Just lost 2nd Gear!!!!!!!

[merlin's S4]

As if there isn't enough wrong with my S4, it has tonight decided to chew up 2nd gear! I was driving home STEADILY and came to the junction by my house, went to put it in 2nd and was greeted by a rather nasty crunching sound! Needless to say it won't go into 2nd gear now!

Anyone know what the exact problem is likely to be? I'm thinking about writing the beast off but it's late and I'm tired, very pi**ed off and not thinking straight. I'm begining to think that I'm not cut out for S4 ownership!

[spink]

Did you have a maroon saloon by any chance?

[JPL]

Sorry to hear about your gearbox. Try Audiman on here for a repair. He's in Yeovil and has a workshop specialising in VW/Audi. He has also recently done the gearbox on his S2 so may well have more info on cost, etc.

Graeme.

[merlin's S4]

Getting my car back in a minute! The guys at the garage have now managed to get it into 2nd although it's stiff but they reckon that it got better the more they used it, especially when the oil was warmed up. Any thoughts on this guys?

[APNess]

Synchro may well be on it's way out I'm afraid. I wasn't aware that there was a problem on 2nd-6th, but if it's crunching whilst trying to get it in that's what it looks like, sorry to say

When first went on mine I still had enough torque at tickover to start in third, up hills, but I know how you feel - what I would say is talk to MRC (Tom etc) because you know they all have a passion about the cars and aren't looking to overcharge for their experience.

Free advertising for a company on this forum? Maybe, but if I still had my S2 they'd be the only ones I'd entrust big jobs too - they've seen it/done it on their cars, and I personally got ripped off by so many other garages/experts who claim this and that when all they're bothered about is emptying your wallet that I'd rather go with someone I trust. No idea what they charge mind

Best bet is 2nd hand/recon box and do clutch at same time. That was my main option till I conceded the mileage I do means a diseasel is the only viable option

And by god do I miss the S2

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Ugh! Crunchy gearboxes! Had my share of those last year. Sounds a bit like a synchro getting knackered, I had a very similar experience last year - after a while the car wouldn't even stay in 2nd if you applied power.

I went through a routine of getting the existing box rebuilt (thumbs up to VAG parts for the stuff), but the results were not satisfactory - hence a second hand box being fitted later. A lot of expense that I really didn't want to incur!

__MDC__

[merlin's S4]

Well I've been driving it around today and it seems to be getting a little better! Still very stiff to get in and out of 2nd but when the problem started no amount of force would get it into 2nd.

It hasn't crunched at all since Monday and so far it's stayed in gear, even at full throttle up to 6500rpm! There is absolutely no noise coming from the gearbox in any gear inc 2nd, it's just stiff to put in that gear!

Most of you seem to have come up with the same conclusion about this that it's a synchro problem but I don't appear to have all the symptoms to suggest this (well not yet anyway!) and when I mentioned it to the guys at my garage they didn't reckon that it was likely to be that specific problem.

My question is; could there be any other explanation for this or is it definately a synchro problem?

Thanks for all your help, it's very much appreciated!!!