Guest couzens Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 What are people's thoughts on the said gearbox. I find mine a pain in the ass most times. I either can't select first from a standing start quickly or end up cruching it, can't seem to change down easily from 4th to 2nd and sometimes cos the travel seems so long, I don't quite engage the gear I want before letting the clutch out resulting in still being in neutral! Is it my poor attention to driving or could it be the fact they are cable rather than rod operated? The MK2 (rod operated) you knew exactly where you were going and the travel was half the distance. I am told you can reduce the travel on the cable but would others consider replacing the box for a six-speed rod operated? Are they available and what are the options? Link to post Share on other sites
acf8181 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 no, its not you, all cable change vw box's are crap.if you learn to heel and toe it'll help you a lot (especially downshifting to first).i have smashed the syncro's to bits in mine as i ain't loosing all my accellaration by takin my time on upshift. but you don't need syncromesh when you can heel and toe i'm very interested to know if we can convert them to a rod change, but i suspect it'll still 'beat' the syncro's on upchange (i think its more than just the shift mechanism).i know there is a vw motorsport sequential shifter that can be purchased...but again you beat the syncro's!it's just poor quality...and the ratio's hold the car back as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest couzens Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 What's the set up on the MK4 = cable or rod or something else? Link to post Share on other sites
28v6r 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Errrmm Not so, My Passat change is rather Slick and it's a cable change, what may help the change is Synthetic gearbox oil, better when the box is cold, prevents premature wear etc longer between changes BUT be warned it's not cheap @ around the £35 - 40 per gallon, but hey! it's well worth it, AND IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!! A nice slick change prevails!!!Regards28v6r Link to post Share on other sites
acf8181 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 the mkIV is cable change...its better than the mkIII 'box, but only slightly...it still has the rediculously long throw. it's a lot of work to fit one of these boxes into a mkIII.new fluid does help, best for vr6 is redline MT90, from demon tweeks. i've never driven a passat so can't comment on that. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest couzens Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 OK, I could try changing the box oil. When we had it serviced it was nice and full but likely to be what VW originally put in. Is it a complicated JOB? ps. how much will I need? ?! [ Edited Sun Mar 21 2004, 12:21PM ] Link to post Share on other sites
jcorallo 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 I either can't select first from a standing start quickly or end up cruching it' date=' can't seem to change down easily from 4th to 2nd [/quote']hi - so what you are saying is that the 1st / 2nd plane is hard yes...? and is it also a bit hard to get into reverse...?...cos this kind of sounds like your cables arent adjusted right. Either that or your clutch isnt disengaging fully?Well - its the first thing I'd look at rather than planning on replacing the thing! and there is certainly a possibility that an adjustment could bring the 1st / 2nd plane back into true.Jules Link to post Share on other sites
acf8181 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 OK' date=' I could try changing the box oil. When we had it serviced it was nice and full but likely to be what VW originally put in. Is it a complicated JOB? ps. how much will I need? ?! [ Edited Sun Mar 21 2004, 12:21PM ']easy job...the drain plug is the 17mm allen key plug on the bottom of the gearbox, the refill hole is the same type of plug on the front of the box about half way up. you fill it till the fluid starts to drip out, then its at the right level.if you don't have a 17mm allen key, i used an old wheel nut and a spanner. i'd also undo the refill plug first, as you'd be screwed if you got the drain one out, and drained the fluid, only to find that the refill one is stuck. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest couzens Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Jules, reverse can sometimes crunch as well as you say. Can the cable simply go out of alinement on its own. The other thought could be a clutch problem= worn perhaps. I haven't noticed any of the other symptoms associated with a worn clutch yet the car has come from London where they like to use the clutch rather than the handbrake. Can the clutch be adjusted then?Do demon tweeks have a website?[ Edited Sun Mar 21 2004, 01:10PM ] Link to post Share on other sites
acf8181 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/ Link to post Share on other sites
eViL 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Both my Golf and Corrado boxes are a bit 'awkward'. I get the feeling my clutch is slighty late dissengaging so I'm gonna have a look at adjusting it.Let you know how it goes.. Link to post Share on other sites
jcorallo 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 This thread gave me the inspiration to just nip outside and try adjusting mine - cos I have the same problem where it wont go into 1st that easy when at a standstill - was trying to adjust it and I noticed that there is a lot of play in the slider block - looks like its very worn on my gearbox.... this slider is the thing that pull and pushes the selector up and down at the gearbox side... mine is very loose so adjusting isnt going to help that much for me.... lucky I've got a spare that I can install - just found one in the shed.Jules Link to post Share on other sites
Guest couzens Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 How do you adjust it then? - any pics? Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Steve 0 Posted March 21, 2004 Report Share Posted March 21, 2004 Also worth a check is the linkage on top of the box. Mine used to crunch going into reverse. We found that the linkage on top of the box was loose. A quick tighten and Roberts you fathers brother. Link to post Share on other sites
jamieVR6 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 The gearbox on my golf is the same. Sometimes takes 2 or 3 atempts to get first. Once moving there's no problem. Also reverse is an absolute sod to get, thought it maybe the clutch so had that changed & it's still the same. U say changing the gearbox oil helps? Link to post Share on other sites
Guest couzens Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Yes and no according to my mechanic chappie at Audi who says it will only if the current oil has become lumpy. Also, the cables are suppose to be self-adjusting so no slack there. Must just be a crap design but will update when mines been done/sorted. Link to post Share on other sites
jamieVR6 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Cheers, cos i'm getting sick of looking like a learner every time i go for 1st. It never goes in 1st time! Link to post Share on other sites
binliner 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 I get a bit of judder when I let the clutch up in 2nd whats that about? Link to post Share on other sites
jamieVR6 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 After finally getting 1st i have no problems. Maybe your clutch is on the way out? Link to post Share on other sites
acf8181 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Cheers' date=' cos i'm getting sick of looking like a learner every time i go for 1st. It never goes in 1st time![/quote']try blippin the throttle when you have the clutch in when you're tryin to go into first. help get the cogs lined up. Link to post Share on other sites
acf8181 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 I get a bit of judder when I let the clutch up in 2nd whats that about?you be lettin the pedal up too fast! Link to post Share on other sites
jamieVR6 0 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'll try that. Link to post Share on other sites
FishWick 21 Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Interesting reading your findings. My Corrado VR6 box and change is sweet as a nut. It has the slickest, lightest and most positive change I've ever experienced, except the Honda Civic Type R which has a truly awsome gear change.Good engine mounts improve the change significantly as does a nice bit of teflon lube on the cables. Link to post Share on other sites
jamieVR6 0 Posted March 26, 2004 Report Share Posted March 26, 2004 When my car was at AMD they renewed the front engine mount with a vibratechnics one. It helped a lot but it's still not very good. Changing the oil may fix the problem but if not it will be a re-build for me. Link to post Share on other sites
VRmonster 1 Posted March 27, 2004 Report Share Posted March 27, 2004 the front engine mount isnt goin to improve gearchange much, youd be better off with a rear/gearbox one. im after the 2 rears, cos theyve died since i fitted my front vibratechnics. gggrrr. Link to post Share on other sites
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