What is going on with my 3 y/o Polo's clutch/gearbox?

What is going on with my 3 y/o Polo's clutch/gearbox?

Author
Discussion

PoloProblems

Original Poster:

3 posts

17 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
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It's one of those maddening intermittent problems that won't present itself to any mechanic. Basically, occasionally when I am turning around or starting off, the car seems to get stuck in reverse, despite a forward gear being selected. It's only happened a handful of times, from when it was brand new. Even when I switch the engine off and back on again, 1st just sends the car backwards (parking sensors on and everything). Then after a few tries it goes forward as it should.

This hasn't actually happened for about a year, but today I noticed the clutch was sticking when changing gear, and when turning around at the bottom of my road I couldn't get it to go forward for about 5 minutes and numerous attempts (almost ending in my neighbour's flower beds!)
What on earth is going on?

CraigyMc

17,112 posts

243 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
PoloProblems said:
It's one of those maddening intermittent problems that won't present itself to any mechanic. Basically, occasionally when I am turning around or starting off, the car seems to get stuck in reverse, despite a forward gear being selected. It's only happened a handful of times, from when it was brand new. Even when I switch the engine off and back on again, 1st just sends the car backwards (parking sensors on and everything). Then after a few tries it goes forward as it should.

This hasn't actually happened for about a year, but today I noticed the clutch was sticking when changing gear, and when turning around at the bottom of my road I couldn't get it to go forward for about 5 minutes and numerous attempts (almost ending in my neighbour's flower beds!)
What on earth is going on?
auto or manual?

TooLateForAName

4,841 posts

191 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
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DSG?

Problem with mechatronics unit?

PoloProblems

Original Poster:

3 posts

17 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
Sorry it's a manual

CraigyMc

17,112 posts

243 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
PoloProblems said:
Sorry it's a manual
Clutch master cylinder.

OverSteery

3,667 posts

238 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
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CraigyMc said:
PoloProblems said:
Sorry it's a manual
Clutch master cylinder.
how would a dodgy clutch master make the car go backwards when 1st is selected?

Badly adjusted cable gear linkage would be my guess.

Bonzo1930

195 posts

63 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
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My dad had this years ago with a new Mazda 323, after taking it out of reverse it would still go backwards when it was in neutral I didn't believe him but it did it to me once, could never reproduce it when you took it to the dealer but for whatever reason dad just didn't like the car anyway & traded it in for a new Nissan after less than a year, so never got to the bottom of it I assumed a problem with the gear linkage adjustment

stevemcs

8,990 posts

100 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
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The Golf platform is very common for the master cylinder and occasionally the slave, i suspect the issue is within the gearbox

PoloProblems

Original Poster:

3 posts

17 months

Thursday 29th June 2023
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Ok so a rather upsetting update!!
I took the car for a "free clutch check" at Halfords autocentre today. They basically said I need a new clutch at £1015.92!

I have booked in for next week with a trustworthy local independent for a second opinion, but this is really not what I expected from a 3 year old car. To top it off, the washer pump has also gone and that'll be another £75!

GreenV8S

30,484 posts

291 months

Thursday 29th June 2023
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PoloProblems said:
They basically said I need a new clutch at £1015.92!
I highly doubt they had any idea what the problem was, but I'm impressed they were willing to price it to the penny.

stevemcs

8,990 posts

100 months

Thursday 29th June 2023
quotequote all
Washer pump rarely fails on these, it usually blows the fuse. Or if no fuse it trips within the body control module and needs to be cleared by diagnostics.

As for a clutch, providing a flywheel isn't needed then its usually around £700

Peanut Gallery

2,523 posts

117 months

Friday 30th June 2023
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Has the pump gone? - As above, check power is getting there - but if the pump is making a noise see if you can pull the pump off and clean the intake filter.

(I found the foil cap from the top of a bottle on mine - about a year after I bought the car, must have been floating around until it blocked the pump)