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 shift knob, boot and frame. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Frame ] Shift Knob, Boot and Frame.
- Remove the center console cover.
- Remove the nuts - arrows -.
- Remove the air filter housing.
- Remove the battery and the battery tray if necessary.
- Remove the shift cable lock washer - 3 - from the shift lever - 1 -.
- Remove the shift cable - 2 - from the pin - arrow - on the shift lever - 1 -.
• To avoid damage to the selector cable, the cable retainer must be disconnected from the relay lever before removal.
- Pull the locking mechanism all the way forward in the - direction of arrow 1 - and then unlock to the left in the - direction of arrow 2 -.
- Push the relay lever forward and guide the selector cable out of the cable retainer.
• The cable retainer may be removed only when the relay lever is removed. Refer to => [ Prying the selector cable retainer off of the relay lever. ] Shift and Selector Cables Overview.
- Remove the cable bracket bolts/nut - arrows - from the transmission.
- Remove the noise insulation.
- Remove the tunnel brace.
- Remove the underbody trim panel.
- Remove the front exhaust pipe.
- Unhook the exhaust system rear section.
- Remove the heat shield under the shift mechanism.
- Pivot the shift housing downward and remove it with the cables.
Installing
Install in the reverse order of removal. Note the following:
- 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 nuts - arrows - for the shift housing. Tightening specification, see - item 16 - in the => [ Shift Lever and Housing Overview ] Shift Lever and Housing Overview.
- Route the cables - 1 - from the shift mechanism - 2 - to the transmission as follows:
• The cables must run parallel to each other and must not cross each other.
• The cables must be routed inside the depression in the heat shield - 3 -.
• The heat shield is shown from above in the magnified view.
A clip - A - holds the cables in place on the heat shield.
- Install the cable bracket to the transmission and tighten the bolts/nut - arrows - to specification, see - items 8 and 19 - in => [ Shift and Selector Cables Overview ] Shift and Selector Cables Overview.
The cable retainers have different diameters holes.
Allocation of the cable retainers. Refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ] Shift and Selector Cables Overview.
- Apply a small amount of grease on the pin - arrow - on the shift lever - 1 -.
• Grease allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog.
- Secure the shift cable - 2 - to the shift lever with a new lock washer - 3 -.
- Install the selector cable into the cable retainer on the relay lever.
- Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Selector Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
- Install the center console cover.
- Install the shift knob, boot and frame. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Frame ] Shift Knob, Boot and Frame.
- Attach the heat shield under the shift mechanism.
- Install the exhaust system rear section.
- Install the front exhaust pipe.
- Align the exhaust system free of tension.
- If removed, install the left and right underbody trim panels.
- Install the tunnel brace.
- Install the noise insulation.
- Install the air filter housing.
- Install the battery and the battery tray if they were removed earlier.
- Connect the battery and follow the procedure regarding what to do after connecting the battery.