gearbox issue

Hi

I got a Golf MK4 (2000) 1.6 16V, basically, about 4 weeks ago, whenever I was on the second gear, going steadily before switching into 3gear, the car would stutter. Then about 2 weeks ago, it started happening to 2nd and 3 gear, then even on the first gear. The local mechanic thought it could be the ignition leads, so I had them replaced (cost £45 - apparently they were good) but same issue, what's worse is that the car started making this whining sound if I accelerated quickly.

I thought I better take it to another mechanic, at this point, the car is stuttering like mad. He then informed me that the gearbox is the issue.

I was going to take it to one of those gearbox specialist garages for a free test to confirm whether it's the gearbox, but it's about 15 miles away, and the mechanic told me I shouldn't take the risk or the car could break down completely.

Changing the gearbox isn't a cheap thing, so anyone have any ideas what it could be, if it isn't the gearbox, as I don't really want to spend hundreds of quid for something that might not be a problem, what could it be? I'm not one to drive like crazy, and I haven't had any issues with the gearbox.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

AFK

Reply to
AFK
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Well if it's broken down completely it'll still be just as dead a gearbox as it is now. Your mechanic may be looking out for your best interests but theragain... Is there any oil in the gearbox and how many miles has the car done?

Reply to
Duncan Wood

Well, some 1.6 VAG gearboxes of about that age have a reputation for weakness- a rivet in the final drive. This apparently affects the DUU box.

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If your car is suffering from this, you're likely to have a hole and no gearbox oil.

I'd have thought your mechanic would notice this.

Have you noticed any oil leaks? Get the gearbox oil level checked and look for a leak.

Reply to
Chris Bartram

hi no leakages that i am aware of, it's done about 74000 miles. thanks for the link, it seems to confirm an issue with the gearbox, and at least I can find out who can repair since getting one from the scrapyard isn't a good idea.

One other thing, does my car only take the exact same model gearbox as the one at present, or can others fit, like say one from 2002?

AFK

Reply to
AFK

There are known issues with the 1.6 16v gearbox (the weak rivets) but it could very well be something else. I'd check the coil packs as they are cheap to replace and if they have failed they can cause the symptoms you have, worth cleaning the throttle body while your at it. Changing the plugs to. I'm no expert but I'd try that before I start thinking about a new gearbox. Best to check the gearbox oil is present. If all else fails I'd take a trip 15 miles to that gearbox specialist.

Reply to
BigToe

LOL and you were daft enough to pay?

Reply to
Inbox Settings

Hows he suppose to know, he trusted someone who should be trustworthy.

Reply to
BigToe

I trust Tesco but I wouldn't accept a pint of milk instead of a loaf of bread

Reply to
me

Thats because you know what you wanted the OP isn't a mechanic. :-p

Reply to
BigToe

well, i only paid the cost price, the 40 minutes he spent looking at my car were free of charge. still didn't fix the problem :( but that's the problem, I don't know cars, I know computers, not everyone is a mechanic, sometimes, you just have to trust another, mechanics have a reputation for taking the mickey out of people that don't know about cars, not all of course, but many, seeing a great opportunity to do uneccessary work for an inflated price.

AFK

Reply to
AFK

Probably, but ask on

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Someone there will know.

Reply to
Chris Bartram

Yep, if it's fine in 4th & 5th it's probably alright. CHeck the oil before you do anything though, and get the fault codes read. The whining sounds like a gearbox fault, the stutter could be anything.

Reply to
Duncan Wood

Speaking as someone who fixes computers, you can get exactly the same situation in both cases - some hard to diagnose issue that could be any of a large number of causes, or even a combination of several.

With a PC (hardware wise at least) it's relatively easy to swap bits around to see if you can isolate it. With cars it's not possible to have known-good bits for everything so you have to end up replacing bits anyway to see what happens. Not always, but sometimes.

Reply to
PC Paul

I assure you that the practise is not confined to car mechanics.

Reply to
me

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