Manual Gearbox

[2Stevo2]

First of all, I would like to say hi to everyone on here, it seems to be a really good forum. Recently purchased a new Leon FR 1.4 ACT 150 in Ice Silver with all the trimmings. I changed from a Mazda 3 Sport 2.0 petrol.

I am delighted with car in every way, especially the Seat Sound system which is a very good upgrade compared to the Bose system Mazda offer....... except from 1 issue im currently experiancing with the manul gearbox.

Ive done about 1000 miles so far and feel that it is not as smooth as it could/should be. It is difficult to describe but it feels as if every change is different....it can feel rough and notchy one minute and silky smooth the next. I generally try to drive as smoothly as possible so am very sensitive to it. I was wondering what fellow 'manual' owners thought of the gearbox and this potential issue/ characteristic?

Is it possible it needs time to break in?

Any advice would be gr8,

Thanks.

 

[KenTT]

First of all, I would like to say hi to everyone on here, it seems to be a really good forum. Recently purchased a new Leon FR 1.4 ACT 150 in Ice Silver with all the trimmings. I changed from a Mazda 3 Sport 2.0 petrol.

I am delighted with car in every way, especially the Seat Sound system which is a very good upgrade compared to the Bose system Mazda offer....... except from 1 issue im currently experiancing with the manul gearbox.

Ive done about 1000 miles so far and feel that it is not as smooth as it could/should be. It is difficult to describe but it feels as if every change is different....it can feel rough and notchy one minute and silky smooth the next. I generally try to drive as smoothly as possible so am very sensitive to it. I was wondering what fellow 'manual' owners thought of the gearbox and this potential issue/ characteristic?

Is it possible it needs time to break in?

Any advice would be gr8,

Thanks.

Hi Stevo,

I brought my 1.5ACT FR nearly a year ago now and the gearbox has been one of the sweetest I have used in a long time, cold or hot, 1st or 2nd it is very smooth.

Compared to my wife's Mazda MX5 gearbox which is short and precise, but 2nd and 1st can be notchy when cold.

The VAG's use a linkage system, so maybe it needs adjusting.

 

[TalVito]

Have the same problem in mine,
1.4 tsi fr manual gearbox, going from 1st to 2nd feels kinda hard and shady at some times.

Did not felt any difference between hot/cold..

 

[noonoo63]

Mine is now much less notchy after 10k. and is much smoother. My last car, a Golf, was exactly the same for about the same amount of miles. Did mention it at my first service and they said it was checked and it was okay and not needing adjusted

 

[FamilyGuy]

Mine was a bit of a pig getting into 2nd for the first few thousand miles but is now lovely and creamy.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

 

[sootytorques]

Mines difficult to select 1st & reverse, and when in reverse gear lever jumps up, currently at 17500 miles.

 

[JACUPRA280]

First of all, I would like to say hi to everyone on here, it seems to be a really good forum. Recently purchased a new Leon FR 1.4 ACT 150 in Ice Silver with all the trimmings. I changed from a Mazda 3 Sport 2.0 petrol.

I am delighted with car in every way, especially the Seat Sound system which is a very good upgrade compared to the Bose system Mazda offer....... except from 1 issue im currently experiancing with the manul gearbox.

Ive done about 1000 miles so far and feel that it is not as smooth as it could/should be. It is difficult to describe but it feels as if every change is different....it can feel rough and notchy one minute and silky smooth the next. I generally try to drive as smoothly as possible so am very sensitive to it. I was wondering what fellow 'manual' owners thought of the gearbox and this potential issue/ characteristic?

Is it possible it needs time to break in?

Any advice would be gr8,

Thanks.

My previous car was a 6-speed 1.2 TSI Polo and that had the best manual gearbox I've ever used - but it too was temperamental. First was tricky sometimes. You haven't done a bit of grinding have you?

 

[Tom_91]

First of all, I would like to say hi to everyone on here, it seems to be a really good forum. Recently purchased a new Leon FR 1.4 ACT 150 in Ice Silver with all the trimmings. I changed from a Mazda 3 Sport 2.0 petrol.

I am delighted with car in every way, especially the Seat Sound system which is a very good upgrade compared to the Bose system Mazda offer....... except from 1 issue im currently experiancing with the manul gearbox.

Ive done about 1000 miles so far and feel that it is not as smooth as it could/should be. It is difficult to describe but it feels as if every change is different....it can feel rough and notchy one minute and silky smooth the next. I generally try to drive as smoothly as possible so am very sensitive to it. I was wondering what fellow 'manual' owners thought of the gearbox and this potential issue/ characteristic?

Is it possible it needs time to break in?

Any advice would be gr8,

Thanks.

Have the same model and engine as yourself and my gearbox was exactly the same. From 5000 miles onward it got better. Now that I've covered nearly 12000 miles the gear changes feel very nice.

 

[2Stevo2]

Thanks very much for the replies guys, much appreciated.

It certainly seems that allowing a little running/breaking in time is a good idea to allow the gearbox to loosen up and become smoother.

I spoke to my service manager who confirmed that he would allow atleast 5000 miles for the gearbox to properly break in and that it should continue to get smoother over time.

Ill keep u posted

 

[2Stevo2]

Quick update...

I have now covered roughly 3500 miles and I would say that the gearbox has improved but only slightly if im honest. 3rd gear can be a complete pig.

Many people have mentioned having the linkage looked at/adjusted...

Any advice? Anyone had a noticable improvement?

 

[zondaff]

Hi, a few members on here have mentioned about that notchy gearbox that's why I chose the DSG after my previous car an Ibiza. I think if you took it to the dealer they'd say it's 'characteristics'...

 

[JJ-Griff]

Can't hurt to take it into the dealers to have a look matey. I change my company car every 6 months or so and going from a car that's done up to 10k to one that's done 5 or 6 miles you certainly feel a difference with the gearbox in particular tbh. After 3.5k you'd like to think everything was settled in though.

If it needs a new gearbox (for instance) then the dealer will still get paid for the work, just not by you - that's what the warranty is for

 

[decadent]

Not sure which box is in the Leon but my Exeo can be difficult to get into 2nd (and I am fully depressing the clutch to the floor), sometimes I double clutch to to get it to slot in smoothly. It's also more difficult in the cooler weather but once it has warmed up it is better but still not perfect.

Some fellow owners have had the oil swapped for something thinner which is supposed to help, but only slightly. Interestingly I've read a few reports of people owning the car from new until 80-100k and the issue never improved...

 

[2Stevo2]

Its very strange as there is the odd time that each individual shift can be silky smooth. Its as if those occasions are a fluke and then reverts back to being its usual clunky self.....very irritating. Wish i had gone for DSG.

Right a trip to the dealer is on the cards, lets see what happens...