Altea clutch/gearbox problem

[Johnnys149]

Hi, I am hoping to possibly get some help before I go to the expense of putting my car into a garage.

I have 59 plate Altea 1.9 TDi. For the last few weeks I have been getting intermittent problems getting the car out of and back into gear. It usually happens when I have been doing a motorway run of maybe 20 miles or so. Most of, or at least the majority of my driving is on motorways and/or dual carriageways.

The car seems fine when driving around town and shifting up and down the gears, but on a long run with no gear changes, once I have to drop down it gets jammed in 5th. I have to force really hard to get into neutral, and it is then a fight to find another gear. Once in though is seems to be ok again, well at least until next time. It can sometimes be a couple of days between times when it happens.

One thing I have noticed is that sometimes after the car jams in gear, once I get it out, the biting point when I release the clutch is almost on the floor, instead of what I would call normal, with maybe a bit of play before the clutch engages.

Someone on another forum suggested checking the oil level in the gearbox, but I'm not 100% sure how to do this.

All help greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Johnny

 

[mty12345]

It sounds like either the master or the slave cylinder on your clutch mate. Most likely the slave IMO.

I'm not familiar with what clutch and box is in your car, but if it's a 6 speed the same as in the MK1 cupra, then the slave cylinder is inside the gearbox and it needs to be removed to get at it. Most cars are the same these days anyway. The slave itself is fairly cheap but it's just the labour fitting it.

I had the same sort of issues on my MK1 and it was the slave cylinder.

 

[NVM]

Slave cylinder/ Clutch

 

[Johnnys149]

Hi, the gearbox is a 5 speed. I've swapped cars with the missus just now as she only works about 2 or 3 minutes from her work, while I have a 42 mile commute at the moment.

Seems to be ok but she said she had bother getting reverse one morning when it was a bit cold.

Johnny


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Johnnys149]

Gave my car a run yesterday as it had appeared to behaving itself. Ended up having to pull on to the hard shoulder on a motorway slip road as I couldn't get the car out of 5th gear, and faced the prospect of being towed home. After a bit of two handed forceful pushing and pulling, and a bit of grunting, I was able to get back into neutral and then managed to find first gear. I made it home ok, and after the wee mishap on the slip road, it appears fine again. Before it happened the play on the clutch before it engaged was huge, at least 60-70% of the travel distance. Biting point of the clutch was millimetres from the floor, if that.

A couple of people have said, it could be the master or slave cylinder that is causing the problem so i am going to try and replace both. I also found some helpful videos and stuff on the internet.

I have found various guides, but nothing for my model. The slave looks not too bad to do, but the master looks an absolute barsteward...!! It sits way down behind the engine, with the inlet and exhaust manifolds above.

Has anyone had to replace the master clutch cylinder on a 2009 model Altea 1.9L turbo diesel and made a guide up, taken pics, or have any tips?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Johnny

 

[Davies2016]

Altea gearbox issues

We have a Seat Altea Stylance, 2.0 TDI, 56 plate. 2 year ago we had clutch issues or so we thought.. clutch would lose pressure often - but especially after a long run in the same gear - and we would literally have to push a foot under the clutch pedal to lift it off the ground before we could change gear. Only ever stayed depressed in neutral, but sound very similar to others issues on here. Ended up having to send gearbox off for reconditioning and all was great til last week when the car is now sounding rough as hell when driving in all gears - early checks shows something is wearing in the gearbox again and so we face more repair costs.

 

[Johnnys149]

Eventually found out what the problem was, but thanks for your reply.

Car eventually gave up the ghost altogether. Gear selection was like stirring a bucket of bricks. Reverse was first, 5th wasn't there, the rest were a bit of a lottery.

Turned out that there was a knackered ball joint in the gear linkage. Clutch problem was a very small leak in the slave cylinder, but enough to allow air into the system.

Car in the garage at the moment, but hopefully get it back in the next couple of days.

Johnny

 

[SeatJay]

Eventually found out what the problem was, but thanks for your reply.

Car eventually gave up the ghost altogether. Gear selection was like stirring a bucket of bricks. Reverse was first, 5th wasn't there, the rest were a bit of a lottery.

Turned out that there was a knackered ball joint in the gear linkage. Clutch problem was a very small leak in the slave cylinder, but enough to allow air into the system.

Car in the garage at the moment, but hopefully get it back in the next couple of days.

Johnny

Hopefully won't be too costly for you!

 

[Johnnys149]

Hopefully not. I supplied the slave cylinder, and the ball joint is only £13, so it's really just going to be labour for diagnosing the fault and fitting the parts.

Johnny