Over cooling and gear selection

[berengersniper]

Hello chaps,

I'm Fraser and new to Volkswagen ownership and this forum.

I have fairly recently purchased a 2003 (53 registration) Passat TDi SE 130 saloon having had an almost identical estate model in the family previously, and it has given me a few months of absolutely trouble free motoring. I've noticed a couple of things though that i'd like some advice on:

1. My temperature gauge has become very erratic. As the engine warms the temperature will begin to register on the gauge, then the needle will fall away to nothing again and a short time later will shoot up to roughly 60 degrees. From there on it heats up smoothly enough, but until it's properly up to temperature after 10 minutes or so at motorway speed, easing off the throttle is enough to cause the gauge to drop away a little from normal.

2. My second issue is with gear selection, and second gear in particular. I find second to be very difficult to engage, it's almost as though something's in the way. It will engage, but it's a 'clunk' to get it in. Things improve in all gears when the gearbox is warm (predictably I suppose) but only 4th and 5th gears are ever completely smooth to engage.

3. Possibly related to my second question, I find that after engaging second gear and releasing the clutch, the gearstick will 'kick' when I reapply the throttle. It never jumps out of gear but it's quite a movement in the stick.

Sorry for the long post, i'll get up to speed with the way things are done soon I hope and many thanks for any advice.

Fraser

[martin1810]

I would change the temperature sender . It's cheap and easy to do. Ask for a new clip ans seal at the same time. If you don't you will lose the clip....when you change it.
The gearbox sounds like two faults. One the synchro is worn so the gears are harder to mesh and may crunch. Two the selector fork may be worn leaving more free play when the gears are selected. Both are not particularly expensive to repair BUT..labour cost will be the killer. Good luck.

[berengersniper]

Thanks Martin,

I'll have the sender replaced as soon as possible. I assume if the sender is at fault that the true engine temperature is actually correct and isn't making these huge fluctuations?

I seem to worry more than most about engine termperatures after many years of running Rover K-series units.

Overall the TDi Passat seems to be remarkably reliable. Most of the faults i'm seeing in the forums are reasonably minor and even at that, appear to apply more often than not to the 1.8T.

The gearbox I think i'll leave as-is.

Fraser.