur just after moving into neutral when coming down the gears, I don't thinkg it's ever occurred going up them. It only last for 5 -10 seconds and does not seem to be affected by clutch position. It is always a struggle to engage a gear(1st or 2nd) after it has occurred and they engage with a crunch even with clutch fully depressed immediately after the loud noise has occurred. There is no apparent sign of gear oil loss.

Does anyone recognise this as symptom of anything specific please?
If I check the clutch travel (gear changes are hunky dory most of the time) what should be my next step? Linkages look and feel firm. Is my assumption that it is not linkages because it's intermittent sensible? Any experience/expertise welcome-thanks Jim

Post by **stuckin88** » 19 Sep 2006, 18:08

I can only offer you-----Shiplake Motors, nr Henly-on-Thames tel 01189403125 the well known VW gearbox reconditioners-should you need them----they charged me £375 exchange for a 4 speed exchange recently--

Post by **vanjam** » 20 Sep 2006, 21:08

It is difficult to avoid the unpleasant conclusion that years of gearbox equality and diversity campaigns have failed to deliver the evanhandedness and fairplay that so many of us in the automotive engineering field have fought for long and hard.

Whilst we all acknowledge that varied response rates are part of the ebb and flow of this, and any other web forum, we must face up to the fact that a Gearbox called Johanna received the attention of 225 people whilst another, admittedly slightly androngenously called vanjam, received less than 10% of that.

Of course we could be excused for considering this a coincidence, a mere statistical blip, were it not for the added indictment of the actual response figures in which we see the true horror of the level of prejudice maintained with the male gearbox receiving only 5% of the responses.

I thought the time had come when all transmission unit problems could stand together and be respected and rewarded for their own qualities, challenges and complexities but this is clearly not the case.

Let's unite to ensure that the diversity of our metal lump problems is fully recognised and responded to; that we share our resources across the full, rich spectrum of transmissions; small, large, old, young, aluminium or steel. I implore you.

Post by **stuckin88** » 21 Sep 2006, 18:15

I understand your mindset vanjam but the only answer you & Joanna needed was mine---its just an acceptance of reallity & it is this-----when T25 gearboxes start making noises--jumping out of gear--crunchings gears etc--you hope it is just a worn/badly adjusted linkage/clutch--but if it is the gearbox it will not get better--the illness it is suffering is terminal---eventually it will FAIL--& the end will come suddenly---this week-next week-next month--maybe next summer when you are on your hols---you will change gear & that will be your final change--the gearlever will be stuck in that gear--& you will be stuck beside the road--if your lucky you may still have 1st & 2nd--or you may not--it is possible the clutch thrust bearing is breaking up & your gearbox is ok--but it will be nessecary of course to remove gearbox to inspect clutch--but first of all check to see if clutch slave cylinder is leaking-its on top of bell housing--also bleed clutch--if this dont work--sooner or later gearbox/clutch will have to come out--then the phone number may be handy--

Post by **skell** » 21 Sep 2006, 18:34

remove dog from gearbox, growling will go elsewhere...

Post by **vanjam** » 22 Sep 2006, 07:54

thanks skell and stuckin88, you are right, of course and now I've got more than 1 response, I feel much bettter about it!! Is it feasible (or worthwhile) to put replace my 4 speed box with a 5 speed?

Cheers, and thanks for bothering to respond-seriously

Jim

Post by **skell** » 22 Sep 2006, 12:34

5 speed boxes are reputedly not as strong as 4 speed ones, and final drive is much the same

Post by **stuckin88** » 22 Sep 2006, 12:53

You would also need to change the gear linkage--so not worth it-replace like with like--if it is yer gearbox not yer clutch--have you checked yet?--

Post by **Aidan** » 22 Sep 2006, 17:05

It sounds like the first/second gear syncroniser is the problem, could be needle bearing breakup, wear, syncroniser or ring failing, does sound like an investigation is required. I'd drop the oil and take a look see at the drain plug for big bits of stuff or more than a little fingers worth of swarf. Check that the filler cap can be undone before emptying the oil. You can put it back in, especially if you then thick it's a scrapper, depends how far you want to go with it - Dave at Shiplake will be as helpful as he can be ime.

Club 80-90 Forums

growling gearbox problem

growling gearbox problem

I've renamed my gearbox problem - Lucy