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Hi. I have owned my 52 Polo1.2E for 11 years and 138,000 miles. The clutch has just been replaced and I have noticed that gears 1, 3, 5 and R are much stiffer to select and deselect. Before the new clutch all the gears clicked into place really smoothly. I have spoken to the garage and they have no idea what has caused this and they said that the transmission and change cables have been replaced correctly. They told me to use it for a while and see if it frees up. Does anyone have an idea what has caused this and what the garage can do to return the gearchange to the smoothness that it had.
Thanks a lot.

Sounds like the clutch isnt disengaging properly

When a clutch is changed it should be silky smooth

The release bearing may not be moving smoothly - can be caused by a bent fork arm on the release bearing bracket

I think the garage need to have it back, and take the box off again and sort it out.

Thanks for reply. The clutch seems to be disengaging, working fine and isn't dragging at all. (although the biting point is lower. (I was told that this is normal for a new clutch). It is just that the top row of gears need a harder push to engage whereas the lower row click smoothly in place, as before.
Thanks.

Id say the linkage is out then should that be the case. Yes, as its hydraulic, the biting point will be lower as it auto adjusts.

Thanks again for quick reply. Should I ask the garage to remove, check and refit the selection linkage cables , bearing in mind that it was superbly smooth before the clutch change. ?. Can they do this in situ without removing the transmission again . Thanks.

Yes I would take it back and ask them to adjust the linkage

Yes - its done from underneath the car

Should be silky smooth.

Thanks. I assume that it can't possibly be a gearbox issue if the gearchange was perfect before the job. (and the box hasn't been apart) It can only be the cables.

Yes likely just the cables as they have to be disconnected in order to remove the gearbox

Hi Good news. The cable pin was reversed and this removed the stiffness. Obviously the pin was thinner on the used end.

Glad its sorted