5th gear crunch leon 110 tdi

[seatcol]

Hi, first post so hope this is right?

I have recently bought Leon 110 tdi, 04 plate, 71,000 miles, not from main dealer. Everything great apart from getting it into 5th gear is a bit of a pain. Every other gear is easy but it crunches into 5th unless I'm very positive and hold it into 5th as I bring the clutch up slowly. It never pops out of 5th once in. Seat Leicester took it for a road test as I hoped it was just linkage adjustment but the guy there seamed to think it was more likely to be syncro. (Ouch!) I've read on VAG forum about trying different gearbox oil? If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

The car also pulls to the left a bit but Seat say Leon's do. Anyone else have this problem or heard of this?

 

[highguyuk]

Leons have been known to pull to left - not sure it's all the models though.

Where DID you buy the car from? Anything other than private, I'd be down there demanding work to be done on the car to rectify the problems...

 

[seatcol]

Hi highguyuk, thanks for the reply and sorry it's taken a while to get back. I bought the car off a trader (small operation from home) and had the car RAC inspected because of the 5th gear prob. The RAC listed it as possible linkage adjustment, selector or syncro. Because of the price (and compared to others on Autotrader at the time it was alot cheaper), I took the risk in the hope it was linkage adjustment. Apparently you need a proper Seat tool to adjust so it's booked in in a couple of weeks to try that first for the sake of £50, and if that doesn't solve it then I guess I'm going to look at recon gearbox unless anyone has any better ideas? (somewhat more than £50!)

Oh, my temperature gauge has decided to not work sometimes. Sits just over the 60 mark and now and again pops up to the 90. I'm beginning to question the VAG quality. Had a Peugeot 306 xsi with 190,000 miles before and the only thing that ever went wrong in 5 years was the radiator fan seized after not much use after winter. Never thought I would big up French reliability!

 

[EmDee]

No matter which company builds the car, you can still get a lemon if someone has been messing about with it. It's not the manufacturer's fault if some boy racer has replaced half of the engine components with his own hand made ones...

I've been driving SEATs for the past 6 years and the only work I've had to do has been maintenance related like cam belts, brake pads, tyres and the like.

In my opinion, the secret is to buy a low mileage car from a reputable seller and stay away from those too-good-to-be-true private ads - you usually get what you pay for.

Sorry if that's not what you needed to hear, but I can assure you that VAG build quality is second to none and I'm sure there are plenty of people on here who can testify.

I hope your SEAT experince gets better, don't let one bad one ruin your opinion of a great marque.

 

[Cupra Kid]

Haven't had a SEAT yet thats not gone to the left so i wouldnt worry on that front.

Fifth gear crunch might be down to you getting used to the car, they are very direct gear boxes and the linkages to have to be 'just so' to get the best from them. Check gear linkage cables for wear as that can cause issues so can clutch adjustment. Changing the gear box oil has helped in the past also. Any history with the car to determine how it may or may not of been cared for?

I too can vouch foor the VAG quality, i regularly use a 110TDi golf thats done a massive 195k and without a doubt its the best VAG i've ever driven. Also used to work at peugeot.....but thats another story....

 

[seatcol]

5th gear crunch problem solved

Took the car to a small operation gearbox specialist. Guy there took the car for a quick spin up the road and straight away said what the prob was. The hub/bearing had worn on 5th gear and was wobbling. He also said the gate was probably bent where the previous owner had been trying to compensate by pulling the stick hard over to get the gear. He had the car for a day, replaced hub/bearing and gate for £240 as you don't need to remove the full box to repair 5th gear due to the inspection plate. He thought it had probably been caused by the previous owner driving with his hand resting on the stick whilst in 5th! He could be right as I don't think the car has been boy raced before as the car is totally original and if a bulb needed replacing it was done at main dealer with receipts to prove.
The temp gauge thing seems to have sorted itself?
I have had MKII Golf GTI's and a MKI Golf Convertible in the past so I'm certainly not anti VAG!

 

[Cupra Kid]

Its actually in the instruction book not to rest your hand on the gearstick........... sometimes catch myself doing it on occasion.

 

[rich RS]

For a miniute there I thought that 5th Gear was going to crunch a Leon 110 tdi in some sort of stunt for there new series !!