how is your 1st gear? quick question

FRESHMODE

FRESHMODE
Oct 9, 2008
249
0
Staffordshire
Quick question, I am noticing that my LC has a bit of a problem pulling away in 1st, usually in traffice and/or uphill. It feels like it struggles to bite at times

I'm not sure whether its the clutch slipping (no problems in any other gear though) or just a common LC/LCR thingy?
 
Jun 26, 2008
1,299
1
Just round the corner.
I do when it's cold, especially going from 1st to 2nd.
If you leave the hand brake on and engage 1st slowly lift the clutch up. The car should try and drag her arse, if it doesn't probably the clutch on the way out.
 

olliep

Wants a mk2 GTI
Oct 3, 2005
709
1
Winchester
I do when it's cold, especially going from 1st to 2nd.

mines fine whens its warm or cold.

the reason i asked is that the gearbox on these is prone to fail after 5/6 years. i read a comprehensive review that suggested that we should be doing 1st-3rd changes when its cold. it sounds a tad like you could be having clutch struggles. try the old 4th at 30mph test. on a straight floor it and see if the needle jumps up before settling back down to accelerate as it normally would. A few months ago i had a few instances when i pulled away quite hard and found the needle almost redline however the TCS light wasnt flashing and the wheels were barely starting to move. seconds later it found its self and unleashed its normal fury. I have since had absolutely no issues so it could just be that your experiencing a common seat issue known as a 'hissy fit'. ;) other than that it has been known (not quite so frequently that i could say commonly... but never the less...) for leons to experience a slight oil leak onto the clutch. I'm not knowlegeble enough to say what exactly causes it but i have heard it mentioned that it was the 'dual mass'. If thats the case you'll probably be finding that it occurs a few times but after a whil it burns off (on any given journey) only to return a few days later.

Hope that helps or at the very least puts your mind at rest but you have a few other ideas now.
 
Last edited:

Hobbiniho

Active Member
Jan 17, 2009
545
9
shetland/ Aberdeen
the reason i asked is that the gearbox on these is prone to fail after 5/6 years. i read a comprehensive review that suggested that we should be doing 1st-3rd changes when its cold.

so your suggesting that we thrash it in first to be able to change into third successfully??? i personally dont like to rev my engine above 2500 rpm till it is warmed up a bit
 

Cupra Ross

Breaks things............
May 15, 2005
1,379
1
Edinburgh, Scotland
the reason i asked is that the gearbox on these is prone to fail after 5/6 years.

In 9 years of Toledo/Leon ownership I have never heard that before. The very first Leon Cupras are still plentiful and going strong, they are touching 10 years old now. This alone would suggest that anybody stating that there is an inherent gearbox problem is at best misinformed and at worst talking utter rubbish.

I've had 4 Leon 1.8Ts with the 6 speed gearbox and haven't had a single problem with any of them. I would suggest that the thread starter's problem is either clutch, dump valve or N75 related, or the vacuum hoses associated with them. Its worth remembering that the ECU will not allow full boost in 1st gear or with a cold engine, any vacuum leak will show itself here.
 
Nov 29, 2007
736
0
Mansfield, Notts
1st to 2nd is bad on mine if I drive off straight away. If l leave it to tick over for a few minutes its not so bad, goes after a couple of changes. I also get the problem of having to rev the car sometimes when pulling away when its cold - this is not the case if I turn the car off and back on.

Should be sorted once I've fitted new plugs, cleaned/aligned the TB, cleaned the filter and changed the fuel filter. All jobs that need doing but its been to bl00dy cold.
 

v-g

is an alien.
Mar 10, 2004
938
0
Nowhere near, i.e. Norway.
the reason i asked is that the gearbox on these is prone to fail after 5/6 years.

As Cupra Ross said. Never had any problems. My car is nine years in May and I drive hard, but only when the car has reached the right temperature.

Of course it will be more difficult to move the shifter when it's cold, hence I take that into consideration when changing gears. Not necessary only when it's below-zero-cold.
 

FRESHMODE

FRESHMODE
Oct 9, 2008
249
0
Staffordshire
Quick question, I am noticing that my LC has a bit of a problem pulling away in 1st, usually in traffice and/or uphill. It feels like it struggles to bite at times

I'm not sure whether its the clutch slipping (no problems in any other gear though) or just a common LC/LCR thingy?

Thanks for the replies guys but i think we're going a little off topic on this one and it could be due to me not explaining myself properly;)

I'm talking about (very very rarely) when I pull away from a junction say and even before the turbo kicks in i feel the car almost stuggling to catch up with the clutch pedal. Like its not quite in gear yet. A bit like i'm trying to pull a caravan, or going up a steep hill - the clutch doesnt always bite properly

As i said its rare and not sure if its clutch problem or just a Leon thing. Becasuse its not all the time i'm not sure if its clutch or not

thanks guys
 

Deleted member 20376

Guest
think it may be a prob wid ya clutch or its on its way out. it all depends on how you drive too.
do the revs go up quick or do they go slow. if it goes up quick n the clutch is out n u aint going anyway then there must be somat wrong or ya handbrakes on lol.
if it seems hesitent then it cud be a few probs eg boost or something.
if it only happens the odd time as in every 10 times or somat wudnt worry to much.
sometimes i catch mine wrong and it takes a while to kick in. i just put it down to my pants drivin.
 
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