Gearbox - what to do?

[PeterHBne]

So the car goes back to Highway VW yesterday to have the rattle from hell near the firewall (loose fuel lines) fixed as a result of their last efforts fiddling with my gearbox and to investigate why the gear lever now also jams in reverse and requires a herculean effort to pull it back into neutral. And to fix the steering issue (new spring required) which was supposed to be fixed last time but I was told the part still hadn’t arrived. Well the steering part still hasn’t arrived (it’s only been about 6 weeks I suppose) and they also now need the car for 3 days to pull apart the gearbox (again). Keith tells me that there is a very good chance as this is now the 2nd time that I will get a new gearbox (which I’ll believe when I see).

[philthy]

So the car goes back to Highway VW yesterday to have the rattle from hell near the firewall (loose fuel lines) fixed as a result of their last efforts fiddling with my gearbox and to investigate why the gear lever now also jams in reverse and requires a herculean effort to pull it back into neutral. And to fix the steering issue (new spring required) which was supposed to be fixed last time but I was told the part still hadn’t arrived. Well the steering part still hasn’t arrived (it’s only been about 6 weeks I suppose) and they also now need the car for 3 days to pull apart the gearbox (again). Keith tells me that there is a very good chance as this is now the 2nd time that I will get a new gearbox (which I’ll believe when I see).

That sux Pete. MY08 WRX and golf V GTI prices should be dropping pretty shortly. Time for a trade in

[PeterHBne]

Nah I like the car - but the reliability/quality issues are troubling.

Mine so far are gearbox, new diverter valve (or similar?) and a new (something) spring for the steering (coming) so apart from the gearbox, that is acceptable in my book.

The loose fuel lines were as a result of the dunderheads at VW Springwood not securing the when playing with my gearbox.

I was cautious when choosing which car to buy because of the myriad issues I read on this board people had had but in the end decided to take the chance.

I read an interview in the paper recently with the CEO of VW who openly acknowledged the deserved reputation VW have for reliability/quality issues with their current range of cars and that their aim is to be at the top of the pile in terms of quality, starting with the next Golf.

[VW GTI]

Remember, on the forum you see problems reported everywhere because people don't make threads saying 'I had no issues yesterday' because no-one cares.

The problems really are quite isolated, just blown out of proportion if you look at it on a forum.

Maybe you got a lemon to have that many issues?

Nah I like the car - but the reliability/quality issues are troubling.

Mine so far are gearbox, new diverter valve (or similar?) and a new (something) spring for the steering (coming) so apart from the gearbox, that is acceptable in my book.

The loose fuel lines were as a result of the dunderheads at VW Springwood not securing the when playing with my gearbox.

I was cautious when choosing which car to buy because of the myriad issues I read on this board people had had but in the end decided to take the chance.

I read an interview in the paper recently with the CEO of VW who openly acknowledged the deserved reputation VW have for reliability/quality issues with their current range of cars and that their aim is to be at the top of the pile in terms of quality, starting with the next Golf.

[NickZ]

Remember, on the forum you see problems reported everywhere because people don't make threads saying 'I had no issues yesterday' because no-one cares.

The problems really are quite isolated, just blown out of proportion if you look at it on a forum.

Maybe you got a lemon to have that many issues?

For most problems, yes. However, surely the gearbox is more than an isolated issue - it has affected a lot of people on this forum.

[VW GTI]

it has affected a lot of people on this forum.

Yep, on the forum.

It's also not affected a lot of people, you just don't hear about them. There was a recall of the oil in the boxes, but it's not a Polo problem, it's a gearbox problem limited to certain build dates.

[PeterHBne]

Maybe you got a lemon to have that many issues?

I've only had 3 issues - 2 excluding the gearbox - so I'm not that concerned for me.

However when the CEO of VW openly admits that their cars do in fact have a large range of quality issues, I can't see the point in all of us telling ourselves that they don't.

The last 3 cars I've owned/had from work were all Japanese and had absolutely nothing ever go wrong with them even with several hundred thousand kms between them.

[Spec83]

Just an update guys... Checked with VW if my gearbox was under recall and I am in the clear...

Build Date: 02/06
Compliance Date: 04/06

[saba]

Took my car in today to get the gearbox checked because its crunching again (Took them 2 weeks to fix it in April the first time, replaced the syncros) and got told today by a service advisor that vw has recommended them to change my gearbox oil. Was not happy at all considering it was the 4th time this year i took the car in to get the gearbox checked out and surely it should have been done in april when the gearbox was originally fixed! I cant imagine what sort of permanent damage has occured to my gearbox as a result of this...

[PeterHBne]

Which dealer Saba?

[saba]

John Hughes VW

[xtturbo]

I have to say it... but do you guys treat these gearboxes properly?

Everywhere I go (ford forums, holden forums, etc etc) people complain about gearbox problems, but I've never suffered them. You start wondering why.

Yes I do own a polo gti. Yes sometimes it is hard to change gear at high rpm. but sheesh, try driving an aussie 4 speed or a hilux without synchros.

Be nice to the car, Let the gear find its place, don't force it in... double clutch on downshifts...

There is a reason racing cars have dog boxes with straight cut gears, and road cars dont. So don't expect a road car to shift like you see on the tv, unless you want a whiny, rough gearbox that takes talent to use.

[PeterHBne]

Polo gearboxes and/or the oil they use in them are s**t. It's a known fault.

Nothing to do with how the gearbox is used. My box is driven with great ease and this is it's third trip in (including one for oil recall).

[saba]

Does anyone know what date VW Australia announced that the polo gearboxes needed to replace the synthetic oil with mineral oil??

[DrewstA]

my gearbox may have gone too...

Hey guys. I'm also having trouble getting into 2nd at fast shifts/high revs. This is an 01/2007 build date. It had the gearbox oil recall year ago now.

So its booked in next monday at Solitaire (SA dealer). This is going to be my first main issue with the car. It will be interesting to see how they react or deny the gearbox issue thing.

Has anyone else here in SA had experiences with Solitaire - and in particular - these gearbox isses, in Adelaide before?

I'll let you know how it pans out.

PS: i'm also getting them to check for loose turbo bolts too... car sounds a bit like a diesel truck, when starting..

2007 Polo GTi, 31,000kms