My Gearbox is making a noise

[Larn]

The gearbox makes a scrapping metal like sound, at lower speeds it's not as bad

I bought my GTI a few months ago, the seller told me the gear box was rebuilt and I have a receipt for over £1000 on the work carried out 1.5 years ago

It was done by Dupsport in Wigan, I have heard bad things about this company, and i can't even contact them as they don't seem to exist anymore

what could this be? surely a gearbox should last longer than 1.5 years, even if it's reconditioned

If you have ever had to change your gearbox, can you tell me what happened before it broke? did it make a weird sound for a while? or did it suddenly brake down and you couldn't drive it?

thanks

[Mouse_GTI]

I've heard of reconditioned gearboxes going just 4 months after being fitted. Mine made very slight noises for 10 months, a bigger noise for about a month then 1 day it just totally failed

[Tim_GTi]

Mine made horrible noises before i got mine done. Stopped when I put the clutch donw.

give this thread a read mate, should help you understand a little bit more about the common 'box failure:

http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... =7&t=27270

[Luke'sGti]

The gearbox makes a scrapping metal like sound, at lower speeds it's not as bad

I bought my GTI a few months ago, the seller told me the gear box was rebuilt and I have a receipt for over £1000 on the work carried out 1.5 years ago

It was done by Dupsport in Wigan, I have heard bad things about this company, and i can't even contact them as they don't seem to exist anymore

thanks

Out of curiosity is your Gti a 5 door Silver reg begins W992*** as I think this may have been my old car..if so I can update you with all the info I have if that helps?

[sandshoes09]

Here is some good reading wrt gear boxes/VW customer service. Its long but bear with me please!

Bought my GTi W 2000 89600 miles on the 3rd June 09, which I love, wonderful little car.

I decided to have a new cambelt/tensioner & service for peace of mind (£474.98) by Heritage VW Wiltshire on the 16th June 09 as no one, not even VW was able to tell me if the cambelt/tensioner had been done, this is with a pretty good service history too, and the last thing I wanted was a catastrophic engine dissaster!

Any way done about 2000 miles (one trip to scotland and back just recently 850/900 miles) since i bought it and I heard a funny knocking noise when changing gear & accelerating, then only this week it became worse, the only way i can describe it is that it sound like an old bus but not quite as loud! Took it to my mates garage, he took it for a spin, explained that the noise is in every gear so its the main drive which each gear runs onto (not his words but im not a mechy).Then put it up on the lift etc, what is the first thing you see when you remove the shield - a*s* end of gear box with oil leak!!

I phoned VW initially explaining my concerns to which they replied "it must have happened since we serviced it, our mechanics have no record of seeing an oil leak" So I pulled my trump card - RAC report (03/06/09) which states:

Engine Compartment - External Leaks (engine) - Lower Engine AREA - Signs of oil leak.

So i emailed VW today and this is what i got:

Mr Sandford,

I have now had a chance to study the RAC report which you forwarded to myself.

On the first page of the report there is an “Inspection summary” of items looked at, which states the Transmissions as being “Satisfactory for the recorded age and mileage of the vehicle”. The plastic under tray on the vehicle would have been removed in order to carry out the service and if there had been any significant oil leak at the time of inspection then my technician would have found oil all over the under tray, which he did not. You did not mention oil leaking under the car or onto your drive when booking in the vehicle so we can only surmise that the oil leak you have reported has only recently occurred.

The RAC report also notes that in the lower engine area there are “signs of oil leaks”. This would only have been advised on the service that we carried out if the technician deemed that that oil leak was bad enough to require action to be taken at that time (which it was not).

Regards,

Senior Service Advisor
Heritage of Westbury
22d Broadway North
West Wilts Trading Estate
Westbury
Wiltshire
BA13 4JX
Telephone: 01373 855856
Facsimile: 01373 858779

Heritage Automotive Limited is a company registered in England and Wales.
Registered Address: 16 Lower Road, Salisbury, SP2 7QD
Registration Number: 3142712

So I replied:

The RAC check is not as thorough as taking of the cover and looking underneath, so as far as the inspector could tell by driving it alone was that it was satisfactory. I would not have bought the car if I thought there was problems with it.

The reason I had a cambelt/tensioner change and service was as it was a new purchase (03/06/09) I did not want this kind of thing happening after a month and a half.

The fact of the matter is that VW serviced my car just over a month ago and deemed it to be "ok" when in actual fact it is not. And as far as im concerned from what you have told me in your email you are not willing to take any liability whatsoever.

VW would only "surmise" that the oil leak has occurred recently because all VW are interested in is money and how quickly they can get the cars out so they can get another one in.

When my car was up on the ramp at a friends garage yesterday evening he removed the cover which was only held on by one fastener and fitted incorrectly at the leading edge (front). I cannot vouch that there were more fasteners than this before VW "so called" serviced it but for VW to return it improperly attached and with only one fastener is shoddy workmanship at its best. Any self respecting mechanic or Garage would replace these small cheap items as a good will gesture but no, VW decided I needed a bracket for my exhaust which was not an issue.

As far as im concerned this is not the end of the matter and I am not happy what so ever. I will be pursuing this further.

Mr Sandford

I think I may have to fork out the cash. Fortunately the gearbox has not completely gone so hopefully it wont cost too much. Any Ideas?

[6N2 GTI 00]

Dont use VW again mate, they are expensive and dont offer the best service.

Just avoid them if possible. I am sure you will in the future having experienced your recent problem with them.

Try to source a well respected garage in your area that deals with BMW/AUDI/VW on a regular basis.
I also had my cambelt tensioners done at VW Pensarn and they charged me £470.00 including a full service which has put me off for good.

As far as the gearbox is concerned your probably looking at between £600 - £800 for the replacement box & fitting.
If your mate gives you some discount then even better. A new box from VW is around the £1000-1100 mark.

Good luck and I hope your GTI is back on the road soon

Ben

[emma_88]

Get your gearbox reconditioned - Fully stripped and built back up. Mine cost me £460 a couple fo months ago by a gearbox specialist. I would never deal with my local VW dealer ever again, as you said, all they're after is your money. They don't really care how they treat you. But aye, as stated, go to a respected garage who deals witht eh VAG group, they'll probably know more, and treat you decently.

[sandshoes09]

Got my Gearbox recond' for £600 at the VW dealership, seems ok but got told i need my clutch looking at! My heart bleeds for VW though, they took some stick off me and then said "we are loosing money on this" felt like saying your not the only one losing money mate!

Will be taking it to my mates garage for as long as i own the car now, stuff VW.