MK2 Gearbox

[16v80]

I have a problem with my gearbox!!!!

I was driving home from work tonight in stop/start traffic, driving along as normal, came to a stop put the car in neutral, and waited......
Now this is where it goes a bit wrong.....foot on clutch but it woundnt go in gear, any gear so there i am stuck in the left lane of one of the busiest hwy's in perth!!!

So in the end it had to be towed home.

When the engine is off it will go in gear, but its not very easy tho
When engine is running it wont,
Clutch feels a bit lighter than usual.

Im thinking its a clutch problem???

Anybody have any ideas/solutions or come across this before?

Thanks Ian

[h100vw]

Yeah sounds like the clutch. Is the pedal returning on it's own? What kind of cable is it? There is a self adjusting one and a manual adjusting one. I have seen the former go wrong but the manual ones usually snap and that's all.

If the cable of either kind is intact and the pedal stays on the floor, it could be internal in the box.

The pushrod could have gone through the plate in the middle of the clutch, they sometimes wear through. There is also a finger that pushes on the back of the release bearing and then onto the pushrod and they can split. Evorobin had this happen to him earlier this year.

Gavin

[Jmac]

Pressure Plate im afraid mate. You have lost finger tension. The big spring clip that goes round the pressure plate has gave way.
Gbox out and new kit reqd. Good time to do the rear main while you are there
Hate to say but the box has gotta come out. You will probably find the clutch linings to be ok but look at the inside of the pressure plate. The big clip snaps thus the fingers lose tension.
Good luck

[Jmac]

Just correct me if im wrong is your cable manual??? coz they cables are crap, but i have a fix for them mate without the special tool
Cheers

[Jmac]

My money is on the pressure plate if the spring cracks the fingers stay out and the pressure plate cannot collapse. The plate in the centre of the release can wear a hole too. Good old back to front clutch. Easy box to do mate if its any consolation.

[h100vw]

My money is on the pressure plate if the spring cracks the fingers stay out and the pressure plate cannot collapse. The plate in the centre of the release can wear a hole too. Good old back to front clutch. Easy box to do mate if its any consolation.

Out and in again in 3 hours.

Gavin

[Jmac]

Thats a Big 10 4 Rubber ducky!!!!!!!!!!

[16v80]

Thanks for the quick replys,

Yep its a manual clutch cable, it hasnt snapped
and the clutch pedal does return to the normal position, just feels lighter than normal?

I will take the box out this weekend and have a look,
Ive done a couple of mk1's in the UK and my Audi so I shoundnt have any probs removing it.

Anyone know where is a good place to source a clutch kit and cable in Australia? that will have them in stock, I have'nt found any place in Perth yet that seems to stock/keep MK2 parts, they either get shipped from over east or overseas.
or would I be better getting one shipped from the UK, My family is still in the UK so getting things located/shipped is easy,

Quick look on the net in the UK and I found these.

GSF list complete 3 piece clutch kits at £52 approx $125 +shipping
Euro Car Parts = £59 approx $145 +shipping
It should be under $300 with shipping.

I will need to source one asap as the Gti is my daily,

Thanks again
Ian

[Jmac]

Ill be honest if you have a Euro car parts handy they will have a LUK one for ya. just out of interest mate let me know what ya find, my money is on the pressure plate.
Euro reasonable mate, should be on the shelf for ya. LUK will last you about 80k mate. Dont worry about your cable if they dont have one at least you will be on the road. 1 tip get a 9mm mutihex socket for the pressure plate catches everyone that and go to repco and get the aligner. Its special in a plate shape coz your kit is back to front if you want part numbers to quote at the shop for the clutch or the tool shout loud mate!!!!

[h100vw]

Ill be honest if you have a Euro car parts handy they will have a LUK one for ya. just out of interest mate let me know what ya find, my money is on the pressure plate.
Euro reasonable mate, should be on the shelf for ya. LUK will last you about 80k mate. Dont worry about your cable if they dont have one at least you will be on the road. 1 tip get a 9mm mutihex socket for the pressure plate catches everyone that and go to repco and get the aligner. Its special in a plate shape coz your kit is back to front if you want part numbers to quote at the shop for the clutch or the tool shout loud mate!!!!

And 8mm spline for the driveshafts.

[16v80]

Thanks guys

Yep I have the 9mm socket and spline socket.
The part number for the aligning tool would be great thanks.

As soon as i find out whats wrong ill let you all know

Thanks
Ian

[16v80]

Would any body be interested if i took step by step photos of removing the box and replacing the clutch?

Ian

[ausgolfer]

That'd be awesome always good to know how to do these things. My clutch has been so good for so long might give up the ghost one day.

[16v80]

Hi

I forgot to update you guys,

Fixed the problem, turns out it was the pressure plate had snapped


After fitting a new clutch, 3 drive shaft gaitors, 2 tierod ends, clutch cable, a set of brake pads, and completely rebuilding the gear linkage its back on the road

[Jmac]

Cheers for the update (money was on that pressure plate from the start) common but that one has broke in a big way!! Good onya mate. You will be an 020 specialist after that one mate!!
Cheers and Happy New Year when it comes
JImmymac