Recon box - low 5th gear

polomint · Post by **polomint** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:30 pm

Recently had a recon box fitted - 5th gear seems to be lower than before.
I am now pulling 80mph with only 3000rpm, is this normal? Could anybody tell me what revs they have at 80. One benefit is that I seem to be doing about 20 mpg more on a tank than before. The downside is that is doesn't seem to pull as well in 5th as it did before, although it still goes well in all the other gears.

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:38 pm

Which engine code is yours? I know with the mk4 16v there are 4 different gearboxes/ transmission codes. I'm not sure if the ratios changed in each. Try to find out which you had before and now.

polomint · Post by **polomint** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:53 pm

I had my original box recon'd by a garage in Swansea or apparently so!!
Its 2000 W reg - not sure of the engine code though.[/b]

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:23 am

Oh ok, so like you I'd expect it to be the same then. They must have replaced some of the actual gearing then. I'd say ask Andy aka vdubit about this, he knows a fair bit on the subject.

vdubit · Post by **vdubit** » Sun May 13, 2007 6:59 pm

According to ETKA there's several different 5th gears that can be used. When they reconned your box they must have changed it for one with the wrong box code. They probably changed it as your fifth gear bearing melted (its plastic) and may have affected the gear.

All mk2,3,4,5 5speed polo's (expect diesel and auto) use the same gearbox, only with different ratio's. Also the early ones and smaller enginned ones are rod change. The box itself is externally identical. All gti's use either ETG or FFW g/boxes.

I'd love to know what 5th gear they've used as i'd love better fuel economy! Just put it in 4th if you need more power, 4th'll do around 110/120mph