What causes the grinding sound when engaging reverse gear in Volkswagen vehicles?
2 Answers
The reasons for grinding when engaging reverse gear in Volkswagen vehicles are as follows: 1. Clutch pedal too low: Even when fully depressed, the clutch may not disengage completely, making it difficult to engage reverse gear. Typically, reverse gear lacks a synchronizer, making it harder to engage than other gears. 2. Faulty clutch transmission mechanism leading to incomplete disengagement: For hydraulic clutches, check for air in the system and inspect the operation of the clutch slave cylinder and master cylinder. For cable-operated clutches, check the height adjustment and whether the clutch cable itself is faulty. 3. Issues with the clutch pressure plate or clutch disc causing incomplete disengagement.
I've been driving Volkswagen cars for over a decade and once encountered gear grinding when shifting into reverse. The sound was as piercing as metal scraping against metal. The main cause is usually not fully depressing the clutch pedal, which forces gear engagement while the engine is still running, resulting in gear collision and wear. It could also be due to aging or damaged synchronizers in the transmission, especially since reverse gear lacks synchronizer protection and is prone to such issues. In my case, it happened because I was in a hurry while parking - I didn't completely release the throttle before shifting into reverse. Later at the repair shop, they found worn synchronizer rings. My advice: develop good driving habits - always come to a complete stop before shifting into reverse, don't rush to depress the clutch pedal, and change transmission fluid regularly for prevention. If the problem occurs frequently, see a professional mechanic immediately. Otherwise, the transmission will deteriorate further and repairs can be extremely costly.
