Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Shift Mechanism Overview






Shift Mechanism Overview

Note the radio code on vehicles with a coded radio.

When working on the shift mechanism in the engine compartment, disconnect the Ground (GND) cable from the battery.

If the battery is to be reconnected, observe the work sequence after connecting the battery.

When working on the shift mechanism in the engine compartment, remove the complete air filter housing, if it is located above the shift mechanism.

To replace the operating cables, remove the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism ] Shift Mechanism.

Do not bend the operating cables.





I - => [ Shift Knob and Cover ]

II - => [ Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06 ]

II - => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ]

III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables ]

Shift mechanism, removing and installing. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism ] Shift Mechanism.

Shift mechanism, adjusting. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.

Shift Knob and Cover





1 Emblem

Can be carefully pried off a plastic or leather shift knob.

2 Shift Lever Knob

With boot

The shift knob and boot cannot be separated from each other.

Always replace together

Removing and installing, refer to one of the following:

Eos, GTI through 2009, Golf/GTI from 2010, refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.

Passat, Passat CC and CC, refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.

3 Clamp

Always replace

For securing the shift knob to the shift lever.

Secure on the shift knob using the hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275).

4 Cover for Center Console

Combined in one piece with the center console on some versions.

5 Noise Insulation

Not equipped on all vehicles.

Arrow on noise insulation points in direction of travel.

Catches are arranged in varying intervals.

Therefore, installation is only possible in one position.

Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.





1 Retaining Washer

2 Bushing

3 Spring

4 Bushing

5 TORX Bolt

5 Nm

6 Cover

7 Damper

8 Damper

9 Bearing Shell

10 Shift Lever Guide

11 Damping Washer

12 Gasket

Between the shift housing and floor.

Self-adhesive.

Adheres to the shift housing.

13 Shift Lever

14 Shift Housing

15 Bushing

16 Pivot Pin

17 Guide Bushing

18 Spring

19 Selector Bracket

20 TORX Bolt

5 Nm

21 Gasket

Always replace

22 Base Plate

Always replace

Bend open the tabs to remove.

23 Selector Cable

On the selector bracket

24 Shift Cable

25 Retaining Washer

Always replace

26 Nut

M6 = 8 Nm

M8 = 25 Nm

Quantity: 4

27 Bushing

Only fits in one position.

28 Retaining Washer

Always replace

Selector and Shift Cable, Removing and Installing





- Remove the retaining disc from the shift cable - A - and the selector cable - B -.

To do this, lift up the retainer using a screwdriver - arrow 1 - and press off the locking washer - arrow 2 -.

- Remove the shift cable - A - from the shift lever mount.

- Remove the selector cable - B - from the selector elbow mount.

Spring Installing





- Insert the spring so that the leg - A - contacts the upper part of the pin - arrow -.

- Then pull the leg - B - far enough downward so that it rests on the underside of the pin - arrow -.

Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.

Shift mechanism, disassembling and assembling. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, from 11.06 ] Shift Mechanism, From 11.06.





1 Base Plate

Bend open the tabs to remove.

Always replace

2 Gasket

Always replace

3 Shift Lever

Can be removed and installed with the shift lever guide - item 15 - installed.

4 Damping Washer

Slide out of the shift lever as far as the stop - arrow -.

5 Retaining Washer

Do not damage the cables when removing.

Always replace

6 Selector Cable

Pry off of the selector bracket.

Press onto the selector bracket inside the shift mechanism.

Installed positions, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Positions ] Service and Repair.

7 Bushing

8 Shift Cable

Pry off of the shift lever guide.

Press onto the shift lever guide inside the shift mechanism.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Positions ] Service and Repair.

9 Damper

10 Bearing Shell

Is damaged during removal.

Always replace

11 Bushing

12 Retaining Washer

13 Spring

14 Bushing

15 Shift Lever Guide

16 Nut

M6 = 8 Nm

M8 = 25 Nm

Quantity: 4

17 Gasket

Between the shift housing and floor.

Self-adhesive.

Adheres to the shift housing.

18 Shift Housing

With spring and selector bracket.

Spring and selector bracket cannot be removed.

Lock Washer, Removing and Installing





- To remove and install the lock washer - arrow A -, push the spacer bushing - arrow B - to the stop using a screwdriver in - direction of arrow C - and pull off the lock washer.

Do not tilt the bushing when pushing down.

The groove in the shift lever for the lock washer must be visible.

Carefully release the tension on the spring.

Shift and Selector Cables

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.





1 Shift Cable

Connects with cable retainer - item 18 -.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Positions ] Service and Repair.

From 11.06 changed fastener on shift lever inside shift mechanism.

2 Selector Cable

Connect with cable retainer - item 11 -.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Positions ] Service and Repair.

From 11.06 changed fastener on selector bracket inside shift mechanism.

3 Retaining Washer

Always replace

Discontinued on shift mechanisms from 11.06. Refer to => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ].

4 Retaining Washer

Always replace

Do not damage cables when removing.

5 Shift Housing

6 Bolt

20 Nm

For the cable bracket

Quantity 2

The nut - item 10 - is then deleted.

7 Cable Mounting Bracket

Can be made of plastic or metal

Passat, Passat CC, CC, and Golf/GTI from 2010: made of plastic.

8 Grommet

Cable mounting bracket to transmission.

9 Spacer

10 Nuts

20 Nm

For the cable mounting bracket.

11 Cable Retainer

Adjust the shift mechanism after installation, refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.

For the selector cable to relay lever.

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanism for the selector cable to the linkage lever and the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different.

From 03.07 installed with a plastic relay lever, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.

Removing and installing to a plastic relay lever, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.

12 Relay Lever

Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.

Can be made of plastic or metal.

The metal relay lever is placed in the bushings - item 13 - and secured with a retaining washer - item 14 -.

From 03.07 the relay lever is made of plastic. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.

Plastic relay lever, removing and installing with cable retainer. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.

The bushings and retaining washers are not needed with the plastic relay lever.

13 Bushing

Not needed with a plastic relay lever.

14 Retaining Washer

Always replace

Not needed with a plastic relay lever.

15 Slide Shoe

16 Transmission Shift Lever

Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.

Starting in 06.06 there is a smaller pin diameter for the cable retainer.

17 Self Locking Nut

23 Nm

Always replace

18 Cable Retainer

Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.

For the shift cable to transmission shift lever.

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanism for the selector cable to the linkage lever and the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different.

Allocation of Cable Retainers





The holes in the cable retainers have various diameters.





Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer, Starting in 02.06









Transmission Shift Lever, Installing





- When positioning the transmission shift lever, make sure the gap - arrow A - is placed over the missing selector shaft teeth - arrow B -.

Transmission Shift Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position





1 Transmission shift lever
2 The relay lever engages into the guide rail of the transmission shift lever, via the guide shoe - arrow -.

Cable Retainer, Replacing





- Pull the securing mechanism forward at the cable retainer on the shift and selector cables as far as the stop - 1 arrows - and then release it to the left - 2 arrows -.

- Remove the shift cable lock washer - 3 - from the transmission selector lever - 1 -.

- Remove the shift cable from the pin.





Metal Relay Lever

- Remove the retaining washer - 4 - for the selector cable from the relay lever - 2 -.

- Remove the selector cable from the pin.

Plastic Relay Lever

- Remove the relay lever with the cable retainer, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever
from 03.07 ] Description and Operation.

- Pry the cable retainer off, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever
from 03.07 ] Description and Operation.

Continuation For All Shift Mechanisms

- Apply a small amount of grease onto the pin on the transmission shift lever - arrows - and on the relay lever - 2 -.

- Replace the lock washer - 3 - and, with the metal relay lever, the retaining washer - 4 - after each disassembly.

- Secure the shift cable with the lock washer - 3 - and, with the metal relay lever, selector cable with retaining washer - 4 -.

If a plastic relay lever is installed, it must be installed together with the cable retainer. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever
from 03.07 ] Description and Operation.

Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.