Shift Mechanism
Shift Mechanism
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) (V.A.G 1331)
Removing
- Determine whether a coded radio is installed. If so, obtain the anti-theft code.
- Turn off the ignition and disconnect the battery ground cable.
- Remove the boot with the shift knob and noise insulation. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.
- Remove the center console and the center console mounting bracket.
- Remove the nuts - arrows -.
- Remove the complete air filter housing if it located above the shift lever on the transmission.
- 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 selector cable lock washer - 4 - from the relay lever - 2 -.
- Remove the selector cable from the pin.
Plastic Relay Lever
Disconnecting the Cable Retainer from the Selector Cable
- Pull the securing mechanism all the way forward in the - direction of arrow 1 - and then unlock it in the - direction of arrow 2 -.
- Push the relay lever forward (in the - direction of arrow 3 -).
Continuation for All
- Remove the cable bracket support bolts - arrows - from the transmission. Unclip the hose - A - from the - B - bracket if necessary.
- Remove the noise insulation.
- Remove the tunnel bridges.
- Disconnect the front exhaust system at the double clamp and remove it from the subframe.
- Disengage exhaust system rear section.
- Remove the floor panel trim.
- Remove the heat shield under the shift mechanism.
- Pivot the shift housing downward and remove it with the cables.
Installing
Install in reverse order of removal.
- Align the shift housing so that is it parallel to the body.
• The distance on both sides to the body must be equal.
- Tighten the shift housing nuts, see - item 26 -=> [ Nut ] Description and Operation or - item 16 -=> [ Nut ] Description and Operation.
- Route the cables - 1 - from the shift housing - 2 - to the transmission as follows:
• After the cables cross each other diagonally - arrow -, they must run parallel to each other up to the cable bracket support on the transmission.
• Make sure the cable tie - arrow - for attaching the cables is installed correctly. Installation location, refer to => [ Cable Tie, Installed
Location ] Description and Operation.
• The cables must be routed inside the depression in the heat shield - 3 -.
• The heat shield from above is shown in the magnified view.
A clip - A - holds the cables and heat shield to each other in place.
- Install the cable bracket support to the transmission and tighten the bolts to specification, see - item 6 -=> [ Bolt ] Description and Operation.
These holes have different diameters.
Allocation of cable retainers, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ] Description and Operation.
- Apply a small amount of grease on the pins - arrows - on the transmission shift lever - 1 - and on the relay lever - 2 -.
• For the correct grease, refer to the Parts Catalog.
- Replace the lock washers - 3 - and the lock washer on metal relay lever - 4 - each time they are removed.
- Secure the shift cable with the lock washer - 3 - and selector cable with the lock washer - 4 -.
Cable Retainer with Plastic Relay Lever
- Install the relay lever and the cable retainer. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
- Install the selector cable in the cable retainer.
Continuation for All
- Install the center console.
- Install the boot with the shift knob and noise insulation. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.
- Install the heat shield under the shift mechanism. Install the underbody cover if it was removed earlier.
- Assemble the exhaust system so that it is free of tension and attach the tunnel bridges.
Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
- If removed, install the air filter housing.
- Connect the battery and follow the procedure regarding what to do after connecting the battery.