Gearbox - Replaced or Repaired?

[PeterHBne]

For those who have had gearbox woes I'd like to get some idea of how your dealer has gone about fixing it. Has it been replaced or just repaired?

PROBLEM: Gearbox oil recall
WHEN: 32,000KMS

PROBLEM: Casing on 1st gear failed - groaning noise got progressively worse
WHEN: 25 - 33,000kms
CURE: 3 days in service dept - gearbox stripped and replaced 1st gear only

PROBLEM: Gear selector now jams in reverse and feels awful to use
WHEN: 34,000kms
CURE: Currently in for 3 days being stripped again - I'm pushing for a new gearbox but getting fobbed off

[pologti18t]

You report the issue and they fix it as they see fit.

[PeterHBne]

QUOTE=pologti18t;238008]You report the issue and they fix it as they see fit.[/QUOTE]

Maybe - but some see fit to replace the whole unit, some deny Polo's have gearbox problems and some repair it over and over.

So I'm looking a succinct summary of what gearbox probs members have had and whats been done about it.

[DaveMack]

QUOTE=pologti18t;238008]You report the issue and they fix it as they see fit.

Maybe - but some see fit to replace the whole unit, some deny Polo's have gearbox problems and some repair it over and over.

So I'm looking a succinct summary of what gearbox probs members have had and whats been done about it.

Let me guess who the dealer is ... um ... Austral at Newstead.

Dave

[Timbo]

Unless you can sit in the workshop and watch them (which most dealers never allow), how will you ever know what was done?

[PeterHBne]

No - Highway VW.

Service Manager believes he has only ever heard of one other Polo GTI with gearbox problems (Shaneth) even after talking with other Service Managers.

[VWFREAK]

In the end it all comes down to your budget at the time. Always a hard decission, especially with 2nd hand unkown box's.

Good luck.

[Bubu]

In the end it all comes down to your budget at the time. Always a hard decission, especially with 2nd hand unkown box's.

Good luck.

I think everyone is talking about getting the box done under warranty.

[Mischa]

they'll fix the box; why should they replace it on your whim? dont want to be blunt but... you're not the centre of the service dept

[Jmac]

I roadtested this vehicle in the 1st instance and if i was still at VW it would have a new Box for sure. Changed days man
Thats how we did it back in the day ( Good days) like i say now times have really changed

[shaneth]

they'll fix the box; why should they replace it on your whim? dont want to be blunt but... you're not the centre of the service dept

Yes but when i went in i said i knew of others here and OS and they replaced it without me even having to push. I think peter is just annoyed that they do it for one but not another, and not only this but they stuffed it when they try to fix it in the first place. Maybe VW have cracked down on this otherwise they would have replaced a few gear boxes by now and when does a problem like this actually get classed as a proper RECALL.

[GT3]

When mine developed a 1st-2nd crunch, I took it in for the 'recall' oil change. The service dept requested a diagnostic (sought VWA approval) on my gearbox under warranty just to ensure all was ok. The service dept also took photos of my mods and forwarded them to VWA. VWA declined the diagnostic and despite making them aware that it was a documented and established problem, VWA didn't give a ****. Luckily for me the oil change fixed things, but if you've got mods, prepare yourself for a drawn-out battle with VWA on the fearbox issue.

[pologti18t]

When mine developed a 1st-2nd crunch, I took it in for the 'recall' oil change. The service dept requested a diagnostic (sought VWA approval) on my gearbox under warranty just to ensure all was ok. The service dept also took photos of my mods and forwarded them to VWA. VWA declined the diagnostic and despite making them aware that it was a documented and established problem, VWA didn't give a ****. Luckily for me the oil change fixed things, but if you've got mods, prepare yourself for a drawn-out battle with VWA on the fearbox issue.

And why not? You mod your car/engine and the manufacturer has no responsibility to replace/repair anything those mods may affect. Harsh, but reality.

Mind you, my polo gti is a 2005 build and has had the APR tune for 90% of its life (~30,000km). No gearbox issues at all so far. Mind you i dont commute in it and it got a good 1000km run-in thrash (Oxley Highway) when I got it. No gearbox issues (not even the oil change) and uses bugger all oil between services. Touch wood!

[PeterHBne]

Yes but when i went in i said i knew of others here and OS and they replaced it without me even having to push. I think peter is just annoyed that they do it for one but not another, and not only this but they stuffed it when they try to fix it in the first place.

Exactly.

A gearbox that has done 30,000km on the wrong oil and has been stripped twice with first gear replaced becuase the case hardening fell off and the shifting mechanism is rooted clearly has serious problems.

They told me today that after stripping it again there is nothing wrong with it except that the selector mechanism needs to be replaced and no new gearbox for me

I'm hoping that the damn thing seizes soon so I can get a new one with the correct oil from the start.

[Oneofthegreats]

No - Highway VW.

Service Manager believes he has only ever heard of one other Polo GTI with gearbox problems (Shaneth) even after talking with other Service Managers.

They'll say that & play dumb to cover there arse's!

We've replaced a few box's now, but it comes down to how bad the internal's are.

Eg. If it's really bad, normally the 2nd gear syncro will go & throw all it's metal particles all through the gearbox, pitting nearly all the gear teeth surfaces & scoring the bearing races.

We take picture's, send them off with a document & wait for a reply.

Also. If it's been modded in any way, shape or form, then warranty is denied. Full stop & no argument's.

I asked about this the other day in regard's to remap's & such.

Reply was simple, if it's been remapped, chipped etc. warranty on all driveline component's is forfeited.