MK IV 2.6 V6 4 Motion 2003 - GEARBOX!

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Hi Guys,

Can anyone help? I bought 2.8 V6 4 Motion last week...ran like a dream. MOT week before, full VW service history.

2003 - 101,000 miles.

Now, I have a grinding noise in 2nd gear on slow down (engine breaking). Put the clutch in as the car is rolling, and the grinding stops. Lift it back up as it bites it starts again. Drives perfectly, pulls as it should, no issues with gear changes.

Just grinding in 2nd gear as the car slow downs.

Took it to VW garage. Looked at it, no idea what it is except it's in the gearbox. £500 just to strip, tell me what issue is. Fly wheel another £500 or new gearbox will be £2k.

I paid £2,2000 for it 2 weeks ago. Done 100 miles. Annoyed to say the least as you can imagine.

Took it to a VAG dealer and they pretty much said the same after listening to it.

Any suggestions?

Where can I get a cheap gearbox? Where can I get it changed cheaper than VW/VAG?

Has this happened to anyone before? Could it be a complete new gearbox when its just the grind in 2nd gear slow down?

Any ideas, help welcome.

Cheers

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

GAH! Private sale....what could possibly go wrong....oh...a new gearbox!

Do we think that noise is the makings of a new gearbox? Could it be a flywheel/bearing?

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Pebbles167 said:

Many things it could be, any chance you could get a recording of the noise?

Tried but it is so quiet it won't pick it up. It's not a loud grind, sounds similar to when brake pads are gone ....that kind of grind/grate noise. (It's not the pads either. I checked)

500 to strip out gearbox and tell me what it is just seems expensive. Going to try and find a garage who will do it cheaper as it could be something cheap (ish)

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Pebbles167 said:

Definitelt only in second?

Yep. VAG guy and VW mechanic both sat in car and felt it was just the 2nd gear.

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Pebbles167 said:

Id recommend getting a second hand gearbox. See above ^^.

Thanks. Any ideas where for those? I've started with Google!

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Pebbles167 said:

www.findapart.co.uk

Failing that, search VW forums.

First ask if this issue is known to any members. Also find out what gearboxes will fit the 24v 2.8 VR6 engine, See if there are any spares going etc

Excellent. Appreciate the advice.

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Pebbles167 said:

No problem. Been in similar situations a few times, both the above options have worked for me.

Best of luck.

Cheers. What were your costs in the end? Or was it not the same problem?

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Caddyshack said:

Buy from a scrap yard or speak to bara for a proper job...just google bara, he is the god of diffs n boxes. Very straight n honest

Thanks. Will do. Is there a risk of the quality of the gearbox if I pick one up from a scrap yard? (Never done it)

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Pebbles167 said:

I paid £600 for a 60,000 mile 3.0 AJV6 Jaguar/Ford Engine. Worked fine.

Also bought countless parts for good prices off owners club forums.

To clarify, find a part sends an alert to breaker yards, who then respond if they have a part. They take a payment over the phone or net, and send it to you. Very easy and a good service. Not everyone has time to trawl around scrap yards.

Great. Thanks

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Gruber said:

I'd have thought it's got to be worth a gearbox oil change as a first step?

Is it definitely, definitely only in second gear? if it's also in other gears, could it be a gearbox mount that's deteriorated, creating play in the transmission?

I would say yes but I've listened to it so many times I think I start to hear things. May be a slight whirring in 3rd too...not a grating noise though...

Gearbox oil change sounds like a good idea...

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Gruber said:

It won't do any harm. It might solve the problem. Or it might alleviate the symptoms so you can put off remedial work for a couple of years. But even if it doesn't achieve either of those things, it won't do any harm, aside from the (relatively small) cost.

Thanks. I'm an amateur, this has to be done at a garage? VAG and VW didn't suggest it....because they were seeing £££££ signs...

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Crafty_ said:

I'd find a independent gearbox specialist and get them to diagnose. It could just be a bearing that could be changed relatively cheaply.

Years ago now, but a family member used a local one man band outfit to replace a couple of bearings in a box, the guy knew exactly what the issue was, which bearings to replace etc, he only had the car for a day!

Thanks. I think the effort to call around/shop around will be worth it.

Cheers

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

23rdian said:

I have an idea...

Drive without using second gear.

No thanks required :-)

LOL! I've been doing that already actually.

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Right - Chiltern Transmissions have said (without looking at it), that they can recondition the box (£675) + labour £250 + VAT. So about £1,000.

Does that sounds reasonable? Recondition is a good option?

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Funk said:

It's not a black one, RE03 VJD by any chance?

No....why?

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Funk said:

It would have been my old car!

AH. No, although I wish it was. The gearbox is prob fine in that one!!

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

Right....this guy is selling the below gearbox which apparently fits my 2.8 V6 4 motion for £150.

I am way out of my depth with this but it seems cheap? How can a tell if it's a 'good gearbox'? And it's only 5 speed so how can I fit my 6 speed?

Any help welcome

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK4-GTI-TDI-MANU...

[BARRIEJAVLINLEE]

aka_kerrly said:

That gearbox will not fit. You can only fit 6 speed 4motion specific gearboxes and Supercharged has already posted the relevant code.

Worth signing up to ClubGTI, edition38, mk4 owners club and get a second hand box. There are a few 4mo 2.8 cars being broken now as the 24valve conversion becomes more popular in mk2/3 Golfs

Thought so. Ok, thanks for the info. Will get on to it! Cheers