Hmmmm First big problem with my car??

[GAL]

this happened about 2 week ago then happen today.

after a short drive then parking up for 30 mins (which probably has nothing to do with the problem). I then get back into the car and it seems near impossible to get it into first or second gear. the gearstick is realy hard to move.

goes into 3rd fourth and fifth easy as hell. I was stuck in slow moving traffic when it happened this time and had to put it in 3rd to set off to get my car onto a side road. my clutch smelled like a burning turd (cos i set off in 3rd)!

parked the car up. stopped the engine. pressed in the clutch a few times messed around with the gearstick at the same time. started her back up and was fine!

so

is my clutch on the way out?

or is my gear box ****ed?

or anything else?

car is fine now. but id like to get it sorted out!

and also if you suspect you know what it is, can you give me a guestimate on what price im gonna after fork out!

[F2 Ed]

Is your clutch pedal stiff as hell?

Sounds like gear linkage to me

[thewiizard]

ahh mine does this all the time especially after my right foot has been feeling heavy, someone has mentioned to me before that it could be stretched gear cables or a stretched clutch cable.. could be a few things to check

Post an update if you solve it !

[GAL]

my clutch pedal isnt stiff as hell, but its alittle stiff in places. bit of a pain to get the biting point on a steep hill (without using handbrake).

gonna see my mechanic friend. see what he has to say. will keep this post updated.

[smash_3000]

the clutch has been stiff on my ibiza since i bought it, got used to it now, only time the gears crunch is sometimes when i put it in reverse.

[surcalation]

naturally stiff clutch on the Ibiza, good for improving left leg muscle strength or if you ever get a car with a performance clutch

crunching it in reverse; I sometimes do the same grind.

As for the problem I am unsure, but a mechanic is always a good friend to ask

[m0rk]

Replacing the cable is a quick & easy fix to getting the clutch stiffness down - certainly DIYable, and only costs about £50.

harder to do is lubing the clutch mechanism - and made by far the most difference - you have to remove the gearbox to do this though (but was well worth doing)

[GAL]

ok the problem with my car is my gearbox and it needs replacing. since its not letting me get into first and second evey now and again it has also developed a frapping noise in second. I also noticed a clunk sound from time to time that i have now been told is the gearbox and Ive been told not to drive the car until it is fixed!

my mechanic m8 says i should get the clutch done at the same time too.

does anyone know what gearboxes will fit the the 98 gti 8v (if a diesel gearbox will fit etc also if I fit a different gearbox will i need a different clutch). if anyone has any experience it will be greatly appreciated!

[Fraz]

I wouldn;t go for a diesel box uless its a proved thing. Diesels have vastly different power bands to petrol cars and therefore the boxes are designed differently. Im no expert so check with someone with abit more knowledge about gearbox ratios. Why not get a standard gti box?? mk3 golf? mk2 golf 8v???

[GAL]

not got a great deal of money at the mo and im in debt from backpacking for a year and need the car for work. so was gonna go with the cheapest fastest option to get my car back on the rd!

[Fraz]

I doubt a diesel box will be any cheaper than any other box!

Find a gti box or find what will come from another car ie mk2 golf gti 8v or mk3 golf gti 8v??

Theres more of them than ibizas therefore cheaper!

[thewiizard]

if i remember correctly, if you put a diesel box in a petrol you'll be changing gears every 2 seconds. Diesel gearboxes have very short ratios compared to petrol gearboxes as the power bands between the engines are vastly different.

diesels rev happily til about 3.5k - 4k

the GTI revs another couple of thousand. shorter ratio's on a diesel, i think they are stronger though

[GAL]

got a gearbox off a mk2 golf gti 8v. and will be picking it up this weekend. touch and go on wether its gonna be in good nick but got it cheap enough to take the risk!

engines on mk2 look different to mk2 ibizas you sure the gearbox is the same?

heres the engine

[Fraz]

aye they fit.......

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Originally Posted by GAL

my clutch pedal isnt stiff as hell, but its alittle stiff in places. bit of a pain to get the biting point on a steep hill (without using handbrake).

gonna see my mechanic friend. see what he has to say. will keep this post updated.

Then use the effing handbrake, that's what you are meant to do!!

German clutch pedals generally are stiffer and have a longer range of travel.

Best of luck with the gearbox. My mate had his reconditioned on his 1.4 Ibiza. Saved him a lot of money. How much do you have to spend? Is there not a scrappy near by that may have some morsels for you to pillage?

[GAL]

I do use the handbrake. I just feel more GOD-LIKE when im holding it on the biting point!

I heard having it reconditioned cost about £450!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Possibly, I was thinking £350....

New gearbox cost? I had that in my mind at £600...