VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability

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Mon 8 Nov 2010 18:57
VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability - coljon

I have a 54 reg VW Passat (bought new) that has done 60,000 miles. In the last month selection of 2nd gear (either up or down) has been greeted with a fairly loud 'crunch' and associated difficulty in locating the gear. After road testing I have been advised by both a VW main dealer and VW specialist that the synchro is likely to have gone. The likely bill for repair is likely to be well over £1200 (for a vehicle whose Guide price is about £4000).

I do not believe such a condition should arise after such a relatively low mileage. I have driven for over 40 years and never encountered any similar problems in a wide range of cars at similar mileages or greater.

Is this a known problem? What recompense is reasonable from VW?

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Mon 8 Nov 2010 19:08
VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability - Collos25

Not a known problem but cars are mechanical units and they go wrong occassionally.

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Mon 8 Nov 2010 19:19
VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability - Roly93

None of the cars in this range using this gearbox are known for these sorts of issues. You are just unlucky I'm afraid..

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Mon 8 Nov 2010 20:00
VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability - Peter D

I assume you are not having difficulties getting into first when stationary. Regards Peter

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Tue 16 Nov 2010 19:28
VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability - iainser

Hi, I was just browsing a few sites to see if anyone out there was experiencing similar problems to me.

I share your sympathy, I too have a 54 reg passat 130 with 62000 miles and the gearbox has started to give me gyp by not wanting to go into 4th gear at all.

Cut a long story short, the cheapest way for me to try and rectify this without costing me a fortune is to locate a second hand gearbox from a reliable breaker which I got on Saturday (13th) for £230. I have delivered it to my mechanic and he has got the car tonight in the workshop changing it over. Hope its a quick cheap fix :(

I guess its just bad luck as i was told these gearboxes are usually faultless...

He mentioned to me about when you go that far on a gearbox, its only second nature to check the clutch etc.... So heres hoping thats not needing done too...

I'll post back on tomorrow when i get the car back, the gearbox going into it apparently had done 77K.

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Tue 16 Nov 2010 19:47
VW Passat 130 TDI - VW TDI gearbox durability - injection doc
there are plenty of VW specialists out there who would gladly repair a gearbox for a lot less than £1200 but you would need to consider that if they only replace the 2nd gear hub, ( if its a fault) then they will only warrant that part!
It may be worth having the gearbox oil changed first, I suspect its mechanical fault but on the odd occasion I have had success with changing the oil, making all the difference. FWD's in particular
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