Gearbox - what to do?

[Flaps]

Has anyone here replaced a second gear box yet??? I remember reading something about that on this site.

Yes there was one, then it burnt ot the ground

[PeterHBne]

Keith (Highway VW) rings and says VW is going to provide a new box but they will now need the car for 3 days not 1 as previously advised as VW want them to disassemble the old box before they install the new box. He was a bit vague as to why.

Of course my first thought is that he is lying to me and they are in fact going to repair my gearbox rather than replace it.

I would imagine a new box would feel different to the current box (bung first gear aside) but my ol' brain might play tricks on me abnd convince me that it feels like a new box.


So how do I tell – the ol’ dot of red paint on an obscure place on the casing of the gear box trick?

[Adam]

I took mine to the dealer on monday with the same reason of crunching gearbox. The dealer told me that they will be replacing the syncro (not replacing the gearbox) because VW has updated parts for the gearbox.

Hopefully, it'll be all fixed,

[VW Convert]

Keith (Highway VW) rings and says VW is going to provide a new box but they will now need the car for 3 days not 1 as previously advised as VW want them to disassemble the old box before they install the new box. He was a bit vague as to why.

Of course my first thought is that he is lying to me and they are in fact going to repair my gearbox rather than replace it.

My first thought also, maybe I'm paranoid! I can not see any logic to pulling the old box apart before replacing it unless the replacement of the box is conditional on what they find when they pull it down. I'd be asking the specific reason especially as it involves an additional 2 days downtime.

So how do I tell – the ol’ dot of red paint on an obscure place on the casing of the gear box trick?

I'd be marking the casing with something very subtle that can not be easily spotted and replicated, maybe in more than one spot. Maybe very discreet centrepunch marks in difficult to spot locations.

Cheers

George

[PeterHBne]

This is my fear - I don’t want a supposedly 'fixed' f****d gearbox.

Why would Highway VW now want my car for 3 days when previously I was advised a straight gearbox swap is 1 day?

If VW H.O want the box disassembled for research or whatever, why not replace the box on day 1, send me on my merry way then disassemble old box later?

[VW Convert]

This is my fear - I don’t want a supposedly 'fixed' f****d gearbox.

Why would Highway VW now want my car for 3 days when previously I was advised a straight gearbox swap is 1 day?

If VW H.O want the box disassembled for research or whatever, why not replace the box on day 1, send me on my merry way then disassemble old box later?

My thoughts precisely.

Cheers

George

[PeterHBne]

So I ring them and say exactly as per the above.

Keith says, that they are doing this because thats what VW tell them to do - he said "You are virtually assured of getting a new box - just be up front with me".

So maybe they are looking for signs of abuse, mods, chipped ecus's or whatever to now get around handing out boxes.

[gti_freak]

The jerky gear box is the reson why i sold my Polo GTI.
If there is no such bad thing, i will keep this car for a vy long time. However, it is not the case.

[saba]

mine was crunching into third too so the dealership replaced the syncro or watever its called in march. Its now got the same problem again and warranty runs out in dec!

[Giallorosso]

Are these gearbox issues relevant to a certain manufacture date?

Just picked up my brand new Polo GTI yesterday, hope I don't have any issues.

[PeterHBne]

Well, mine went in this morning for a new gearbox - Keith (crusty old head mechanic) believes that all the gearbox woes for the Polo is due to the use of synthetic rather than mineral oil (hence the recall, or whatever you want to call it).

He said what VWA now do is make the dealer disassemble the gearbox and advise VWA rather than simply replace. VWA then provide a gearbox - hence the 3 days.

But I'm still a bit sus on the whole thing - knowing how things work (ah the wisdom of old age) I find it difficult to believe that if the gearbox is not sitting in the dealership right now, that mine will be disassembled, diagnosed, one ordered from wherever, delivered then installed all by afternoon tea time Fri.

Jimmy - expect a P.M

[gerhard]

Well, mine went in this morning for a new gearbox - Keith (crusty old head mechanic) believes that all the gearbox woes for the Polo is due to the use of synthetic rather than mineral oil (hence the recall, or whatever you want to call it).

He said what VWA now do is make the dealer disassemble the gearbox and advise VWA rather than simply replace. VWA then provide a gearbox - hence the 3 days.

But I'm still a bit sus on the whole thing - knowing how things work (ah the wisdom of old age) I find it difficult to believe that if the gearbox is not sitting in the dealership right now, that mine will be disassembled, diagnosed, one ordered from wherever, delivered then installed all by afternoon tea time Fri.

Jimmy - expect a P.M

Many years ago two of us removed a Mini Cooper S engine and stripped the gearbox off in 45 minutes. Any of the forum old-timers will know that this was no mean feat (although we had done it pretty often as members of the Launceston Mini Club )

I can't see a problem for a VW dealer to remove the box and strip it down well before lunch time on day 1. 24 hours later the replacement box will arrive from VW, and in less than 2 hours your car will be back together.

That gives them more than a day left over to wash the car for you

[VW Convert]

Many years ago two of us removed a Mini Cooper S engine and stripped the gearbox off in 45 minutes. Any of the forum old-timers will know that this was no mean feat (although we had done it pretty often as members of the Launceston Mini Club )

Old timers? You talking about me again Gerhard?

I had my minis apart a number of times, got to the point where I could pull the engine with transmission and out by myself in an hour in my home garage, used take a bit longer to pull the box off using the crude tools available to me.

I reckon they certainly should have plenty of time to wash the car for Peter, 3 days is dragging it out.

Cheers

George

[PeterHBne]

Called Keith to see how things are going - told that the gearbox has received all new parts as in rebuilt.

He said VW do not replace gearboxes anymore.

I'll be having a conversation with him this arvo as to why he has strung me along and not told me that from the start (he clearly new all the way along).

Lesson learned - NEVER TRUST YOUR CAR DEALER/SERVICE (for those who have yet to learn that lesson.

[Jmac]

3 Days is shocking mate , having worked in dealer land in the past for over 15yrs i know all you have to do is roadtest and your car was pretty bloody obvious that the case hardening had come off 1st gear and then with the info provided ie chassis number and Gbox code the new tranny would be here on the day the install was to take place so 1 day would have been enough thats if they were going to replace!!! which you had been told, thats the way we did it in the old days with a vehicle under warranty. If the box was in fact getting stripped for inspection day 1 would have the box torn down and the parts if available next day. Different story if they are ex germany. Changed days my friend.