Transmission Woes

So, to recap: earlier this week I managed to drop the plastic drivegear off the speedo drive of my Skoda Felicia (1998 1.9 diesel, non turbo, VW engine, engine code AEF) into the transmission. Since then I've been driving it hoping that the gearbox would just mash the plastic to bits, and I could change the transmission oil and all would be well. Pretty much straight away it started being reluctant to go into 1st and 2nd gear.

I now can't get into into 1st at all, and 3rd feels stiff and sticky and as if it's not engaging positively. I've changed the transmission oil (god what a pain in the arse fiddly job) and it hasn't changed anything. No obvious sign of plastic bits in the old oil but it was so mucky you wouldn't expect to see it anyway.

My intention is to keep driving it, try to avoid any hillstarts while lugging any heavy loads (!), hope the problem sorts itself out, and change the transmission oil again if anything changes. However I wouldn't be at all surprised if I'm looking at having to replace the transmission.

Questions:

- Transmissions off what vehicles (other than exact make & model match) will be a match for this one? Is it a Skoda or VW transmission? I know the Polo

1.9D of the same era had the same engine, would a transmission from that be a match? Do transmissions have type codes, if so how do I find out what this one is to help me find a match?

- What's the best source for a good replacement transmission? Scrapyard? If so how do I check the one I'm taking off is good, apart from trying to confirm with the scrappy that the engine / box was good (I know they often mark them up as such)?

Any help really appreciated. Getting seriously pissed off with this now. :-(

Reply to
Vim Fuego
Loading thread data ...

And how much of a bastard of a job is it to have to take a transmission off at the scrappy, and then on the drive take the existing one off and put the scrap one one? For starters, can you actually lift a transmission by hand?

Reply to
Vim Fuego

I'd be the first to admit that I know little if anything about gearboxes, but just a thought, is there a possibility that the plastic gear assembly might still be alive and well and jamming up the selector mechanism?

Reply to
Ivan

Very probably. Not sure how that helps me though. I am wondering whether it's worth me trying to open up the existing transmission and get the plastic out (either whole or in bits). The Haynes manual has this to say about opening up the transmission: "Five spanner rating, definite specialist garage job, don't even think about it, not even going to try to tell you how to go about it". But then I wouldn't be attempting to service it, just open it and clean it out.

Reply to
Vim Fuego

Endoscope? ;)

Actually, they must be used industrially for this sort of thing... wonder if you could find and persuade a friendly operator?

Kim.

Reply to
kimble

Depends very much on the car.

As for lifting it, I helped out a (more knowledgeable) mate once who asked me to lie under his RWD transit and 'catch the gearbox' on my chest then wriggle out from under with it.

I can confirm they are actually really quite heavy.

Reply to
PC Paul

Christ, does he not like you much, that's right up there with asking the (disproportionately well insured) wife to stand in the road as you drive at her to 'test the brakes'... :-)

Reply to
Vim Fuego

You could search for the post about ETKA & workshop manuals which will give you the strip down details.

Reply to
Duncan Wood

One look at it should have told you the casing is cast iron...

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Well, I was only 15 at the time... You don't get to recognise cast iron working on pushbikes...

I managed it fine anyway. Just had to give up breathing for a short while.

Reply to
PC Paul

The gearbox is quite heavy, but two people can lift it into place and line it up with the clutch.

It's almost certainly a VW box. Look around on the casing and you'll see the code- look from the passenger wheelarch IIRC. It might be a 02A or

02J. Is it cable shift or rod?

I'd bet that a Polo/Golf/Ibiza/Caddy/Inca/Cordoba box from a non-turbo diesel of the same age will fit.

I wouldn't bet on opening up the transmission and having it work properly again- sometimes you need special tools for a start. Get one from a scrappy- shouldn't be too expensive.

Reply to
Chris Bartram

The message from "PC Paul" contains these words:

Ah, yes, I've done that! And got it back in (nearly) single-handed. You're right, they're effing heavy.

Reply to
Guy King

Rod shift. It has the following on the top of the transmission :-

002 301 1 093-5 226

The digit I can't make out because it's right under a securing nut, looks like a 0 8 or 6. The small I can't 100% make out but I've got a nasty feeling it's a very small Skoda logo... no sign of a VW/Audi logo

The engine number is 028 103 374. Nothing seems to confirm for me exactly what engine type number it is but it's deffo VW and the Haynes says it's engine type code AEF.

It's got the following in the service schedule, make of it what you will :-

Type: 6563HH 756 3714J2 1.9 LX FEL.COM. 47kW 0176387 DYSS Eng Code No /Trans Code: L946

The label is bloody confusing but the 0176387 DYSS *may* be engine code / gearbox code related. There are a few other details but they look like paintcode/trim/accessory codes.

Just to wind me up, it's started going back into 1st gear OK now...

All for the sake of one little bastard bit of plastic grrr grrr grr. If I ever get it out of there I think I'll get it mounted and keep it on the mantlepiece in memory of my mighty triumph over it...sort of like Jabba The Hut having Han Solo frozen in carbonite hung up on the wall.... :-)

Reply to
Vim Fuego

Well if it was jamming the selectors it sounds like it as now shifted into a different position.

If you're thinking of changing the gear box anyway, why not give a really good long and fast run along the nearest motorway, it's a pretty good bet that with all that splashing oil and whirring cogs the plastic gear will eventually locate itself between a couple of high-speed gears and be instantly liquidised.. well in theory anyway, however if you're not already a member, perhaps it might pay to join one of the breakdown services.. just in case!

Reply to
Ivan

The problem with Haynes is this, from the point of view of rebuilding the box, they say its probably not worth it. If the bearings are worn then the syncro rings and gear teeth will be worn too, so the box will still be noisy. So Haynes reckon its not worth it, probably correct. All you will be doing is tipping it on its end , removing the end cover and 5 th gear(s) then removing the casing,at this point the little plastic gear falls on the floor. You now stop dismantling, and run a bead of silicone round the casing and put it all back together again. I once stripped AX box to replace the plastic speedo gear from the diff. It took all day and the part only cost £2.45, loads of labour tho obviously. It wasnt too complicated. steve the grease.

Reply to
Al Gorithm

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.