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Ever so slowly the garchange in my GTI is getting worse....im starting to have to use a fair bit of force to get it into most of the gears...almost likethe clutch isnt disengaging properly...

Getting into 4th is the worst...you cant just slip it in anymore...you actually have to give it a tug..which is an arse for fast driving!!!!

Is it likley to be the box, or should I be looking at the peddle box?

(its done 49,000 miles and hasnt had a new clutch, gearbox or peddlebox...)

Maybe look at having the clutch and/or clutch cable checked and adjusted if needed.

After having a new OEM clutch fitted I drove mine for a few months then experienced great trouble putting the car into first, reverse and sometimes third too. It just needed adjusting and all was sweet again

Cheaper option than just shouting "gearbox!" so maybe check it out first

Cheers

Yeah...it deffinately feels like im not pushing hard enough on the clutch...

I need to get it looked at sooner rather than later or im going to f**k the gearbox to high heaven crunching into every year against the gate

Go to VW and say u think ur pedal box is goin and u want them to look at it. By u sayin what u think the problem is and it ends up being the pedal box, they will do it for free. If u dont state that u think its the pedal box they wont do it for free as its not something they like to promote. If its nt the pedal box vw will surely find the problem anyways so its a win win situation.

I have experienced similar symptoms, and had been thinking maybe a clutch was in need. From what I could tell the problems were in 2 parts. 1 - the clutch pedal is incredibly stiff and the biting point is a little on the low side.
2 - Putting the car into either 1st when moving off, or 4th when coming down from 5th had become very awkward. Going up into 4th from 3rd wasn't great but easier (I suspect due to the moving from planes moving from 5th to 4th).
In the case of 1 I'm intending to fit a new clutch cable, then adjust it to the right level, etc.
In the case of 2 I have just changed the Gearbox Oil, and I reckon it is most likely the solution to your problem. I used 75W80 Synthetic Oil (2.7L are needed)- Castrol SMX-S available at pretty much all Halfords, and shifts are now much better. 1st goes in every time no problem, and 4th is almost spot on. Wierdly the car feels a bit quicker. It might always be me, and most likely is but I'm much happier. You'll need a 17mm Allen Key to drain and refill the sump. Halfords also sell these as a 3/8 inch socket so if you have a socket set you're half way there.
(First you'll want a container to collect the oil, then you'll need to remove the sump cover on the base of the car to get access, then the drain bolt is on the base of the Gearbox, which you'll drain into the container. After that you do up the drain bolt (25 lb ft / 18 nm according to Haynes Manual), and you take out the filling bolt which is on the side of the gearbox, and fill it by squeezing the new Gearbox oil into it. We found that the last 100mls of each bottle was a pain in the neck to go in, so since you need 2.7L we used 900ml from each bottle, and then put the remain into 1 bottle for the possibility of topping up - which ain't going to happen , then do up the bolt (same torque rating), and you're finished - I was surprised by the small bits of swarf (metal) that came out with the oil which will have been swirling around doing lovely things :S but then my brother pointed out a friends munched up gearbox let out half cogs, etc Must have been fun ).

Iam having the same problem at the minute. I know the pedal box has been done, took it to the garage & they suggested its either the clutch cable or the thrust bearing is on the way out & the clutch plates are not releasing propertly, hence grinding when trying to select the gears.

Iam hoping its just the clutch cable needs replacing but it sounds like a new clutch altogether as the car has just hit 63000 miles, with the original clutch ( i like ). Might get the gearbox oil changed & a new clutch cable fitted aswell.

Car in for MOT tomorrow & finding out what needs to be fixed, will let you know the outcome.