Stuck going into 1st gear and reverse... normal?

[andycupra]

every single car i have owned has done this at some point. but not very often.
its something to do with with how the clutch and gearbox align matched with engine speed.
You need to just nudge things out of this alignment, so lifting the clutch then trying again will do the trick.
or potentially a tiny amount of throttle.
However if its happening often then this sounds like the syncro needs adjusting

 

[LouG]

It sounds like the clutch may be dragging very slightly and the synchro cones are baulking. It's not something I'd worry about unless the clutch is noticeably dragging. Park the car on a level surface, select first, and while keeping the clutch fully depressed hold the revs at around 4000.
Even the car moves even slightly the clutch needs adjustment.

 

[BenH]

Mine does this occasionally, feels like it can’t quite get into first gear on start up but if I lift the clutch ever so slightly whilst it’s in its in-between position then it drops into gear without issue and then drives fine beyond that, probably happening once every couple of weeks and I do around 3-400 miles a week so fairly infrequent


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[Ogi]

This is like a phantom malfunction. Sometimes it happen, sometimes not. Sometimes it just hook up but eventually you can shift in 1st , sometimes it stucks , sometimes it goes like through butter. It all depends but nobody found out what is it depending of ! If it can shift soft than it can shift soft every time I think !

I think that 1st gear doesnt have a synchro. What u can adjust are linkages, cables and a gear selector but they told me that they are ok.

I will try going to another service, official too. But I guess ill have to learn to live with it although I cant stop thinking about it.

 

[Ogi]

Watch this video, can u see that little knob or how to call it beneath the gear knob ? See how it goes under another knob when he shifts reverse ? It looks like it.

Can u please translate word "gator" ?

 

[LouG]

First gear definitely has synchromesh as have all current small vehicle production manual gearboxes. This isn't a fault as such if the clutch is adjusted and functioning normally, it's how synchro systems work, especially when cold.

 

[andycupra]

Watch this video, can u see that little knob or how to call it beneath the gear knob ? See how it goes under another knob when he shifts reverse ? It looks like it.

Can u please translate word "gator" ?

gator is the American name for the material/leather cover below the gear knob.

 

[Ogi]

Yes, got it, thanx ! I said in some previous post that I suspect the problem lies there !

 

[Ogi]

I found out that the gearbox works much better when the wheels are moving, even very slightly. Dont know the connection but thats how it is.

 

[redballs]

i had the 1st and second gear problem when i bought my car. 2005 FR diesel Leon. thought it was the clutch also. brand new clutch in, problem persisted. found out it was the clutch master cylinder. new one in, all sorted. i had thought it was gearbox related and i was stressed at the possible costs, but i got away lightly. hope this helps someone

 

[Braga]

Bought my car with 0 KM
My car also sometimes the first gear doesn’t enter or then it enters in 2 steps, from the first day.
I went to SEAT several times until they thought they should change the clutch kit, the problem persists, the car is still under warranty and they say they can open the gear box but if no problem is found I have to support the costs.

Any solution for the problem?

Thanks!

 

[martin j.]

I don't see why you should be responsible for costs if they acknowledge there is a problem, if they can’t solve it surely Seat needs to step in and assist them?

 

[QTom]

Interesting, I am also having this problem occasionally. Took it for it's service today and I asked them to look at it but they didn't find anything (who knows how hard they actually tried though. I have a feeling they probably just put it into gear once and said they can't reproduce it).

I had a courtesy car while it was in which was a brand new Leon with 500 miles on it, after driving it and getting back in my car I suddenly noticed how much less "springy" my clutch is than the new one. It's not like when they fail and don't come up but there is very little force pushing it up it feels like. The new one was very springy, probably too much for my preference but mine is definitely quite weak which makes me wonder if there is some underlying problem there, possibly with the clutch cylinders?

Edit: Random google result (https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/Bad-Clutch-Symptoms) suggests these could be linked:

 

[H-M3]

Hi peeps my 2008 1.4 TDS eco is doing the same, very difficult to go into 1st or Reverse. I thought as my car has been sat for long period due to lockdown and cold could be the issue? Is there anything I can check myself please?

 

[Ogi]

Bought my car with 0 KM
My car also sometimes the first gear doesn’t enter or then it enters in 2 steps, from the first day.
I went to SEAT several times until they thought they should change the clutch kit, the problem persists, the car is still under warranty and they say they can open the gear box but if no problem is found I have to support the costs.

Any solution for the problem?

Thanks!

Ohh, i have just seen this video. This looks awful !!!!

Is it normal that after obviosly a hundreds of the same problems wordwide, VW does not admit it ???
Incredible and unbelievable!

In my case, since the dealer have set the cables again, i didnt touch anything although the situation is not great.
I am literally in fear to even think about the gearbox thinking it might get even worse.

There is a mechanic here which people say is a doctor for VW and he told me he can resolve it by changing those spring clips (if that is the correct word) on the end of the cables... but im anxious to do it, as i said i am all frightened with this sh*t !!!

 

[Robster83]

This doesn't sound like a fault to me. For a gear to lock the U-bit of one side of a gear must slide into the T-bit of the other side (T and U are supposed to be pictures here not letters). One side is connected to the wheels and the other to the engine (and clutch). When the car is completely stopped the wheel side is stationary and if the clutch is "too good" the engine side is also completely stopped and if you are unlucky the two gears that make up 1:st gear is unable to engage.
Solution is posted here. Keep trying to engage 1:st and carefully depress the clutch just a little to make the gears align. The above is also the reason why this never happens when the car is moving, even very little. then the "wheel" side of gear is moving and when you try to shift into that gear it will sync with the help of sync-rings.

 

[Ogi]

I understand, makes sense.
But why is this not an issue with any other gearboxes but VW's ? Or, not so strongly expressed ?
Having that in mind, this is definetly a fault in the construction in the gearboxes or call it what ever you like, if not, all manual gearboxes in the world should have this problem.

 

[Braga]

Ohh, i have just seen this video. This looks awful !!!!

Is it normal that after obviosly a hundreds of the same problems wordwide, VW does not admit it ???
Incredible and unbelievable!

In my case, since the dealer have set the cables again, i didnt touch anything although the situation is not great.
I am literally in fear to even think about the gearbox thinking it might get even worse.

There is a mechanic here which people say is a doctor for VW and he told me he can resolve it by changing those spring clips (if that is the correct word) on the end of the cables... but im anxious to do it, as i said i am all frightened with this sh*t !!!

hello, in my car they ended up replacing the synchronizers: 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th and the problem continue...

 

[Ogi]

Sorry to hear that. Seems that there is really no solution here!

 

[Ogi]

I think i found the solution, meaning that i am 99% sure that this is the problem.
These guys are incredible, i think they are gearbox doctors, ive been wathching their videos for years now.

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One of the many videos on the subject: