Advice Please

[bilko0795]

Just had a phone call from the wife to say she can't get any gears in her S3 i told her to try with the engine off and she can now get the gears although a bit stiff to engage, she said that this morning she had gone through a big puddle as it was dark she didn't see it, surely this would not affect the gearbox. Im thinking clutch could be on it's way out or low oil in the box not sure if it's a cable or hydraulic clutch.

Any thoughts on this please lads would be most helpful.

Thanks.

[rynaqui]

Get the box off and have it cleaned properly including flywheel as parts will rust no matter how little the amount of water which would have gotten in through the bell housing. Also would not recommend driving the car just as a precaution to prevent warping the flywheel..

[Monkeymagic]

Water will have little affect on the clutch. It sounds like its failed though. You can reset the cables for the 6 spped boxes by releasing the collars on the spring for the 2 cables. You then lock the lever and the selector in set position then release the springs.
Clutch replacement is a fairly big job. However as the box is stiff with engine off i would think its unlikely the clutch.
The 6 speed box has a habit of rivets dropping out of the selector...

[Monkeymagic]

Oh and it is hydraulic with a concentric slave.does the clutch feel normal?
I still think if the gear lever feels stiff it cables or an internal box problem.

[rynaqui]

We recently had a van that ran through standing water and caused a similar issue, water was found inside the box so it was given a good cleaning, could be the same but they are both different

[bilko0795]

Water will have little affect on the clutch. It sounds like its failed though. You can reset the cables for the 6 spped boxes by releasing the collars on the spring for the 2 cables. You then lock the lever and the selector in set position then release the springs.
Clutch replacement is a fairly big job. However as the box is stiff with engine off i would think its unlikely the clutch.
The 6 speed box has a habit of rivets dropping out of the selector...

You could be right ref the rivets just read a ref on google that linked me to a thread on audi-sport and they mentioned rivets on the selector as you say quite a common fault. When the wife got home she said that the gears had been ok to select as the car warmed up, also when she stopped and kept engine running she could also select the gears. I also think it won't harm to change the oil as i don't think it's been done at all in the cars life i have done the rest of the fluids might as well do the gearbox. To check the rivets it's a gearbox out job.

[bilko0795]

Oh and it is hydraulic with a concentric slave.does the clutch feel normal?
I still think if the gear lever feels stiff it cables or an internal box problem.

Yes clutch feels normal as you said could be linkage i will check tomorrow as i will be taking her to work so i can see what sort of problem she has.

[Monkeymagic]

When the rivets go you usualky lose 1st and reverse compketely.
I fail to see how water would or cut get into the box unless the box was submerged conpletely.
Youll need the correct tool to drain the oil as they have anti tamper plugs. They are multi spline jobs . Reset the cables 1st just google the procedure. No tools other than a 4mm drill bit is needed..

[bilko0795]

I have the correct plug tool as i used to have a 2.5 Tdi , then theres the oil do i go for oem , fuchs sinitron or redline MT90 GL4 there are a few negatives with the redline oil.

Tried the gears this morning selected them with engine off selected ok although a bit notchy tried again with engine running again selected ok again a bit notchy. As said i will check the linkage and do the oil and hopefully solve the issue fingers crossed.