Sometimes cant get in or out of gear

[Xphile1999]

90 tsi fwd, 5 speed,

Sometimes i cant get my car in and out of gear, pressing the clutch all the way down it dosent go. Also i can put it in neutral but when i start to release the clutch there is a grinding sound until i put the clutch back in.

It feels like the shifter is in the wrong spot sometimes, like neutral is to far forward. It feels like the shifter locks up until i slowly press on the gas and engauge the clutch.

I know that 5th needs a new syncro, any thoughts?

 

[tsitalon1]

Bad clutch....Probably broken spring in clutch disc

James

 

[Xphile1999]

I dont think it is the clutch, after driving it around more, i have found that if i put it in neutral and relase the clutch it grinds. It seems to happen when the car has been left for a few hours. I can be slowly driving down the road, put it in neutral, and cost to a stop, but when i come close to stopping it starts grinding. Then i cant get it in any gear. I let it roll a litle more and i can put it in gear. But 1st is very hard to get, it car will sputter as i engage the clutch and then it makes a slight grinding until i can get it in gear.

Thanks!

-Xphile1999

 

[tsitalon1]

I still think it's clutch

 

[painmaster]

Check all the simple stuff first like fluid, slave, and master. But it really sounds like your clutch might have seperated or your throwout is on its way out. Either way it sounds like you need to take your tranny off and look!! How long have you been driving it like this? Good luck!

 

[tsitalon1]

If you don't stop driving it, It will leave you stranded !! I would park it and remove the tranny asap !

James

 

[Xphile1999]

Its only been happening for a couple days now, i've had a friend follow me in my dakota so that i can get a ride out of any trouble (i just bought the thing on thursday).
if it is in neutral (i can move the stick left and right freely) then why would it grind if it was the clutch?

-Xphile1999

 

[tsitalon1]

All I can tell you Is that I have seen the exact same symtoms you are describing at least twice. And each time it was the clutch disc.

The reason you can't put it in gear is b/c the clutch is not disengauging. It's not disengauging b/c the spring is wedged between disc and flywheel.

For your sake I hope I'm right... B/c all argument aside, even if I'm wrong it still means the tranny has to come out to investigate the tranny.

And Tranny repairs are much more expensive.

So either way.... Drop the tranny and take a look !!

James

 

[Xphile1999]

Well, just got a call from the transmition shop, not a clutch problem. He says that it is definetly a internal problem. $956 just for labor!
what should i do? I was only able to drive it for a few days. I want this car.....i'm so mad!

-Xphile1999

 

[tsitalon1]

Hey,
First of all.... Just b/c a transmission sjop says it's bad doesn't mean it is !!! It could still just be a clutch. They have been known to rip people off.

Have you looked at the clutch ? I suggest doing this first.

If the transmission is bad, then you could buy a used one from $300 to 700 from the parts trader. Look around. They are everywhere !


let me know if you need more help

 

[Xphile1999]

Well, i have one shipping today for 529 w/ 6 month parts and labor warranty, i look at this way. I can rebuild the current one on my own time, and the speed which my budget can allow and have a full race tranny for when i blow up my 133k mi block.
if it is the clutch i can still afford to put a new one in.
or i can just send the other one back, free return shipment

1 question, heard a rumor that the 1st gens have motor supports so i dont have to support the engine, is this correct?

-X

 

[miguels3000]

Where did you buy the transmission from???

 

[tsitalon1]

Thats right... no need to support the engine !!!

keep us posted
James

 

[Xphile1999]

I got it from ASAP motors and parts in TX
they specialize in used motors and transmitions.

They have been really good so far.

http://www.asapmotors.com

-X

 

[Xphile1999]

I got it from ASAP motors and parts in TX
they specialize in used motors and transmitions.

They have been really good so far.

http://www.asapmotors.com

-X

 

[wastefuldreamer]

Why couldnt you just listen to tsitalon1. You ask for help and then dont even want it. What was the point of even posting here if you were going to go out and seek help elsewhere.

Also you say you knew you needed a new synchro in 5th, Whcih means the tranny would have to come out anyways. When the tranny came out you could have checked the clutch for breakage..

I just dont get the point of this thread.

 

[tsitalon1]

Exactly

Thanks

 

[Xphile1999]

I do appreciate his help, but..
A. i just bought this car, and basicly know nothing about FWD so I am still alittle nervous about doing it.
B. I was planning on doing all of the work myself, but I have a huge project at work that came up
C. I was hopeing that the shop would be able to find something simple that i had over looked, but such is not the case.
D. I could have lived w/ the 5th gear synco till i had a bit more cash flow