gearbox ratios

[StevieDB9]

hi all, going to pick your brains again. Some of you may remember I had to get a new gearbox in the polo a few months ago and i said that the ratios seemed a lot shorter which was great for acceleration though I wasnt all that happy but I decided to live with it anyway.

However after a 800 mile trip yesterday I can say that im definately not happy with the gearbox. I usually sit at 57mph on the motorway most of the time to get good fuel economy but with the new 'box 57mph equates to over 3000rpm. If I want to do 70 its 4000rpm so as you can imagine it eats fuel.

I phoned the guy up who installed the new gearbox and he assured me that it was a 1.4 polo gearbox he put in. But im not too sure, he had 4 other polos waiting for gearboxes and since the majority of them are 1.4 I think he had difficulty in getting one and hes stuck a gearbox for a 1.0 polo in instead.

Before I go back over on my high horse is there anyway of verifying the ratios or that this is the right 'box or not? Any serial numbers arent apparant on the casing, but I was wondering if someone would be able to tell the ratios maybe on a diagnostics test, is this possible?

Oh, yeah, think a bearings about to go too

[Izo Azlion]

I think my Civic at 70-80mph used to be around 3.5 to 4k/rpm... That never had a gearbo change.

My cousin drove a Mazda and said that drank fuel at 4krpm too...

but those are just hunches mate. not entirely sure on diagnostics.

How do you tolerate 57mph on a motorway? Thats like, HGV speeds. You must sit inbetween all of them wondering when you're going to be crushed!! :P

I usually sit at around 80-90 on the motorway, 6th gear, then chill out. Was the same in the 1.4 Civic too, but in 5th, and a little more cautiously as it wasnt as solid....

[StevieDB9]

cos im a skint student, need the little polo to sip the petrol

[Izo Azlion]

Originally Posted by StevieDB9

cos im a skint student, need the little polo to sip the petrol

Ahh hehe, frugal little car then

I failed at A level but work these days so :P I can be dumb and quick XD hahah

[StevieDB9]

haha, wait to next year, start work in Reading and ill buy a DB9 and be uber quick. well maybe thats a slight exageration (you can tell that i should have probably failed A level english)

[pgarner]

sorry steve the diagnostics will only come back with what the sensors say.


one of the sisters mates has a 1.0 polo will ask her what speeds she gets

[StevieDB9]

that would be great, as i say, 56-57mph equates to ~3000rpm, was about 2500-2700rpm with the old gearbox

[StevieDB9]

oh, btw, its a mark 3 phase 2 polo. x reg so built from 2000 to 2002

[HDi fun]

It might just be the final drive ratio that is wrong (ie. too short). Have you checked the speedometer calibration?

[StevieDB9]

im going with the speed showing on ma sat nav, which coincides with the speed displayed on those signs when you go through villages.

btw, what is the final ratio exactly?