UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi everyone, been looking around the site for past month, got me very happy and interested in polos, especially mk4 1.4 16v.

So I decided to go out and buy one, but the one I bought had a cambelt snapped as I dont mind a bit of hard work I sourced another engine, changed them over took about 3 days overall which I was very pleased with as I have never touched one of these before, and this was without a haynes manual lol. Also chuffed that its started first time



Anyway now that everything done I only have one porblem the gearbox. I tried the searching option on the site but with no luck. Basically the guy I bought it off said it was a new gearbox and clutch and when I did the engine change it did look pretty new. The problem is its making a tapping type sound which I think is due to lack of gearbox fluid.

My question is firstly is there anyway of checking how much fluid the gearbox has?

and secondly were do I put the oil in?

its a 1.4 16v s reg mk4

hoping for some positive replies and also hoping I impressed a few people with my engine change lol, which aint a full blown conversion but I have never really done a engine change in one of these ( but have in a bmw e30 325i this engine weighs around the same as just the bottom end of the e30's lol

cheers
Shin

Firstly,
Welcome to the Forum! And congratulations on your first, & large, mod!

Now to your gearbox level, if its a post oct '95 (which i'm asuming it is!), then the filler/level plug is on the front of the transmission housing & can be accessed from above. It's a 17mm hex bolt. Remove bolt & fill to this level.

Hope that helps!

thanks mate for congrats just what i was looking for lol and cheers for the info will check this out tomorrow and let you know if theres any other problem lol

Hi mate I found that bolt just to make sure I undo that one then fill into there? just cant see how I can get the oil into that hole(it looks like a draining hole), there also another plug type thing ontop of the transmission housing, I was woundering does it no go into there?

just want to make sure lol cheers

shinxl wrote:Hi mate I found that bolt just to make sure I undo that one then fill into there? just cant see how I can get the oil into that hole(it looks like a draining hole), there also another plug type thing ontop of the transmission housing, I was woundering does it no go into there?

just want to make sure lol cheers

Filler/level bolt is on the side (the drain is on the lower part of the casing)
Its an awkward job, had to use a similar method to do differential oil level on my old Land Rover!

VW never made it easy! Shame you didn't do it whilst engine was out, probably would've been easier!

Just looked at the haynes, for a 'landmark' on the casing. The connector for the reverse light switch is just below & to one side of the bolt you want!

thanks for the info mate but I should have read it before put the oil in were I did!!

Mate I have done the most stupidest thing you would have probably ever heard on this forum,lol. After doing all that work to the car I've gone and messed it up by putting the oil in the wrong hole!

I think I put it in the one above the clutch because I took the car out to road test and clutch is slipping big time. Cannot believe it so gutted

So my next question would be how do I rectify this? Is it a case of taking gearbox off?(please say there's some sort of draining plug lol)

And also will the clutch still be o.k after this?

Can't imagine where you've filled it! However the way to tell if you have managed to fill directly into the bell-housing (still don't know how! ) is to split engine & box apart by a couple of mil' & see if oil comes out, if it does then start to weep! Cos u'll be getting a new clutch, as a contaminated one will never be the same.

Did you change the clutch when you swapped the engine?


AND BUY A HAYNES MANUAL!!!

Hmm Can't quite understand where you may have put the transmission oil then.

yep def have to do the clutch then dont know what i was thinking anyway whats done is done, I have a spare clutch on the other engine which i took out, with the cambelt snapped which the guy i bought the car of said it was brand new clutch.

Defo first trip down to halfords in the morning for a good old haynes manual

engine partially out again I would guess then, great

No ones perfect. You know of the mistake, its just a matter if putting it right

cheers mate, just want to say your polo is mighty fine , and also this forum has very helpful people on it, well use two anyway lol. I used to be on another forum which wasnt exactly the most helpful forum i've been on what made me think is it worth signing up to this one, guess it was lol.

If I was to take of one mount the gearbox one, would the engine be still secure on the engine mount by it self?

Just wondering if I could take gearbox bolts out and then the gbox mount, take gbox of, put new clucth on, rather then taking whole thing out again, as I aint got engine hoist no more(was my mates), my mates using it now to do his mk1 golf conversion lol

vw-po-low wrote:No ones perfect. You know of the mistake, its just a matter if putting it right

We've all learnt by our mistakes, it comes with the territory sometimes!

Make sure you clean the inside of the bellhousing & flywheel down with plenty of brake cleaner or methylated spirit to get rid of any grease or oil residue. Don't want you having to break it open again!

If you take one of the mountings off, put an axle stand or trolley jack under the engine to take the weight, will be ok I would think.

Glad to help, we all have to start somewhere!