B5 manual gearbox fault

[Dubba0]

My passat 130 tdi 5 speed estate has a gearbox fault - almost impossible to select first when standing still, stiff going into second and reverse. I have all the diagnostic tests done to isolate the gearbox fault, but now its getting worse, to the point the wife made me go and look at a second hand vauxhall insignia this morning - YAWN!Its a 2006 '55' plate with 80k miles on it, ours for 2.5 years and 55k miles - beautiful car, does everything I ask BUT select gearsI need to have this repaired but am unsure about wether to go re-con or second hand and also need a reliabe mechanic to do it who doesn't want to pull my pants down in labour costsAny advice much appreciated

[zollaf]

welcome to the forum.
first thing i would do is drop the oil and refil it with some nice fresh fluid and see if that helps. got to be better than buying an insignia.

[Dubba0]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I had the fluid changed approx 3k miles ago. This problem has been ongoing since we bought it 2.5 years ago, just seems now its getting harder, either that or were noticing it more.

[bobmac892]

I had a fault recently with the gear selection of my 6 speed TDi that required a gear lever repair kit be fitted at the local dealers. Worked a treat and wound appear to be a known fault/ breakdown. Cost a bit over £100.

[Dubba0]

Unfortunately this has all been tested by a friend who is the service manager at a reputable high end service depot, he also changed all the gearbox oil. I have had a quote for a second hand box with a six month guarantee, supply only for £550 which is swaying me more towards part ex-ing the car for something newer. The wifes not convinced, especially after reading reviews on this site about 200K mile motors and ours has done 79K so in a bit of a dilema now. Doesn't help that it will shortly need 2 new tyres, a full service, MOT and cambelt change - so grand total allowing £250 to fit a gearbox with all this would be close on £1700.

[Cylon2007]

Hove you checked the gear change linkages as it could be them rather than the box itself?

[caldirun]

Is the clutch working ok?

[hijamie]

Had a very stiff 5th & 6th gear, fault was to much movement in the linkage ball at front of gear box. Could be your clutch slave cylinder sticking and not giving you full clutch. My Passat has 340 000 mile and i only replaced the clutch last week as it has been slipping for some time. The clutch plate was still good so i guess it must have be a weak pressure plate. These cars are built like tanks, great strong machines

[Gary03]

STOP! I certainly would'nt write off that gearbox on the pre text that its hard to get into gear!!! Especially with the low milage its done. Make sure the clutch is clearing first. Is the slave cylinder OK? Are you getting maximum travel at the clutch release arm? Mine is sometimes a pig to get 1 st and reverse when stationary especially when its warmed up, this is because the clutch isnt clearing when i try to disengage it, it 'drags'. More than likely because the splines on the input shaft are dry and the driven plate is sticking. My car has covered 162'000 on the factory clutch though.
If you want to sell yours, Il buy it!!

[lenmolloy]

Hi,

Did you manage to get this fixed. My B5.5'02 Passat 130 bhp Sport (6 Speed) started doing this over the Christmas holidays. My wife got stuck in Tesco's car park as she couldn't get it in reverse - I of course thought it was her being a woman, but she was right. The car does not like going into reverse although there doesn't seem to be a problem with any other gear. I have had the car for 7 yrs and it has done 173K miles - I absolutely love it. However, there are a few things beginning to go now such as the intercooler, turbo, track rod ends etc. Do I spend the money to keep it on the road?