GOLF MK4 Gear problem

[Alps]

Guys,

i know this is not MB related, but i thought the tech guys here would be able to help!

Dads Mk4 golf stopped changing gears all of a sudden!

engine off
- clutch down goes into gear fine

engine on
- wont go into gear at all

if I switch the engine off, select a gear, switch car on and lift clutch, the car moves off normally, but cannot change gear!

even once in gear and i hold the brake and lift clutch slowly, the car stalls, does this mean the clutch is ok and something else(ie selector) is busted?

any help would be appreciated.

cheers

 

[Brian WH]

Sounds like the synchromesh has gone mate. Sorry.

 

[imadoofus]

If the syncro had gone, you'd still be able to change gear. Lorry driver's trick, apparently.

Without using the clutch, and when moving, try to change gear. Whislt doing so, feather the accelerator and eventaully you'll hit the right revs to match the engine speed, and the gear will slot in.

It's a sort of idiot's double-de-clutching. I'm not trying to call you or your dad an idiot, and for all I know you can double-de-clutch anyway, if so, try that.

For all I know, there's some kind of electrical or electronic system somewhere in the gearchange on the Golf, and maybe that's bust?

PJ

 

[jgevers]

Hi,

It is the 6 speed?

 

[Alps]

PJ, i took a quick look yesterday, and double clutching doesnt work at all! it just wont budge when the engine is on!

jgevers - 5 speed

 

[imadoofus]

PJ, i took a quick look yesterday, and double clutching doesnt work at all! it just wont budge when the engine is on!

Well my guess would be that there's some kind of electronic or electro-mechanical detent that's supposed to prevent the gears being changed without the engine on or so somesuch, and it's that that's gone wrong.

If the lever doesn't move at all with the engine running, but does when it isn't, then it's not a linkage, and it can't be the input shaft or anything, so I reckon it has to be a newfangled wotnot.

Not very helpful, I know. Sorry

PJ

 

[jgevers]

On the 5 speed I would expect the selector mechanism or fork to be worn/bent.
Gearbox out job. If it is an earlier TDi (not PD) it is a good time to check the flywheel. The dual mass flywheel has a habit of 'wearing out', giving a missfire under braking.

regards,

Job

 

[Dieselman]

Echoing jgevers, it sounds like a clutch drag problem.

 

[Alps]

uhmm, ok, thanks guys, im gonna leave work early and drive it down to a "Mr Clutch" near me, i`ll let you know what they think, after that i may pop down to the local VW independant to see what they say. so far it may be clutch, or clutch hydrolics!

i`ll let you all know how i get on....

 

[Alps]

update : - sort of -

Mr Clutch - not sure but could be clutch or fly wheel!?!? would have to open up to see.
VW independent - Clutch or selector - would have to open up to see.
Prestige car specialists - without seeing, he said syncromesh.

a bit more info, i drove in 2nd, then managed to push hard into third, and once got it into 4th, but couldnt go down gears!

any other ideas?? Mr clutch were cheapest for a replacement clutch by £100, and thats with a Sach`s or LUK clutch, but will they be cheapest if its anything else! thats the question! STUCK, help!!

 

[Shude]

any other ideas?? Mr clutch were cheapest for a replacement clutch by £100, and thats with a Sach`s or LUK clutch, but will they be cheapest if its anything else! thats the question! STUCK, help!!

If only VW owners would form some kind of owner's club or something eh?

 

[Alps]

shude, haha, been there done that! the VW forums arent so good for tech information!

we have a good crowd here!

 

[jgevers]

The Mk. 4 clutch is not hard to change. Any mechanic can do them. Just go for the cheapest, as long as they use a decent clutch like Sachs or LUK. Not re-manned like National etc.!

If it is the TDi, make sure they check the flywheel. It might also be a good time to change the gearoil to fully synthetic like Motul Gear300. This will improve the gearchange especially when very cold or very hot (they get a bit notchy)


regards,

Job

 

[Richard W]

shude, haha, been there done that! the VW forums arent so good for tech information!

we have a good crowd here!

Try www.uk-mkivs.net they're good with the techie stuff and have a few VW 'employees' as members.

It does sound like they clutch isn't disengaging fully so it's either a master cylinder job or the clutch itself needs changing.

It might also be a good time to change the gearoil to fully synthetic like Motul Gear300. This will improve the gearchange especially when very cold or very hot (they get a bit notchy)

Thanks - mine's done 100k now and you're quite right it is a bit notchy.

 

[300SL]

I don't think it's synchromesh rings.............it would be highly unlikely( near impossible odds) they would go on all gears simultaneously.

Compare the clutch pedal 'driving off' position to what it was before all the shenanigans started.

The irish money is on the clutch pressure plate having weakend springs, or even warped.

With the car running and in neutral, press your foot on the clutch pedal to just take up the 'pedal-free' distance onto the release bearing.......any peculiar sounds being heard ? If so it might be the release bearing broken, or moved out of it's position.

 

[300SL]

Oh....and as Richard_W suggests, if the activation is by master and slave cylinder, pump hard a few times ( like you would with bad brakes) and see will it select a gear.....if it does go in then it's either master or slave cylinder.

 

[Alps]

- tried the pumping theory, still cant change!

- i will try the pedal in neutral thing, and let you know what i hear!, couldnt hear nothing odd yesterday tho.

Ive provisionally booked it in to "Mr Clutch" for a new clutch, they say they will know whats wrong once opened up, but they think it may be the clutch, goes in tuesday morning!

thanks for all the replies!

 

[Sp!ke]

-

Ive provisionally booked it in to "Mr Clutch" for a new clutch, they say they will know whats wrong once opened up, but they think it may be the clutch, goes in tuesday morning!

Now theres a surprise... a company that does clutches saying "we think it might be the clutch" LOL

A bit like Kwik Fit failing 80% of their MOT candidates because of brake, exhaust or shocks problems - Funny that.

Oh dear I'm begining to sound like Victor Meldrew.

 

[Alps]

spike, they actually said it could also be the fly wheel, but the reason ive gone with them is that by what everyones said its most prob the clutch, and they were the cheapest and are clutch experts!!

we`ll see tuesday i guess

 

[Shude]

A bit like Kwik Fit failing 80% of their MOT candidates because of brake, exhaust or shocks problems - Funny that.

When I took my ancient vauxhall astra to kwik fit a few years ago for some brake work I asked them to look at the exhaust, I thought it sounded like it was rumbling a bit. They carried out a "free exhaust inspection" and I obviously expected them to come back with a long list of work that needed doing (the car was about 12 years old and had 100% original exhaust parts! ). To my surprise they found nothing wrong!