UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

when I go into reverse when the car is cold i.e in the morning or after work it goes in with no problems, when I've been driving about for a while and put it into reverse it grinds a bit, if i leave my foot on the clutch go back to neutral then reverse again it doesnt grind!! all other gears are fine.
I have a 2000 GTi with 67000 on clock, had gearbox reconed and clutch done 363 days ago when it was on approx 60000.

Any ideas why this would be? (Hoping it's not too serious!).

Mine does this. Its just a case of clutching down for longer before you go into reverse I find. If you go back to neutral, the gear is still in its last position of reverse - just out of gear if that makes sense, so if you go back into it, you wont get a crunch as it was the last engagement

Yeh it's clutch related. I had this on mine two previous clutches. Had no problems with the SACHs one though. There are ways around it, for example pumping the clutch twice before engaging, every one is different. Just have a fiddle.

Tim, since you're on your 3rd clutch, any advice on getting a replacement clutch? I am on 82000 miles, still on original clutch and gearbox however the clutch wants replacing soon as its getting a little fierce. My local VW main stealer quoted £201 for a clutch and 4.5 hours work @ £78ph labour, I make that £648.60 with VAT!!! I only really want a standard clutch, I've done a search on the forum and I see there is quite a bit of confusion over which clutches fit (certainly with eurocarparts)?

Give GSF a ring and ask them for a SACHs clutch kit for the GTi. Here's the details:

GSF - 0208 917 3888

SACHS kit part number - 3000581001

They won't have it on the shelves, they'll have to order it directly from SACHs. So chances are if you ring and they say they can't supply it. Wait a couple of hours and ring them back and ask a different person. They CAN get hold of it. It'll cost about £86 delivered and take about 4-5 days to get to you

It cost me about £180 in labour to get the second one fitted. Then after that one being faulty I got my SACHs one fitted for free when the 'box was getting reconned.

Don't get the clutch kit from VW, it costs oer twice as much as the SACHs (as you well know), and it's just an old clutch reconditioned to brand new. After feeling both, the SACHs is smoother too!

Excellent, thanks Tim. I will enquire on Monday once I have spoken to my local garage about fitting it. In fact he uses GSF a lot so may even get a trade discount or something?
Then if that fails, I got a quote with 'Mr Clutch' today, £279.99 incl. labour and VAT, then an extra £40 for a cable, which doesnt sound too bad to me.
Thanks for your help Tim, I will try the GSF/Sachs route first for sure.

That Mr Clutch quote doesn't sound too bad. But just be careful with those type places, because you don't know what they are putting in. I've been stung with that before and had to pay for it.

Make sure (who ever does it) you know exactly what clutch they are putting in. Aside from the way too overpriced VW reconned ones, and the odd SACHS and LUK kits there are alot of cheap alternative non branded kits, as well as alot of people that sling off reconned ones as new. If you get the part direct you know exactly what it is.

If your mates with the garage then ask them to enquire, but if not just do it yourself. For although they'll get it trade price, they're likely to charge you full wack anyway, it's where they make a bit of money.

I forgot to mention in the post about the cable. It's a very good idea to get that changed at the same time too, for it costs no extra labour. They cost about £31 from VW. Get one and take it along to who ever does it. Ask them to fit it if they think it needs doing (sometimes they're fine), and if it doesn't just take it back to VW. It's a common part so they can keep it on the shelves and charge you nothing because they won't have to send it back.

Cheers Tim for all your good advice. I shall let you know how I get on. Hopefully I can get the sachs kit from GSF fitted, if not I'll ask mr clutch what kit they use. Thanks alot, Steve.

No worries mate

GSF just supply parts, they don't fit them aswell. See if you can get a couple of quotes from people on just fitting.

id sujest allways replacing the cable as they ALL do strech and there is know way of telling this buy looking at them!

Plus like tim said a nice new cable for the money just makes so much difference!
infact i allways add one into any quote i give on polo clutches so my customers dont get a choice they all get one!

I now have my new sachs clutch kit all fitted with a new genuine VW cable. Wow, what a difference! Its so much lighter now, a lot easier to drive in traffic! I got the clutch from GSF as you suggested, it was £83, collected in store. I got my usual local mechanic to fit it and all in (clutch, cable and fitting) was even less than Mr Clutch! Thanks for your help everyone.

Steve W wrote:I now have my new sachs clutch kit all fitted with a new genuine VW cable. Wow, what a difference! Its so much lighter now, a lot easier to drive in traffic! I got the clutch from GSF as you suggested, it was £83, collected in store. I got my usual local mechanic to fit it and all in (clutch, cable and fitting) was even less than Mr Clutch! Thanks for your help everyone.

Knew you wouldn't be disapointed!! It really is a damn good clutch,

I used to always get a crunch into reverse...

A little tip though, push you gear stick down to go over to reverse, then before you push it into reverse let the gear stick lift a bit....Beeen doing that for months now and never got a crunch...goes in perfect

reverse doent have a syncro boys and girls so you are supost 2 stop wait a second or 2 then put it into reverse!
you will get no crunch then!

bbspolo wrote:reverse doent have a syncro boys and girls so you are supost 2 stop wait a second or 2 then put it into reverse!
you will get no crunch then!

That's what I've always done

I've never had any problems.