* FiVE GEARS IN REVERSE...

[jamescorrado 0]

Well, actually not five gears in reverse... sometimes barely one!

 

Hi. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, (and hopefully will be of help to anyone else reading this with a similar prob)...

 

1) Got a 1.8 C (only 80k). All fine except for... I sometimes have trouble getting the gearstick out of reverse. The general members' opinion seemed to be - clutch master cylinder - change it. I was preparing to have this done.

 

2) Then I went to a VW specialist last week and they said - clutch going, change the clutch. I pointed out that in forward gears all was fine - no slipping, no judder, etc - so why would a dying clutch only effect reverse? They said because reverse doesn't have synchro.

 

(Admittedly, Clutch is a bit low on bite point).

 

I just don't want to go to the expense of a new clutch only to find it was the master cylinder after all, or visa versa.

Can you diagnose the clutch purely on bite point and reverse sticking?...

 

3) This is the odd one. Gearstick didn't have that little circlip at the base (think it's the pivot shaft) so there was some side-to-side play in the gearstick (only a little). But when I put a circlip in place the stick wouldn't go into reverse AT ALL! - Eh? - That circlip's supposed to improve things not make it worse! (?)

 

Any thoughts, ruminations, experiences, predictions, unwanted lottery wins greatly accepted.

I'll circulate your ideas to anyone I know who is having the same prob.

 

Cheers

 

J

[Skimask 0]

James if you've fitted the circlip and its worse, then I'd say the gearlever adjustment is out!

The clutch cylinders - about the only way of testing them is to depress the clutch pedal and have a mate place a screwdriver tip at the end of the clutch arm - keep the pedal pressed fully down and see if the arm moves back (using the screwdriver as position guide). That way you'll know if the cylinder seals are holding the pressure. You should try bleeding the clutch first!

Testing a clutch - try park on a hill and try pulling away in 2nd if it slips the clutch is worn - if it stalls its good!

[jamescorrado 0]

Okay: circlip - probably gearlever adjustment out / Clutch cylinder - test for seal pressure / Clutch - test in 2nd.

 

Thanks for the help (though I may have to check back with you about the clutch cylinder check!). Really appreciate the advice.

 

And if there's anyone else out there who's had similar problems and /or knows any solutions feel free to pitch in.

 

I want my Corrado back running right!.... :(

[golfg60 0]

Don't replace the clutch, VW always say that. I had the same problem with my VR6 golf a few years back. They were so quick to tell me that it was the clutch. I spent £500 getting this done and as soon as i reversed out of the parking bay i knew it hadn't made any difference.

I had my cables adjusted by a VW specialist which sorted it out a treat!

[Henny 0]

yup, had the same with J-DUB... fitted the missing circlip and couldn't get reverse anymore... adjusted the cables and suddenly found out exactly how good the change on a Corrado should be! :lol: 8)

[dubster82 0]

i didnt have any major problems with mine, just felt it was gettin a bit sloppy.

 

got them all adjusted and any worn bits replaced and yeah blimey!!

 

click - click gear changes!!

 

Brilliant. according to a VW mechanic mate, it takes some doing gettin it just perfect tho.

[jamescorrado 0]

Thanks for all that. It wasn't actually a dealership who said replace the clutch but a VW specialist who, to be fair, have always seemed pretty good. I just would've expected more sign of shot clutch than sticking in reverse.

 

By the way, I did the 'starting on a hill in 2nd gear test' a couple of times and it pulled away - the first time okay, the second time with a bit of judder... but no stalling. But then wouldn't the engine power enable this anyway?

 

Can any of you fellas recommend the best place to go in the north for Corrado expertise? :?

 

 

(ps: I still never get tired of seeing kids and teens walking past the C and wondering what it is. Childish, I know).

[Skimask 0]

James , the hill trick just puts load onto the clutch - if it didn't slip - then it is good. You are correct - the test mainly applies to your avrage car.

Maybe some of the guys on the forum could point you in the direction of a good Corrado mechanic. I would be tempted to try getting the bushes replaced on the gear linkage first. Its probably the cheapest option. If nothing else you'll have a eliminated one problem, or a future one.

[jamescorrado 0]

Skimask/all - Thanks for the replies.

 

Is there a database on the site of recommended/rated garages? (If there is I can't find it - if there isn't, might be an idea)

[Louie Lungbubble 0]

May not be the same thing, mate. But My gear linkage snapped a while back, and after geting it fixed by my *local specialist* the first time I put it in reverse I couldn't de-select it.

 

AA bloke who came out had to uncouple the cable linkage, knock it out of gear, and re-attach it all.

 

Have you ruled this out?

[golfg60 0]

Ok, my gears are quite sloppy as well. There is a lot of side to side movement when any gear is selected but the circlip is in place....any ideas?

Cheers

Tom

[Orpheus 0]

Chaps - Good all ideas for others.

All the different solutions being thrown up are revealing, but each one poses another problem.

That's why it's best to try find the best recommended garage to go to for a diagnosis... late thought, I'd suggest IVC in Leeds if that's anywhere near you.

 

 

(golfg60 - other posts have suggested adjusting the cables for this kind of movement, especially if circlip is still there).