Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it?

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Thu 8 Nov 2012 11:27
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - aizberg

Hi I got vw 2006 1.9, 5 gears(bkc engine) its got some issue with gearbox before, some strange noise from it coming, check oil level and its been only 500 grams in it instead of 1.9l. Now I know its internal bearings making noise, as advised. So I wondering it's better to change gearbox to second hand or rebuild the same one?

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Thu 8 Nov 2012 11:56
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - 659FBE

The 5 speed in-line VAG transmissions are outstandingly reliable. The 6 speed units much less so.

If your transmission has been run with insufficient oil, it's not worth rebuilding. There will be wear everywhere and the parts are very expensive. On the other hand, a unit from a crashed car is a very good bet. Properly treated, these transmissions usually outlast the vehicles to which they are fitted.

Millions of transmissions made to this configuration fitted to air cooled Beetles taught them how to do it.

659.

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Thu 8 Nov 2012 12:43
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - KenC

I have a related question regarding a VW gearbox, I have a 2003 VW Golf PD diesel with a 6 speed gearbox.

the engine oil/filter is changed once a year or every 6000 miles whichever comes first

I often ask the independant who carrys out the oil change " Do you think the gearbox oil needs changing/checking ".

he always answers " No"

I wonder do you agree ? would you change it if it were your car ?

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Thu 8 Nov 2012 15:18
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - 659FBE

If it were my car, I would change the gearbox oil.

The oil is approaching 10 years old (you do not state the mileage) and some degradation will have occurred. Any transmission produces swarf due to the synchromesh action (or the action of the clutches an an auto) which is generally trapped either with a magnetic plug (manual) or filter (auto). Swarf is best removed.

In my view, VAG have a preoccupation with extended maintenance which may not be in the best interests of the product. I have also found their servicing schedules to be inadequate in dealing with their design weaknesses eg. seized wiper spindles, blocked plenum drains, seized suspension fixings etc.

I have found that the usefulness and life of their products can be considerably enhanced by identifying and addressing these weaknesses. The action required is often trivially simple and inexpensive.

Use the correct oil from VAG in this transmission - no snake oil.

659.

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Fri 9 Nov 2012 19:49
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - KenC

Thank you for your very interesting reply, I will definately have the gearbox oil changed when the car goes on the ramp after Christmas.

The mileage is 41,000 I have just shelled out for my second camnbelt change ( ouch) at VW and I hope to keep it another 4 years.

Ref your other suggestions wiper spindles, plenum drains ( I,ll have to google that) and suspension fixings.......is the simple remedy something like liberal amounts of WD40 ?

thank you Ken

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Sun 18 Nov 2012 15:31
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - KenC

Hello Again

I wonder if when you get a moment you would be kind enough to point me in the right direction, I intend to have the gearbox oil changed ( when the car is next on a ramp)

My Haynes workshop manual only describes a Filler Point or Plug ( looks like an allen key type). I wonder is there a seperate drain point ? or would I have to have the oil oil sucked out with a flexible fluid extractor ?

thank you for your help

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Thu 8 Nov 2012 13:18
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - aizberg

Ok thank you for your answer.

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Fri 9 Nov 2012 08:17
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - cws

As above - I would get a gear box from a salvage company. I previously had one of these gear boxes rebuilt due to a problem, by a reputable specialist, but it seemed to trigger other follow on problems. It went 'bang' in the end, resulting in a hole punched in the outer casing......and then I bought/fitted a scrapped box and had no more issues!

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Fri 9 Nov 2012 19:30
Volkswagen Passat 1.9 2006 - Rebuild vw gearbox or replace it? - aizberg

One more question relating, when changing gearbox, will I need to change clutch or it's not neccessary?

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