Ok, so this is my last resort. I own a '55 plate Seat Leon Cupra R, it has now covered 81,000 miles. When I purchased it there were ~78,000 miles on the clock and there was no noise to be concerned about. This was January 2013. After a few weeks I noticed there was a rattle on the gearbox when the clutch was let out, down to the Clutch release bearing. I booked it into the garage and had a 3 week wait due to their being busy. By the time it went in there was a constant rattle whenever any throttle was applied and the gears weren't engaging as smoothly as before. Note: This car is not driven hard, just my plod to work where I manage 38-40mpg over 11 miles. Ten minutes after I took it in there was a call to say that it was not just the CRB, he had spoken to his g/b specialist and it was a known fault in the top shaft. Agreeing to have it sent off for a intermediate rebuild at 400 I thought that was the end. This is a known fault and VAG made an adjustment to the box in '07. Today I spoke to the gearbox specialists. He said "This is the worse condition VAG gearbox I have ever seen"(sic). I am now awaiting a 900 complete rebuild of the gearbox as "there is only one gear identified that could be re-used"(sic). The lateral play in the shaft has caused all the teeth to damage one another to the point they are pitted and it probably wasn't far off shattering a tooth. They are essentially getting a complete other gearbox and reconditioning that as mine is scrap! I called SEAT head office customer services and they said as the car was not purchased from SEAT, it was out of warranty and they weren't repairing it, there was NOTHING they would be willing to do. If I took it in after for investigation it would be at my cost EVEN if they found it to be a manufacturing fault. I have instructed the gearbox specialist to return the old g/b to me along with all the parts. I will be taking pictures and posting these, I then plan to take the g/b up to SEAT head office in Milton Keynes and tell them I am returning their seemingly sub-standard parts. I love VAGs, I rate them VERY highly, however this experience and the fact a gearbox has literally eaten itself in no more than 4000 miles has changed my mind. I am digusted they wont even look into it! As some may notice, I also own an '89 mk2 Golf GTI and the gearbox in that has nothing more than a slight stick in second after 24 years and ~140,000 miles! BEWARE ANYONE BUYING A VAG 6-SPEED BOX!
I would like to know what this common fault is? I have had few different 6 speed boxes installed in variety of cars, some with 500bhp plus and box takes it and is ultra reliable These boxes are known for their toughness and thus used for high powered track/drag cars all over the world Admittedly if you have very light flywheel/clutch combo g.box rattles like mad in neutral but i can live with that Any more info regarding this please?
Ok, seeing as I've had abuse on other (audi-sport) forums lets clear someting up. Firstly this is not blaming VAG for the failure. This is not expecting them to replace it. This is not expecting a pile of sympathy. I hope I can get some more grown up replies than I have received trying to belittle me and imply I am a 17y/o idiot who knows nothing about cars. I phoned SEAT as they may be interested to investigate how a gearbox destryoed itself in 4000 miles. This post was to WARN (hence the title) others of this potential problem that can occur great expense! It is a standard Leon Cupra R (again, accused of upping the power and expecting it to last). Speaking to the gearbox specialist I have been told that (this is the jist of it) the bearing at the rear of the gearbox for the input shaft can do something that causes it to eat into the casing and wear itself out, as the gears are helical there is an element of longitudinal force applied that causes this. The bearing the wearing the casing allows lateral movement, which means that the gears do not sit 100% true, therefore they are not meshing 100% correctly which has lead to the wearing of the gears (pitting and eventually the potential for a tooth to fracture).
I've read the post and understand your pain but the box has lasted 81k, not 4k, thats just your ownership. I half expected the post to be about the stupid failure and cost of the DMF or a snapped 1/2 gear selector fork as these are the two most common faults. I'm guessing oil starvation to a thrust bearing or the like is the issue? As for the box, never really had an issue with mine and as such I've kept my old 43K box incase I get another mk4 to swap it into. Surely a secondhand box would always have been the cheaper option? As for VAG reliability, each stable of the brand has common issues but nost are well know about now. Just been unlucky I think, shame as it can taint the car to you forever. Good luck
My point is that inside those 4k it went from being absolutely fine to completely knackered. All from what was orignally diagnosed and sent in as a clutch release bearing. The noise was the same but extended to include when any throttle was applied. Any increase in vibration I attributed to the new dog-bone engine mount bush that was fitted. Very true and it has, I haven't even had the time to make any good memories i.e. roadtrips before it all went wrong. The real irony is that I bought this to replace my much beloved Golf as I couldn't justify the cost of repairs to keep it road-worthy.
just because it sounded fine doesn't mean the damage hadn't already been done mate i had a mk4 gti on 118k that went from being fine to making horrible noises and 2 massive bangs within 100 miles. when it was opened up it had missing teeth and thrown most of the crown wheel rivets. the damage had probably been done over a long period but only came to light with the noises/bangs etc.
I understand, it's just weird that the gears were smooth as silk in January when I got it, and only in the last month they got much tougher. Either way, let it be a warning not to ignore a little noise before it gets a hell of a lot worse!
Are u far from Northampton? I have an 02M box you can have for 150. I bought it sight unseen after being told it was an 02S :-( PM me if u want it. Gavin Send me your number if u want some pics sending.
I had one of those boxes in a a3 tdi sport and i did 123k in it, and few sprint days, gearbox was starting to get noises in 1st and second and on original clutch and dmf. But a mate of mine bought the same model of car and his was on about 60k and after 6months or so he had to get his rebuilt not 100% sure on cause but bill over 700
if its a o2m box the only fail I have ever seem is 1st/n2 selector fork snap on the weld (multiple cars) no other fault the boxes are solid, post up couple pics, I'm interested. One other six speed box I know is seriously problematic but never expect it in a powerful car!
