Getriebeschaden am ERF | Posts 16+

Steffen G wrote:

Finding a used gearbox where the rivets have been replaced with screws is... That would certainly be difficult.

The gearbox mechanic is familiar with the problem. For €400-€500, you can get a refurbished gearbox with a warranty.

Roger wrote:

Does the sound change when you press or hold down the clutch pedal?

I would clarify that first as well.

It's likely that the differential cannot be removed separately from the transmission housing in this case.

hg
Herbert.

Just to make sure there's no confusion: an ERF is an O2M... which means a 6-speed transmission.

"Some 5-speed transmissions had a problem with the rivets, which could potentially occur in TDI vehicles as well. I always thought that only gasoline and SDI engines were affected."


Otherwise, a lot has already been written about this. When the oil is installed, the only thing you can really do is visually inspect it, or consult with an experienced mechanic who can listen carefully and feel for speed-dependent noises, etc.

"When you're driving a car that's this old and genuinely good in terms of its mechanics, I think it only makes sense to systematically identify, narrow down, and potentially fix any issues. A replacement gearbox can be quite expensive if you have someone else do the work. So why not follow those suggestions? It's quick and costs almost nothing..."

Hello everyone,
Thank you very much for the numerous responses and suggestions.
Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to drain the transmission fluid yet, as I was busy with other work over the weekend (control arm bearings, tie rod ends, and steering linkage).
It's really difficult to hear the noise. Maybe I'm just imagining it, and it's normal running sounds from the gearbox.
Next weekend, I'm going to drain the oil.
"You don't hear the noise while driving, nor when it's in towing mode. What I've noticed for a longer time (over 20,000 km) is that when accelerating more forcefully and engaging the clutch to change gears, it makes a brief, slight whining sound. I can't say whether this has always been the case."
A used gearbox from a local recycling center costs approximately €250, with an estimated mileage of around 150,000 kilometers.
Unfortunately, I probably can't install it myself due to the limited height of my van (Sprinter 3000), and I'm hesitant to do it because of the weight of the gearbox. Or is the weight not a problem?

Regards,
Reuselkopp.

I only did it with the Grube (ZMS replacement on an ERF ASZ), but you have to want to do that. The thing weighs about 50 kg.

"With salvage vehicles, all components always have either mileage of 77,000 kilometers or less, or over 150,000 kilometers. It's surprising that the cars are always dismantled with those specific mileage readings. You can't even tell from the casing whether a part has 150,000 kilometers or 400,000 kilometers on it..."

I would never replace a component like a gearbox without having a clear understanding of its history or potential issues.

Hi,
I don't want to replace anything based on suspicion alone. I'll first investigate the transmission fluid with the help of the forum, and then we can see what happens next. I've already started looking into the topic of replacing the transmission and where I might be able to find a used one.

Regards,
Reuselkopp.

Good morning everyone.
Yesterday, I finally got around to examining the transmission oil. I checked again and realized that I had changed the oil about 63,000 km ago.
The oil is very dark, but it doesn't smell burnt or unusual. Upon closer inspection, you can see that it's clear and there are no metal shavings or debris floating in it. I still filtered the entire fluid, and even then, there was absolutely no residue on the filter. I would say that the oil is fine. What I'm hearing might be normal operating noises from the transmission.

Regards,
Reuselkopp.

Hi!

Well, that actually looks surprisingly good.
There isn't the smallest particle to be seen.

I initially thought that it might just be normal sounds from the treadmill.
To be honest, I haven't heard enough to form an opinion or comment on it.

When I think about my Golf, the transmission also rattles quite a bit when idling, especially if you're standing next to it.
But that's been the case for over 100,000 kilometers.

For example, loose wheel rattles.

matthiasTDI96 wrote:

I would never replace a component like a gearbox based on mere suspicion of it having an unclear history.

I would only consider a replacement if the installed part is actually broken; otherwise, I'll base my decision on the price.

I just bought a used gearbox for my daughter's Fox 1.4 TDI yesterday, including the starter motor, for €5.50. What could possibly go wrong?

We don't necessarily need to do that, but it's better to have it than to need it.

Well...

A gearbox for €5.50 is very cheap. But those are two different things. My concern wasn't about the financial cost, but about getting a targeted diagnosis. Because I thought this forum was focused on trying to find solutions. Of course, you can stock up on everything cheaply, that's clear.