Gearchange 1st to 2nd?

[stuarttunstall]

Having now owned this fantastic Exeo 170 Sport Tech for a whole week now, I have a question for the more experianced owners on here

First of all it is fantastic to drive... even though I have only covered 275 miles in it, it has to be the best SEAT I have owned.... out of the 4....

This is my first diesel powered car, so it is most probable that it is the way I am driving it....

When I pull away, and change from 1st to 2nd, it is not always smooth... all other gear changes are perfect...

I suspect that it is to do with the revs the engine is running at when I change, if I change as I have done in all the petrols, at low revs, it jerks..... if I let it rev higher it is smoother, but I just can't find the right balance yet....

Does, or did anyone else have this problem? as I say I expect it's me...

Using a works van all week, it only comes out at weekends, and I love driving it...

Any advice would be appreciated...

Stu

 

[Noel Ates]

First and second gear selection can be a bit ropey when the box is cold, once warm its fine,

 

[stuarttunstall]

Could be, thinking about it, it is worst when it's cold.... the car is locked away Monday-Friday...

 

[andyj]

I've always said that 1st-2nd in mine is 'notchy', and had the dealer look at it not long after I'd picked it up. But they said they couldn't find anything wrong, and it was just a 'feature' of the gearbox.....

Have to agree that it's worse when cold, and better when warmed up. Also worse when trying to shift from 1st to 2nd swiftly.... i.e. when giving it some stick! If I'm pottering about, and take my time chaging gear, it's fine.

 

[Glenn240]

Hi this is quite a common question i get asked, The cause of this rough 1st to 2nd gearchange when the vehicle is cold is because the gearbox oil is cold and thick , Once the oil has warmed up the problem goes, If when the vehicle is at normal operating temp and the problem is still there that's when you may have a gearbox problem.

 

[stuarttunstall]

As I say some of the problem may be me.... 30 years driving petrol, then my first diesel.... Will keep an eye on it... does seem ok when warm...

 

[RobM]

I've had this on my last two VAG TDi's so I wouldn't worry too much. You soon learn to ignore it

 

[stuarttunstall]

Nice to know it is common I think it is the way I drive

 

[ak47_uk]

I have the same issue since I got the car. Seems to be a common on these gearboxes. nothing to worry about

 

[andyj]

Been more consicous of the 1st/2nd gear-change since reading this thread, and can agree that it is definitely worse when cold, and smooths out as the gearbox comes up to temp.

Typical that the diesel engines are pretty thermally efficient and take ages to warm up, and hence it takes ages for the gearbox oil to come up to temp!

 

[stuarttunstall]

Not very good I will see how it goes....... not a major issue, just a concern... at least I know it is not just mine, although i can't remember the 143 demo I had doing it..

 

[TOm]

Have the same on my 143, and was the same on my old LEon Cupra (same 6speed box?) - until they changed the Gbox oil.

Couldn't persuade the dealer to do the same under warranty... and baulked at the £150 they wanted to do it for me. So, just put up with it until the box warms up...

T

 

[Loonyjuice]

Mine is the same, I find the gear change reluctant between 1st and 2nd and very reluctant going back from 2nd to first, say, in slow moving traffic, unless stationary. Even then it's sometimes notchy. I also experience what I can only describe as clutch grab, where the actual pressing of the clutch causes the car to not respond smoothly, but I've had the car 2.5 years now and it's always been like that

 

[Nath.]

Been more consicous of the 1st/2nd gear-change since reading this thread, and can agree that it is definitely worse when cold, and smooths out as the gearbox comes up to temp.

Typical that the diesel engines are pretty thermally efficient and take ages to warm up, and hence it takes ages for the gearbox oil to come up to temp!

My PD170 Leon was like this, My Exeo CR170 was like this and my brand new CR170 Leon is also like this.

I just do a slow change from 1-2 (just slowly move the gearstick rather than snapping it back) until the box warms up.

 

[Wimbledonian]

I just had a 6-speed A4 as a hire car, and it was the same. In fact, being normally a petrol driver, I couldn't work out what 2nd gear was supposed to do - I'd put my foot down and get no acceleration.

 

[mrkev]

I've been driving diesel cars for a number of years now and, to be honest, most diesel cars I've driven tend to be like that. In fact, if I drive a petrol now, it takes me a while to be able to drive it smoothly. One thing you learn with driving diesel cars is to take your time in gear changes. It not like petrol cars where you need to rev them, instead you need to use the torque of the engine more. This is why I always buy diesel cars now even though it might not make economical sense.

Also, it doesn't help that the Exeo has a VERY notchy gearbox, especially from 1st to 2nd and is something I've raised with a dealer myself. Unfortunately they don't see it as an issue and suggested I leave it a while and put some more miles on it (so far only done 1900 miles). I noticed when the mechanic took it for a test drive he was being VERY patient with the gearbox. It probably has to be quite bad before they will consider doing something about it.

If it doesn't get any better for me, I might end up paying them to change the gear box oil for me and see how it goes. Interesting as one person has already said it fixed the issue.

 

[GAZZANATOR]

As with everyone else on here,I have noticed the same thing with my 170 Lux which I've now had for three months,and don't have any problems once the gearbox warms up.Although,to be honest,it did scare me the first time I noticed it.

 

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Revival of old thread, but now its cooling down, my gear change is getting notchy when cold. Has anyone tried a change of gear oil to different viscosity with success (I have a TSI btw).

 

[Sausageinabun]

I've had my Exeo since the end of May, and when I first got it, yes I thought the gearchange 1st to 2nd was a bit notchy when the box was cold. But I have adjusted my driving style a tad, and I barely notice it nowadays.

Having said that, it will probably be even worse in sub zero temperatures, we'll see eh!

 

[Mr Bigglesworth]

I've had my Exeo since the end of May, and when I first got it, yes I thought the gearchange 1st to 2nd was a bit notchy when the box was cold. But I have adjusted my driving style a tad, and I barely notice it nowadays.

Having said that, it will probably be even worse in sub zero temperatures, we'll see eh!

I should add that I did not experience it over summer at all (had mine since feb) , but now tempos have dipped you can notice it on a cold morning.

So if you mainly had the car over the summer then that may be part of the reason it hasn't been too bad for you.