UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hello everyone,

The reason I opened this thread is to help other that might find themselves in my situation and also get some info from you guys.

Unfortunately, 2 weeks ago I had a very weird issue with my polo, which I managed to sort only yesterday.

While driving the car from Romania to Monaco, the clutch started to give away on the highway in Croatia. We managed to get the car all the way to Monaco, but when we got here, probably because of the long trip and the fact that there are a lot of steep hills here, the clutch gave away completely. It happened in my garage while trying to park the car.

The symptoms were somehow weird: initially when I put the car in Reverse, when putting it into gear there was a loud "clank!" followed by a slightly violent movement of the car (just like you would force it into gear without pushing the clutch all the way). This did not seem that weird considering the clutch situation and that, as you know, the polo gti gearbox sometimes "grabs" the gear when you put in R.

After this, I reversed the car in the parking spot. The real problem only came 2 hours later, when I wanted to leave, the car was not getting into ANY gear and the wheels were stuck, just like when you put it in gear in order to park (- note that I never do this as I have a turbo-timer installed). Even with the engine turned on ! After trying to push the car for a while I decided to try to force it. That's when s**t hit the fan. Again the same "clank", only this time a lot louder and with oil under the car....

Therefore, NEVER try to push your luck if you find yourself in this situation. Unless you want to get your fingers in the gearbox.

Yesterday, I managed to take the car to a local garage, where they told me that I have to change the gearbox. I haven't seen the car yet, and I am not sure if the whole gearbox needs to be changed or if it can be repaired. Eitherway, the French mechanics, with all respect.... ARE s**t. So I haven't asked too many questions and I wouldn't let them work on it either way.

My question today is if you guys know what is the code for the Polo GTI gearbox. I found on polo9n.info that the code should be "JDB" for the Polo GTI (BJX engine code) and "JYF" for the Cup Edition(BBU engine code). Does the Cup edition GB fit the normal GTI as a straight swap ? I don't want to get into modifying stuff, as like I told you, these guys here only know how to replace parts. They don't know how to modify/repair.
Are there any other straight swaps that would work with the standard clutch (I ordered a stage 2 clutch from awesomegti, that is a straight swap for the original one - so it should be the same thing).

I will come back with pictures later on today, after I visit the garage.

Cheers !

gearbox is an 02R code very rare box tbh bud

Thanks for the code mate...

gutted pal !!
one very important thing when u get the new box ring vw get the genuine oil it makes a huge differnece!!! I had shifting problems etc and noise when i got my car put some fancy oil in that was to spec went worse!! Rang vw got the correct oil and it transformed the car gearbox is like new !!!

haha... thanks for the tip mate
you're not the only one that told me this...
what oil did you buy ?

Just ring the dealer and get the genuine oil for the car

I went to the dealer in Monaco and they gave me YACCO Semi-Sinthetic 75W90.
I insisted to check if this is what VW puts in it, as I know that they work with Castrol. The guy there insisted that this is what he's been putting in all the cars and he "never broke one". After this I asked how many Polo GTIs he had in the shop and he avoided the question and kept on insisting that they are VW dealership so that everything they use is accepted and according to the description that VW provides.

As I am still waiting for the clutch to arrive, I still have time to buy it from the Romanian dealership and bring it here.

Has anyone put this YACCO oil in it ? Should I insist on getting the VW branded one from back home

Cheers !

Yacco oil seems to be a OEM approved supplier. Mercedes have it on their gearbox oil list

What you want is G 070726A2 part number

thanks a lot mate. i already got it finally. I'm hoping to get the clutch shipped in from awesomegti this week.
with a bit of luck i could have the small polo back and running by the end of next week.

in the mean time, i ended up buying a '91 E30 318ic to start a restoration project back home, in Romania, as my tuning days here in france for sure are going to be over, judging by how the mechanics are around here.
there's a lot in store for this old timer, as i already started by buying a a 2.5 12v engine which came on the same model.