Newbie- basic Q's on me new motor!

[Zoot]

I recently heard a similar problem from a friend in his Golf 7. I don't have the details but as I recall, solution was readjustment of the shifter linkage.

Thanks for the swift reply serdar. I read something similar on general www info/ googled the symptoms.

Concerning having only had the car 2 weeks. I've now got to hope my 3-month warranty will help here, rather than the battery glitch (seems not to have reoccurred bar that once in 2 weeks: I wiggled & tapped down the battery terminals, as suggested by someone.. maybe this helped).

Thanks, Zoot

 

[Zoot]

My initial thought is that the component that allows you to push down and select reverse was stuck so as you went for first it was sliding across to reverse. It then released.
The smell could be clutch, however I may have missed what engine you have but if its diesel it could also be the DPF regenerating which gives a burning like smell.

Do you have a local garage you trust just to give the whole car a once over?

Hi Dan, sorry I missed your reply innitially/ just seen it.

2.0 TDI (150hp version) Leon FR, 2014.

Thing is it had an MOT 2 weeks ago, as part of the sale, so I assume it had a fairly thouragh once-over then.

Thanks, Zoot

 

[DanMCGARRETT]

Hi Dan, sorry I missed your reply innitially/ just seen it.

2.0 TDI (150hp version) Leon FR, 2014.

Thing is it had an MOT 2 weeks ago, as part of the sale, so I assume it had a fairly thouragh once-over then.

Thanks, Zoot

So yeah the smell could have been the DPF, it absolutely stinks - did you notice if the revs were slightly higher than usual or if the performance was slightly less as those are good indicators that that the DPF is regenerating.

Unfortunately with MOTS it is a snapshot of the car for that day and it checks that the car is safe to drive it doesn't check if the clutch for example is on its way out.

What is the gearbox like going through the gears and what is the clutch like on takeoff?

 

[Zoot]

So yeah the smell could have been the DPF, it absolutely stinks - did you notice if the revs were slightly higher than usual or if the performance was slightly less as those are good indicators that that the DPF is regenerating.

Unfortunately with MOTS it is a snapshot of the car for that day and it checks that the car is safe to drive it doesn't check if the clutch for example is on its way out.

What is the gearbox like going through the gears and what is the clutch like on takeoff?

No I didn't notice the revs higher. I only went a yard or so in reverse, each of the 3x times I was trying for 1st.

Once it behaved again, the smell then occured but subsided after 2 miles or so, & also the car drove home fine. And I didn't notice any issues with the gears. I went through all on the way home. Used reverse ok into my drive.

Understand about the MOT being a 'snapshot'. I've whipped out my 3-month warranty details (panicking) & reassuringly it states:

"
Drive away with complete peace of mind.

We pride ourselves on providing mechanically sound and robust products that have been maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's service schedule wherever possible. That said, as cars are after all mechanical, we offer a standard, totally free 3 month parts and labour warranty on all vehicles. "

Which is reassuring.

Thanks, Zoot

 

[SuperV8]

I have removed my rear seats completely (fitted a rear roll cage) so yes you can take the upright seats part out but I seem to recall i had to take out the bottom part first to get the bolts holding the uprights in place.

Agreed, you need to remove the centre seat belt to remove the seat backrest, and to do this you need to remove the seat base.

 

[DanMCGARRETT]

No I didn't notice the revs higher. I only went a yard or so in reverse, each of the 3x times I was trying for 1st.

Once it behaved again, the smell then occured but subsided after 2 miles or so, & also the car drove home fine. And I didn't notice any issues with the gears. I went through all on the way home. Used reverse ok into my drive.

Understand about the MOT being a 'snapshot'. I've whipped out my 3-month warranty details (panicking) & reassuringly it states:

"
Drive away with complete peace of mind.

We pride ourselves on providing mechanically sound and robust products that have been maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's service schedule wherever possible. That said, as cars are after all mechanical, we offer a standard, totally free 3 month parts and labour warranty on all vehicles. "

Which is reassuring. Thing is I'm 90m away.

Thanks, Zoot

If you do go down the warranty route it might be worth giving the garage a call first to see if they can pick it up using a recovery agent, the only down side then is getting there to pick it back up.

Hopefully it was just a one off.

 

[DanMCGARRETT]

Was the warranty a dealership one or is it a 3rd party one such as warranty wise? It should say on the paperwork for the warranty how to get issues checked.

I would give them a call first and find out your options with them. I would also get them to email you a copy of any advice they give you.

 

[SuperV8]

How many miles has the car done?
To enter reverse you need to depress the gear lever down - does yours depress nicely/smoothly/springly? and pop back up snappily?
Just checked mine and I have to depress it nearly an inch in old money. If yours doesn't feel springy I would spray some white grease on the lever - easy to access by gently leavoring up the gaiter.

Could it be possible in your pannick you reved/slipped the clutch a bit too much - which is what you smelt?
Test your clutch by accelerating (foot to the floor) in 5th & 6th on a dual carriageway - your engine revs and vehicle speed should increase together - if your engine revs pick up more than your speed then your clutch is slipping.

 

[Zoot]

@DanMCGARRETT just sent you a pm.

Thx

 

[Zoot]

How many miles has the car done?
To enter reverse you need to depress the gear lever down - does yours depress nicely/smoothly/springly? and pop back up snappily?
Just checked mine and I have to depress it nearly an inch in old money. If yours doesn't feel springy I would spray some white grease on the lever - easy to access by gently leavoring up the gaiter.

View attachment 51820

Could it be possible in your pannick you reved/slipped the clutch a bit too much - which is what you smelt?
Test your clutch by accelerating (foot to the floor) in 5th & 6th on a dual carriageway - your engine revs and vehicle speed should increase todather - if your engine revs pick up more than your speed then your clutch is slipping.

Hi SuperV8,

66k (fwiw new clutch done at 47k).

No chance I was an idiot: I'm used to this gearstick config, with my old golf4. You need to push it down by no small margin & push over, both in just the same way. So I'm very used to it.

No it -definitely- went into reverse, having selected the 1st gear position. Absolutely no doubt. The strong burnt oily smell indicative of something amiss too.

The gearstick does feel a bit looser/ freer than my golf, I'm wondering if this signifies something needs adjusting here.

Thanks, Zoot

 

[DanMCGARRETT]

Have a look at this forum topic Zoot, it is similiar.

Involuntary Reverse Gear Selection

Hi,has anyone experienced this and what was the resolution i.e. stopping in a high gear then trying to select first to move forward but finding reverse instead, bringing lever out of reverse trying first again only to find reverse again,eventually finding 1st. It`s very disconcerting when it...

www.seatcupra.net

 

[Zoot]

Have a look at this forum topic Zoot, it is similiar.

Involuntary Reverse Gear Selection

Hi,has anyone experienced this and what was the resolution i.e. stopping in a high gear then trying to select first to move forward but finding reverse instead, bringing lever out of reverse trying first again only to find reverse again,eventually finding 1st. It`s very disconcerting when it...

www.seatcupra.net

Hi DanM, thanks indeed for that link.

So on the face of it, seems it might either be a tweak of the gear linkages needed, or a problem in the gearbox.

Strewth: I hope to goodness it's not the latter as this is far more serious, & the bad burn smell was very concerning.

I'll get it to the dealers & provide an update.

Thanks, Zoot

 

[Zoot]

@DanMCGARRETT & @SuperV8

Yesterday I had a word with my local indie mechanic, unfortunately he hasn't heard of this issue before. Although outlining what occured in 1st & R, he said 'could be linkeage mech' or something under the knob.

Anyway your thought please on this:

When I reversed out of his premises, R worked fine, then I put it in -2nd- to pull away (on flat ground)... it went into Reverse. Into neutral & I tried again, gently both times, went into Reverse.

Like the day before, on my 3rd go it behaved. Rest of the day, I did maybe 50m or so, no issues.

I have perhaps noticed, using the gear lever it has got a bit 'looser' let's say a bit more 'sloppy' within the gate, since i've had the car 2 weeks. Maybe this signifies something amiss at this mechanical area ?

Obviously the 2nd & Reverse mix up/ crossover situation is curious as they're not adjacent positions (like 1 & R are), 2nd gear your pulling gearstick down & away from reverse position. So this was troubling.

Thanks, Zoot

 

[SuperV8]

@DanMCGARRETT & @SuperV8

Yesterday I had a word with my local indie mechanic, unfortunately he hasn't heard of this issue before. Although outlining what occured in 1st & R, he said 'could be linkeage mech' or something under the knob.

Anyway your thought please on this:

When I reversed out of his premises, R worked fine, then I put it in -2nd- to pull away (on flat ground)... it went into Reverse. Into neutral & I tried again, gently both times, went into Reverse.

Like the day before, on my 3rd go it behaved. Rest of the day, I did maybe 50m or so, no issues.

I have perhaps noticed, using the gear lever it has got a bit 'looser' let's say a bit more 'sloppy' within the gate, since i've had the car 2 weeks. Maybe this signifies something amiss at this mechanical area ?

Obviously the 2nd & Reverse mix up/ crossover situation is curious as they're not adjacent positions (like 1 & R are), 2nd gear your pulling gearstick down & away from reverse position. So this was troubling.

Thanks, Zoot

Weird with 2nd and reverse!
Also quite early for a new clutch at only 47k!
The pivot/levers on the gearbox are now plastic - and can wear which could explain some slop in your gear lever.
If you remove the air filter housing - you can see the two gear lever cables & pivots/levers on top of the gearbox. If you have someone wiggle the gearstick you can see if you can observe any slack either with the left/right or up/down pivot?
If you can get this far, they are easy to re-adjust - let me know and I can give you a how-to?
If it's not slack in the pivots or out of adjustment - then it sounds more serious/gearbox related.

 

[Zoot]

Update: I've left the car with my dealer. Have a courtesy car (audi a3 2013 fwiw) so at least I can drive home & get on with work.

The dealer himself, said that he'd fixed a Polo himself before, which had the same but opposite issue: that went fwd when you selected reverse. He was talking linkages etc, & seemed pretty unconcerned. IE reassured me it'll be fixed.

Will update next week. Thanks alot chaps, Zoot

 

[Zoot]

Update 2..

I picked up the car yesterday, having been told linkages looked at/ tweaked. Now whether that's true (I can't see any evidence anyone been at/ under the gear lever area) or whether they drove it, couldn't find a repeat of my symptoms, & determined nothing wrong.. time should tell.

So I have 2-1/4 months effectively to try it out, before warranty expires.

As to the battery/ ignition -very- infrequent glitch; this I mentioned, but again whether a new battery has been put in I don't know. I'll call the dealer chap today after a long drive back home, to try get some clarification on what was done. Well, what he said was done, that is.

As to that burning smell.. that remains a mystery: either it -was- my-car related, or completely unrelated.. time again I hope will tell, & soon or I'm a bit stuffed I'd imagine.

Great to have my car back though, anyway. Many thanks for your input, Zoot

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Lets hope for the best!

 

[Zoot]

Lets hope for the best!

Update 3..

Well this is strange. Firstly, I know for certain that the rubber section under the gear knob (which hides the mech- all manual cars have this) hasn't been touched. IE the dealer hasn't lifted this section whatsoever. Which I -think- you have to do, to look at/ adjust the gear linkeage.

How do I know? Well I do carpentry in a workshop, & I remember being miffed I'd got a good sprinkling of fine wood dust on this rubber area. On my new car I said to myself. It was still there when I picked car up: no way it would still be, if this rubber was lifted up, or even faffed with.

Anyway. As the gear 1/R & 2/R "crosstalk" thing I experienced I seem to recall (this idea just suddenly occured to me after I picked car up from being 'fixed' yesterday) was --possibly-- on both occasions whilst my car was on a slight forward incline.. I decided to test this. So I found a deserted side road with a slight forward incline.

I parked up, car running, put into 1st & gently pressed the accelerator, & it went into reverse. Now, as I had no-one around me (specifically no-one or car behind me) I continued pressing gently on the accelerator..... & the car went forward. Normally forward. Exactly as it should, suggesting nothing amiss.

I tried this gentle pull-away in 2nd gear (as I mostly have a habit of doing tbh), & the very same happened.

Now: did it shoot backwards prior to going forwards? No. I'd say it went 1.5yds backwards.
Did it just go backwards whilst it was in neutral, IE momentarily & typical of it being on a slight hill? No. Definitely No.

It went "momentarily backwards for only 1.5 yds" only when I pressed the accelerator pedal & released clutch typical of any gearchange. At the exact time I pressed it. Albeit gently. At the very time my brain expects it to go forwards, & nothing but forwards. It goes backwards.

So now.................. I'm under the impression that perhaps this is -normal- functioning. That it is just a brief trait of this gearbox. You get used to it, & know that 'hey if on a slight incline this car goes briefly backwards, before goes correctly forwards'.

I don't know. I'm just guessing here. But that would seem the most logical explanation for this (albeit thankfully brief) weird facet of this car. And then for there being no evidence anyone even looked at the linkeage mech (even if they told me they did: I'm 1000% certain that no-one has lifted this gear lever rubber section over last 5 days they've had my car).

Zoot

 

[Zoot]

My head is properly frazzled by this.

Thanks for anyone who reads the post above "update 3.." it's difficult to explain what I'm experiencing, without being long-winded.

Suffice to say I did my tests on the deserted road, yesterday PM, the day after I picked the car up from the dealer's: it was with them for 4 days (in which time I'm adamant they did not 1 minute's work on the gear situation: I think they may have just driven it 10m or so -odometer shows this a certainty- & tried putting it through all gears, & determined nothing was wrong with it: & on Thursday 5pm when I collected it, told me "it's fixed").

Thanks for reading. Need beer & nibbles. Zoot

 

[DanMCGARRETT]

It might be worth trying to set off on the hill using the handbrake to hold the car until the clutch is biting (unless you are already doing that?)

Does it happen when you are on a flat road? If yes then that would indicate the gear linkage issue.