Gearbox/Drive shaft issue - help and advice needed

[SuffolkLad]

So here's the problem. 2 months ago I bought a 51 plate Alhambra with 127500 miles from a used car dealer. I've had a few issues which were relatively minor until Monday when I lost drive on a roundabout. Called the RAC, who diagnosed a driveshaft issue on the side of the road. I had the car recovered to the dealer who have since diagnosed that the drive shaft has stripped its splines at gearbox end, along with possible gearbox damage.
What I'd like to know is if this is a common issue on Alhambra's? The dealer is trying to get out of paying for the repair, I've taken advice from consumer direct to the tune of the issue can be deemed to have been there at time of purchase, which they are trying to prove otherwise, with the use of an 'expert' to decide if the fault would have been present.
So I'm trying to find out if the issue is a common problem, could it be considered fair wear and tear? And how could they prove the fault wasn't there at time of sale?
The car came with limited history, such as last 5 MOT's, and invoices for work carried out at each MOT, service etc, no mention of a clutch or any gearbox or driveshaft issues. So I'm pretty stumped, can anyone offer any advice or help?
Just to add, I've covered just under 2.5k in those 2 months, not helped by a holiday in Wales.

 

[Pimped up vario]

Would a 51 plate be year 2002? Do the drive shafts not mount to output flanges at the differential at the rear of the gearbox? What is the gearbox code? Usual suspect on the gearbox side would be the differential failing due to weak rivots in the planetspherical gears. It often results in bits flying everywhere and casings getting broken. My cordoba did this but didn't lose drive straight away. Constant velocity joints faiing would cause a complete loss of drive. Hope this answers rather than creates questions.

 

[SuffolkLad]

Pretty sure its an 2001 51 plate, I'll check later. I don't have the gearbox code, the car isn't with me at the moment, its in a workshop somewhere. I can supply vin if that helps decipher the gearbox code?
I lost all drive, pulled away on a roundabout, lever jumped, as if it had jumped out of gear, tried to put it in gear, came of the clutch and only got a grating/grinding noise, and no go.

 

[Pimped up vario]

No, don't post your vin. It sounds like a selector issue then if it's jumping out of gear. Either way it sounds like a gearbox out job. To put your finger on wether the fault was there when you bought the car is going to be hard to prove though. It all depends how the car was serviced and treated. My gearbox had issues at about 124000 miles. I think it may have been wearing because thrid gear was sticking but I severley abused it before it let go.

 

[SuffolkLad]

To be honest, I'm not actually sure it jumped out of gear, that was just the feeling I got. I basically put it in 1st, pulled away, felt as if it had jumped out of gear, could still select gears, its just that when I let the clutch up, nothing happened apart from the grinding noise. The car hasn't been ragged, had neen driving fine up until that point.
It's not for me to prove that the fault was there when I bought it, the burden of proof is on the dealer to prove the fault didnt exist at time of sale, although he is also looking to argue fair wear and tear.

 

[Pimped up vario]

Final drive, differential or a cv joint then. So if the cv joint is ruled out, it's one of the previous two. All the best with your dispute.

 

[chudspeed20vt]

Hi there, if it helps i work in a garage i maintain a alhambra and a sharan which are both taxis and neither ov them have suffered that fault and theyve dun 150k+, is urs a mk1 or 2?

 

[ibiza95]

51/2001 will be a mk2, my alhambra is a Y reg (2001) covered 165k with no gearbox/driveshaft issues

 

[treehouse]

drive shaft

Hello, i just thought i would pass on what happened to me. my 2001 SE has done 162000 with the majority of that being done by my right foot. i have had to have the off side drive shafts replaced and the coupling that takes the drive into the gearbox. i can put this down to driving up the steep hill at Runswick bay , having to slow down in second as a fellow motorist ground to a halt and then putting my foot down in first which produced a fair amount of wheel spin just on the off side. the next rather large jolt was the tyre grabbing the road and up we went, two days later the wife calls me in York with no forwards motion.
£450 for the two shafts, drive coupling and labour, much joy

cheers

stu

 

[lewbamma]

update

hi. i seem to have same problem. 1.8t 20v.
taken the parts off and inspected them. the flanged shaft (intermediate shaft) has worn its splines done to almost nothing. the female end (stub shaft) that sits in the gearbox has very little wear so im hoping to just replace the flange section. It seems to be a very common fault as the part was modified / upgraded. however that said im finding it difficult to source the part. the original part number is GPH 409 356 E and no vw or seat or any other motor factors can find the part. ( i believe this is the pre modified-original part) A seat technical specialist later told me that the new part is a 02n 409 344 E . and that this part is used on all models of galxy alhambra sharan 2000 - 2010 . however it needs a modification kit. this being the bearing plate that hold it in place and aluminium dust cover. He did tell me that it fit the original stub shaft though.

Cost through the dealership for parts . thats the 02n409344 E was £220 + mod kit £70
so im looking at the best part of £300.

Now, having a look around i see there are many companies on ebay selling an entire flange shaft and stub shaft for around £110. (the dealership wanted another £200 for the stub shaft. making it £500) And also that polish company with aftermarket kit for around £250 (motormax).

And this is the point im at now. should i buy the cheap ebay version and hope the conversion kit isnt needed. or maybe find someone breaking EHJ transmission.

id like to know what you had done and if the conversion kit was actually needed. from looking at the part i cant fathom why any kit would be needed. especially as it is only a bearing plate bracket and dust cover. which i have from the original if needed.

 

[treehouse]

Drive shafts

Hello, sorry for not replying quickly, as far as I know my local garage who do a good job fitted exchange drive shafts with no different parts as you describe. Cheers

 

[KeithOT]

My local dealer diagnosed worn spline on my Y reg 20VT at 62,000 miles but I didn't get it fixed I've put another 13,000 on it since & it seems no worse. Local independent said leave it they are all like it. I expect it will fail at some point but I'll worry about that when it happens.