Help!! Need gearbox removing on a budget!

Pmol66

Pmol66

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Thats my baby being recovered yesteday :(
Two days before i broke down, i was finding it hard to select reverse gear.
Yesterday i put it into first and it revved up like it was in neutral.
It was then stuck like this... Jammed in gear but no drive to the wheels.
I had it recovered to my local vw specialists and they say its common for the six speed box's gear selector to snap or somthing.
Its a gearbox out jobbie and have been quoted £700 ish.
I live in the midlands around staffordshire.
Does anyone know of any better places near me.
Obviously dont want it bodged, just want to limit the costs.
Already had to replace the rear diff. And starting to question weather this cars worth keeping, or bothering with performance cars at all :(
Any help appreciated
Paul
 
It took me over a week to do my brakes. So thats what kind of level im at lol.

I will get one tomorow. I asked them at 4ocklock for a break down but didnt get back to me.
 
Approx ten hours then at £45 per hour (plus vat normally). I don't know about that....... Get a written quote off them, then ring around.
 
do you not have a friend thats handy with a spanner? removing it and refitting it will save you alot
 
MoFo66 said:
0cc8540d.jpg
[/IMG]
Thats my baby being recovered yesteday :(
Two days before i broke down, i was finding it hard to select reverse gear.
Yesterday i put it into first and it revved up like it was in neutral.
It was then stuck like this... Jammed in gear but no drive to the wheels.
I had it recovered to my local vw specialists and they say its common for the six speed box's gear selector to snap or somthing.
Its a gearbox out jobbie and have been quoted £700 ish.
I live in the midlands around staffordshire.
Does anyone know of any better places near me.
Obviously dont want it bodged, just want to limit the costs.
Already had to replace the rear diff. And starting to question weather this cars worth keeping, or bothering with performance cars at all :(
Any help appreciated
Paul
Click to expand...

Please tell me you didn't get the car recovered with the rear wheels rolling on the ground? In theory it should be fine, the haldex is off when there's no power. But you're suppose to either flat bed it, or do it with a tow bar and all four wheels rotating! Hope there's no damage to your haldex clutch.
 
On another note, I had my gearbox changed for around £750, £350 for a 2nd hand gearbox, £250 labour and £150 for a new clutch using the original flywheel.
 
I think i might just tell em to crack on with it then.
It was the AA that towed me.
I tried telling them to send a truck out. But they always send a van out to assess.
They have some sort of data base to check how to tow different vehicles.
The head office cleared him to do it, but only a short distance and not to go over 30mph.
So if there are any haldex problems. AA will be funding that.
 
It's a seven hour job so approx £350 labour, assuming £45+vat an hour.
Clutches are around £140
Plus the gearbox repair or second hand box.

I do have a spare gearbox here that I bought for my s3 and never used as I've sold up. It's yours for £120 if you need it.
 
BENJAMIN said:
It's a seven hour job so approx £350 labour, assuming £45+vat an hour.
Clutches are around £140
Plus the gearbox repair or second hand box.

I do have a spare gearbox here that I bought for my s3 and never used as I've sold up. It's yours for £120 if you need it.
Click to expand...

What area is it located mate?
 
MoFo66 said:
I think i might just tell em to crack on with it then.
It was the AA that towed me.
I tried telling them to send a truck out. But they always send a van out to assess.
They have some sort of data base to check how to tow different vehicles.
The head office cleared him to do it, but only a short distance and not to go over 30mph.
So if there are any haldex problems. AA will be funding that.
Click to expand...

Eeerm, I was towed by the AA aswell. His handbook told him to tow my car with a tow bar with all four wheels on the ground and me at the wheel behind. Since my gearbox exploded and minced itself, we only moved 200 yards and he sent a low loader to pick my car up!
 
BENJAMIN said:
West Sussex mate
Click to expand...

Bit too far to collect lol...
I think theres not much in it (price wise) if i pay them to repair mine after i get it delivered. Thanks any way mate.
And im sure id be better off knowing that iv got a nice new shiney rivet in there...
 
BENJAMIN said:
West Sussex mate
Click to expand...

Bit too far to collect lol...
I think theres not much in it (price wise) if i pay them to repair mine after i get it delivered. Sorry any way mate.
And im sure id be better off knowing that iv got a nice new shiney rivet in there...
 
Do many people replace the selector before it fails? Any idea how long they last for on average?
 
pj123 said:
Do many people replace the selector before it fails? Any idea how long they last for on average?
Click to expand...

Well it is a bit of a design failure, but preventative maintenance on such a large job is few and far between. Mine went at 125k, it will depend how rough the driver is with the gearstick.

I would guestimate anytime after 100k, assuming average mileage of 12k/year, a 100% probability it will fail at 200k, and a flat probability over the 100k - 200k period, it would an additional 8.3% chance of failure every year or 12k miles, since 100k.

Be afraid, be very afraid!
 
my 5th/6th selector fork rivet sheared at around 80K miles - mine was recovered on a flatbed

i'm now on 100k and my 3rd gear synchro is crunching and 1st/2nd are very notchy :(
 
jojo said:
Early 1999, the gearbox I sourced myself was from a 2002 apparently?
Click to expand...

Same as mine then. Its a big grey area iv found.
When i was looking on forums to get my rear diff working, i didnt know what was fact and what was bull ****.......
im going to call Midland VW now and ask if the AA could have caused damage my friend. I'll keep u posted.
 
the manual on my A4 quattro says it can be towed on a one axle lift for upto 30miles at speeds no greater than 30mph.

Cant see why the A3 would be any different, especially as its 4wd system disengages, whereas the A4's system doesnt.

Check your handbook and see what it says.
 
Kave said:
Well it is a bit of a design failure, but preventative maintenance on such a large job is few and far between. Mine went at 125k, it will depend how rough the driver is with the gearstick.

I would guestimate anytime after 100k, assuming average mileage of 12k/year, a 100% probability it will fail at 200k, and a flat probability over the 100k - 200k period, it would an additional 8.3% chance of failure every year or 12k miles, since 100k.

Be afraid, be very afraid!
Click to expand...

Any view on whether regular oil changes makes any difference? Sounds like there are no symptoms of it about to fail then...?
 
aragorn said:
the manual on my A4 quattro says it can be towed on a one axle lift for upto 30miles at speeds no greater than 30mph.

Cant see why the A3 would be any different, especially as its 4wd system disengages, whereas the A4's system doesnt.

Check your handbook and see what it says.
Click to expand...

Even though disengaged, the Haldex is a wet clutch setup, so with the rear axle rolling, and the prop shaft still, it would generate heat and cook the clutch/fluid?
 
jojo said:
Even though disengaged, the Haldex is a wet clutch setup, so with the rear axle rolling, and the prop shaft still, it would generate heat and cook the clutch/fluid?
Click to expand...
So thats why its short distances only then? so it doesnt cook the fluid.
18 miles he towed mine. at 30mph..
what can i look out for (symptoms wise) appart from having no drive to the rear.
 
Got it back today :). cheers for the help people.
After looking at the thread above, im probably best changing the haldex clutch fluid (after it was towed for 18 miles). Should i?
the fluid was fresh though. its not long had working rear diff and haldex fitted.
Oh yeah, thanks to the cowboy who bolted the gearbox onto the subframe with an air gun, crossing the threads. i need to check them after a few 100 miles to make sure they havnt come loose. :aggressive:

(cool.... i got the words- gearbox, subframe, airgun and crossthread all into one sentence)

does te gearbox bolt onto the subframe? haha.
 
Rear wheels spin on grass ok.
It might be in my mind, but it doesnt seem to squat as hard as it used to.
Realised the rear diff earth strap has gone. So its a miracle it even spins on the grass ?!?
 
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