Club 80-90 Forums

Having a problem selecting gear which I assumed was the clutch but now i am not so sure as it seemed to come on quite suddenly, and I dont want to shell out for a clutch if its not the problem. Any guidance gratefully recieved...

Symptoms first came on during a trip to Spain last month, came down a bumpy cobbled road in Salamanca stopped at a junction and it sort of jumped into gear when I released the clutch and engaged gear, did this for a few changes then calmed down. When I got to the campsite at Burgos it made grinding noises in neutral and was difficult to engage low gears. This has been sporadic since and I made it back to the UK without any major probs.
Now it is diffcult to engage low gears when the engine is running (grinds), but if I engage 3rd first (whilst the clutch is in) then I can access all the others easily. It doesnt creep forwards at lights when the clutch is in and engages gear reasonably easily when moving ?
Ta guerrero

check the gearbox oil level..........

sounds like a contaminated clutch plate to me......imho

mocki wrote:check the gearbox oil level..........

sounds like a contaminated clutch plate to me......imho

Thanks, does that mean a new clutch then ?

I'd change the gearbox oil also and have a good look at what comes out of the gearbox and at the sump plug as its magnetic and will have some (but hopefully not loads) of metal shavings on it.
If you find lumps of metal in the oil then I'd say its time to have it rebuilt.
It'll help your gearbox to have an oil change anyway so is good to do.

MG

remember when changing your gearbox oil make sure you can get the filler nut off first.or you will be stuck with an empty box....

Also check all the joints in the gear linkage for play, particularly the nylon bushes. Too much slop and 2nd/3rd gear engagement becomes difficult if not impossible. My 78k-mile 'Velle needed replacement of the whole rear section of the linkage from the splined joint backwards.

JK list most of the parts and I'd recommend them; VW still list it all, but most of it's on back order and they keep you waiting ages for the parts to be delivered.