Grinding 1st-2nd shift

[DomGTI]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at buying a 2006 9N Polo GTI. It is in great condition with low kms and the price is right. The only issue it has is that the gear grinds when shifted from 1st to 2nd when the revs are above about 3000rpm. Is this a common problem with the GTI? Is it something i should be concerned about? Is this a deal breaker?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Evaded Motorsport]

Can be an issue, maybe able to fix it with Some Redline MTL or whatever it is.

[noone]

Not uncommon, but should not be an issue if revs are vaguely matched. Likely expensive to fix outside warranty if it's an issue for you

[Evaded Motorsport]

I have a new gearbox you can buy if you really want the car

[Scruffy]

Hey DomGTI, my gearbox was doing the same thing as yours and mine has just clicked over 40k kms. Have a read of the post below from Jmac about how to bed in the baulk rings. I was a bit concerned about trying it but am definately glad I did it now - I haven't had the gearbox crunch since doing this method. I am stoked! I will still be changing the oil to the Redline MTL oil.

Let me put my 5c worth in. If your gearbox is fairly new i have a great fix for it. I learnt this years ago and i have been curing Porsches with it.
Ok ill try and make it simple. Leave your foot off the clutch and try to select gear. Try 1st gear 1st. Just nudge the gearstick forward till you feel resistance and with the handbrake off the vehicle will feel like it is wanting to roll forward. At this stage stop. Then do the same for second. This beds in the Baulk rings as they can have high spots. this is a fabulous trick if done right but awfull when wrong. Believe me it works. Several Boxters now fixed and back in the day this is all we done to the dubs to rectify such an issue.
Give it a try. It is worth a try if anything.
Cheers

As long as you are carefull and don't hold it for too long it is worth a try. I just watched the tacho and when the revs dropped i held it there for a few seconds.
Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Daly.

[vanllinx]

hi.
here's my 2 cents:

- if u have an APR chip --> remove it, put it back to stock
- use redline MTL oil
- do a slower shift at like 4000rpm max. By slow i mean very slow shift. No banging it into gear. It's not a honda civic, you cant just smash the box like that.

or if you want to keep ur chip

- get a rebuild gearbox

[Blitzen]

I have had my Polo since Jan 08 when I bought it new. I have have had an APR tune since Dec 08 when the car had 18k kms on it, and then put Redline MTL in the gearbox at about 52k km... I have never had an issue with my gearbox, and I have never babied it.
If you are concered, I would put the MTL in your gearbox, and try JMAC's trick... The man has recommended both solutions to me, and the man is an absolute Guru when it comes to anything VAG...
Chipping of any brand has not proven to ruin a Polo gearbox... Neither has doing slow shifts... If you want to baby shift, that's up to you.

[DomGTI]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the info. I pick the car up on Friday, so i will let you know how it goes. You mentioned redline MTL oil, where is the best place to get some? I live in the sydney/wollongong region?

Cheers

[Blitzen]

I got mine off ECS... I think Burson's may have it down here though.

[Julian Edgar]

Hi Dom, I tried the fix suggested above and to my amazement, it worked brilliantly. No crunches now even changing from 1st to 2nd at 6000 rpm. I have never heard of this approach but it certainly works on the Polo. See you Friday.

[DomGTI]

Hi Julian,

I thought i noticed you name in one of the other threads. That's fantastic that this method works. Very excited about picking up the car.

See you Friday.

Dom

[insanekiwi]

that's excellent news - does it make the shift smoother as well? as my 1st to 2nd is slightly notchy

[Julian Edgar]

that's excellent news - does it make the shift smoother as well? as my 1st to 2nd is slightly notchy

Dunno. I just wanted no crunch! Took my son to school (30km country drive) and then did the 'treatment'; found it worked, drove home and parked car ready for handover on Friday.