Gearbox Problem - Lost 1st/2nd Gear!

[deano_s3]

Hi Guys,

I have a 2003 S3 with 48K on the clock and I've lost 1st & 2nd gear (all other gears work fine). When I select either 1st or 2nd gear it shifts fine with no noise but there is no drive so feels like it's still in neutral. I can also select both of these gears without the use of the clutch and again there is no noise/resistance and that's with the engine running!

Audi main dealer has quoted £4,500 for a new gearbox, clutch and 10hrs labour but did not seem to know exactly what the cause of the problem was... I'm thinking about a 2nd hand gearbox instead, or maybe a rebuild but am not sure what to do.

Any ideas of what might be causing the problem?

Thanks

 

[jasonS3]

hello and welcome

 

[Issac Hunt]

Hi Guys,


Audi main dealer has quoted £4,500 for a new gearbox, clutch and 10hrs labour but did not seem to know exactly what the cause of the problem was... I'm thinking about a 2nd hand gearbox instead, or maybe a rebuild but am not sure what to do.

Any ideas of what might be causing the problem?

Thanks

Could be a broken selector fork, but are you sure all the gear linkage cables are OK?

£4.5K? is it gold-plated?! Thats very expensive. Get a second-hand one instead. There are a few on ebay at the moment, £200-£400 ish.

Then find an Audi specialist to fit it for you.

 

[jeffers999]

I agree second hand one fitted shouldnt cost ya over £800 alot cheaper...

 

[patrick swayze]

take it out yourself and get a rebuild on it.

 

[deano_s3]

Ok cheers, not sure about the gear linkage cables and don't know how to check myself, will try and get a quote for repair on the box first and if that's too much will go for a 2nd hand one.

 

[jojo]

I got myself a 2nd hand unit for £350 inc. transfer box off ebay, I would get the gear linkage checked out first before changing gearbox.

 

[CLS3]

This exact thing happened to me recently, i got it taken to Audi, they quoted me £4320 for a new g/box and fitting in 10hrs. or they could investigate further for £1700 for 14hrs!!
I took it into work (a fast road and race car workshop) and I got my g/box refurbished for £400.
Basically, the selctor forks are rivited on and the rivets fail, it is a common problem. So even if you were mad enough to spend the £4320 at Audi for a new box it could still fail again if the rivets fail.
In the refurb my selector forks were nut and bolted rather than rivited so now there is a lot less chance of the same thing happening again.

knackered g/box out - refurb - and re-fitting, £700!, bargain!
So i'm getting a new clutch and dual mass flywheel while its out too.

 

[deano_s3]

Thanks for the info! I'm much happier now knowing that I won't have to part with four and a half grand with Audi... Is it worth getting a new clutch and flywheel at the same time?

 

[CLS3]

I would def have a look at your clutch, while the box is out it is the most economic time to change the clutch and the flywheel, rather than having it taken out again later to do the clutch.
So yes i would definately advise to do it.
off the top of my head my clutch is £120 and dual mass flywheel is £200 or so.

 

[myrichdad]

Just had this too. Been quoted £500 for gearbox refurb+ £150 for clutch + labour etc....around £1000 ish.

Just wanted to know what people think. Also what is the exact gearbox code for my 1999 s3? I guess it depends on engine code. Think mine is APY??? off the top of my hea, but car is at garage, with the info (I may have just made that code up!!!)

RSVP.

Kev.

 

[HTC]

GEarbox code is on the vehicle data sticker in the service book and in the boot.

 

[Mills]

Is this quite a common fault? It's the only thing putting me off the s3 at the moment, or is it just luck of the draw?


Cheers,

Ben