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. :-(