THE Polo GTi Gearbox Thread

[coolkast]

Guys, my gearbox failed for 3 times already.

Car: 6n2 GTi
Car registration date (Month/Year): 06- 2000

- 2 months after buying the car with the stock 125hp, the 5th gear was dead. (05-2006)
it was fixed by the dealer where i bought the car (luckily under warranty conditions)
Milage: 93.000km (don't know the miles)

- 08-2008; 2nd time, synchromeshed and bearring were at their end, complete refurbishment (running on 189hp)
cause: the increasment of torque forced the box to a shorter life
Milage: 107.000km

-06-2010; 3th time, 5th gear dead.
cause: to much torque on a 085 gearbox .. (371NM)
Mileage: 112.000km

Driving around with 4 gears left, will save some money to convert the car to a Corrado G60 02a ATB Gearbox.

[robato]

cause: the increasment of torque forced the box to a shorter life

Even the standard spec is too much for the gearbox! Already on my 3rd (probably the car's 4th or 5th) gearbox. Best to take it easy unless you can afford it.

[bstardchild]

My Polo GTi is on it's original box after 126,000 miles - just to provide some balance

[solidsponge]

I cant believe someone has had 5 gearboxes. It really really puts me off buying one, although I might still get one. But whats the point in having it if you have to drive easy? I mean surely you can put your foot down a little bit now and again? :/

Also if the gearbox goes, can it still drive? If not theres the added cost of a tow, then you would need a mobile mechanic to fix it or a tow to a garage, which again puts me off. Sorry to go on, I want to get one but I think id be so worried about the gearbox Id poo myself.

[J77DUB]

Gutted reading all of this! if only I had known what I know now!!!

My second Box is about to go, 2000 6n2 GTI, first went at around 66k around 4yrs ago, this one on 112k, to be fair though both have been thrashed within an inch of their lives..... providing many smiles!!

Had the last one done at Abtech but won't go back there.

could anyone suggest a good garage in the Southampton / Hants / (within 30-40 miles) area to get this sorted, if so whats the going rate? oh needs a new clutch too lol .... on a very limited budget, so even considering selling or breaking my little bundle of joy!

Any help is gratefully appreciated, suffering from that sinking feeling that my car or my wallet will take a hammering

[Lefty1]

Car registration date (Month/Year): 07/2000
Mileage when gearbox Failed: 80669
Month/Year when gearbox failed: 07/2011

Was the failed Gearbox
A) Re-conditioned (complete D)

Did the work myself.

[dazleeds1]

Hi Everyone,

First post so straight down to business with what seems to be the main headache with these cars. I have just bought a 2001 GTI. Really like it, it's a cool little motor.

So my question (and apologies if the answer is buried somewhere on this site but I can't find it) is are there options to refurbish a gearbox with uprated components that get rid of the problem altogether? Do the cars benefit from an uprated clutch?

Incidentally I get a slight whirring noise when depressing the clutch pedal in between shifts. Gear selection seems OK however - id alittle less refined than I would have expected! What's this likely to be please?

Cheers
Daz

[Tim_GTi]

It's the whirring with the clutch up that you want to worry about. Clutch down is more likely a noisy release bearing.

And unfortunately theres nothing you can really do to uprate them.

Apparently the 5th gear bearing is plastic, which is one of the weak components. I never heard solid evidence that suggested that there is a decent metal replacement out there.

[maidenboy]

Only just read this post, which has surprised me a little! Crazy amount of gearboxes some people have gone through!! Maybe time to learn soft shifting, double clutching, heel-toe footwork, and rev matching? I have looked intothe possibility of upgrading 5th gears final bearing, any decent bearing services will be able to find you a roller bearing to fit the place of the plastic one, as it's normally the deterioration of this part which causes the rest of the box failures. I.e syncro hubs, and diff rivets.. also, having the main drive balanced on a lathe can help with any future failures which are premature due to excessive vibration.

[dazleeds1]

Thanks for some interesting feedback. Notwithstanding cost maybe engineering a replacement for the plastic bearing would be a useful if that part it a major contributor to the problem. What do you think?

[matus]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about custom made bearing to replace the plastic one.
Can anyone provide the picture of the actual plastic part.

I now people they are able to do it.
Thanks

[V Bachetta]

Hi,

Firstly im new to this forum, i usually use Edition 38 however being a fellow Polo GTi Owner, i thought i would have a look on here. I want to add that i have just bought a 6n2 GTi about 6 weeks ago, this is still on its original gearbox, and sits on 111K miles. The box feels crisp, and i think its all down to the fact its not been raced or smashed through gears. Box oil has been changed every 10k, so it goes to show if you shift correctly, the box will last. As with anything, give it abuse and it will go wrong at some point.

[pricey]

Don't mean to spam but I'm on my phone and can't copy and past,iv got a polo gti 6n2 and love the car to bits but this week the gear box jammed on me,foot on clutch and couldbt get it out of gear,1st gear is a nightmare I have to try to get it in gear 3 or 4 times before it goes in,and 4th gear moves about when powering on,I know the box was repaires in 2007 and the cars on 125k miles so I'm taking it I need a new gearbox?? Is it posible to recon a reconed box?it isn't leaking oil and I'm still driving it fine now but the gears are like stering a bowl of soup with a spoon lol

[Tim_GTi]

I had similar problems on mine, and it was the clutch.

[pricey]

I was thinking it may be the clutch as its gone high,I'm taking it to a gear box specialist saterday,I think the box is on its way so ill get it reconed and put a new clutch in, hopfully I get another 125k miles out of her then,spent a fortune on the car,first the cat went that cost me 400 bucks,now the driver window mech has gone,just got a new switch but then realized its the mech that's acually broke