Noisy gear stick

I think I've searched/read all the threads here about the notchy gearchange which seems to be common on the Leon, especially into 2nd, but not seen any mention of what I'm experiencing. I have this notchiness but also a sort of plastic rattly noise at the same time, almost as though there's something loose at the base of the gear stick. The notchiness/noise is worst changing into 2nd but also occurs into 4th but not as bad.

I've had a look under the gaitor and can't see anything that appears to be loose in there, but the noise definitely sounds like it's coming from the base of the gear stick. As others mentioned the notchiness is worse when cold, and the worse the notchiness the more rattly the gear change sounds.

It's been like it since I've had the car (about 6 months), but it's starting to piss me off and sounds cheap and nasty. I'm thinking about a Forge short shift and gear linkage adjustment as per the guide on the Forge website hoping this might solve the notchiness as others have reported it does, but anyone think the noise might indicate something wrong/loose that shouldn't be which should be sorted out first?

Any ideas welcome! Thanks.

Notchy gear change into 2nd gear - Mk 1 Leon

Hi,

I've just bought a low mileage 20V T Leon (2000 X reg) which has exactly the problem you described - a notchy, plastic sound when going into 2nd, and a lesser noise when going into 4th. I wondered if the cable had stretched and therefore the gear lever is moving all the way to the stop?

Did you ever get to the bottom of it, or has anyone else encountered this?

Thanks

Hi

I have a similar problem but i just put mine down to worn syncro's in the gearbox as mine is up on the mileage and no doubt its been thrashed throughout its life time from traffic lights etc hence my thoughts of worn syncros 1st to 2nd and occasional 4th.

Like to hear other peoples thoughts

Well I bought a forge front to back short shift and re-adjusted the cables which has possibly improved the notchiness/noise a bit, but it's still there. I've got the forge set to the shortest setting and it's definitely a worthwhile mod anyway for quick gear changes.

When I fitted the short shift and adjusted the cables it was obvious the noise wasn't actually coming from the stick as I'd previously thought, as when the cables weren't attached to the linkage and the stick could move freely it was completely silent. When I moved the linkages manually on top of the gearbox I could hear the rattly noise so it must be the box itself.

I mentioned it to my local VW specialist when the car was in having some work done and he said his Octavia did the same. I've got used to it now to be honest and learnt to move the stick in a way to minimize it - in 2nd move it sort of diagonally into the corner instead of straight down (seems odd that this helps when it's not actually the stick but must move the linkages slightly differently).

I had a dabble with mine this weekend, by removing the gearshift gaitor. I think the noise I have is still coming from the gear lever mechanism, rather than the gearbox - tried greasing it, but it still makes exactly the same noise. I suspect I am just going to have to put up with it, from what I've read it's not uncommon. Thanks for all your responses all the same.

Cheers

Ian

I was convinced mine was coming from the lever too mate, but when I disconnected the cables from the top of the linkages on the gearbox the lever was silent. Try manually moving the linkages and see if it's the same noise as what sounds like it's coming from the lever, mine sounds the same and must just be travelling through the cables to the lever. Of course yours could be a different noise/issue but sounds the same.

Cheers.