Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Shift Mechanism Overviews






Shift Mechanism Overviews

Obtain the antitheft code for the radio before disconnecting the battery.

Disconnect the ground cable from the battery when working on the shift mechanism inside the engine compartment.

If the battery is to be reconnected, follow the procedure after connecting the battery.

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

The shift mechanism must be removed in order to replace the operating cables. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism ] Shift Mechanism.

Do not bend the operating cables.






I - => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ]

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

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

III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables ]

Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation






1 Emblem

Can be carefully pried out of a plastic or leather shift knob.

2 Shift Knob

With the boot

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

Always replace together.

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.

3 Clamp

For securing the shift knob to the shift lever.

Attach to the shift knob using the hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275).

Always replace.

4 Center Console Cover

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

5 Noise Insulation

Not on all vehicles.

The arrow on the noise insulation points in the direction of travel.

Retaining tab spacing varies.

Therefore can only be arranged in one position.

Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces with grease (G 000 450 02).






1 Lock Washer

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Lock Washer ].

2 Bushing

3 Pressure Spring

4 Bushing

5 TORX(R) Bolt

5 Nm

6 Cover

7 Insulation

8 Insulation

9 Bearing Shell

10 Shift Lever Guide

11 Washer

12 Gasket

Between the shift housing and the underbody.

With self-adhesive.

Installs to the shift housing.

13 Shift Lever

14 Shift Housing

15 Bushing

16 Pin

17 Bushing

18 Pressure Spring

Installing, refer to => [ Installing the Pressure Spring ].

19 Selector Bracket

20 TORX(R) Bolt

5 Nm

21 Gasket

Always replace.

22 Base Plate

Bend the tabs down in order to remove.

Always replace.

23 Selector Cable

To the selector bracket.

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Selector
and Shift Cables ].

24 Shift Cable

Removing from and installing to the shift lever guide. Refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Selector
and Shift Cables ].

25 Lock Washer

Always replace.

26 Nut

M6: 8 Nm

M8: 25 Nm

Quantity: 4

27 Bushing

Fits in one position only.

28 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Removing and Installing the Selector and Shift Cables





- Remove the lock washer from the shift cable - A - and the selector cable - B -.

Lift the tab with a screwdriver - arrow 1 - and remove the lock washer - arrow 2 -.

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

- Remove the selector cable - B - from the selector bracket.

Removing and Installing the Lock Washer





- Push the bushing - arrow B - all the way in the - direction of arrow C - and remove or install the lock washer - arrow A -.

Do not tilt the bushing when pushing it down.

The slot in the lever for the lock washer must be visible.

Carefully release the tension on the spring.

Installing the Pressure Spring





- Install the pressure spring so that the leg - A - contacts the upper part of shift lever guide - arrow -.

- Pull the lower leg - B - downward so that it reaches the bottom of the shift lever guide - arrow -.

Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces with grease (G 000 450 02).

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






1 Base Plate

Bend the tabs down in order to remove.

Always replace.

2 Gasket

Always replace.

3 Shift Lever

Can be removed and installed with the shift lever guide => [ (Item 15) Shift Lever Guide ] installed.

4 Washer

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

5 Lock Washer

Be careful not to damage the cables when removing them.

Always replace.

6 Selector Cable

Pry off of the selector bracket.

Press onto the selector bracket inside the shift housing.

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

7 Bushing

8 Shift Cable

Pry off of the shift lever guide.

Press onto shift lever guide inside the shift housing.

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

9 Insulation

10 Bearing Shell

Will get damaged when being removed.

Always replace.

11 Bushing

12 Lock Washer

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Lock Washer ].

13 Pressure Spring

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Lock Washer ].

14 Bushing

15 Shift Lever Guide

16 Nut

M6: 8 Nm

M8: 25 Nm

Quantity: 4

17 Gasket

Between the shift housing and the underbody.

With self-adhesive.

Installs to the shift housing.

18 Shift Housing

With the pressure spring and selector bracket.

The pressure spring and selector bracket cannot be removed.

Shift and Selector Cables

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces with grease (G 000 450 02).






1 Shift Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer => [ (Item 18) Cable Retainer ].

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

From 11.06, changed retainer on shift lever inside the shift housing. See => [ (Item 8) Shift Cable ].

2 Selector Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer => [ (Item 11) Cable Retainer ].

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

From 11.06, changed retainer on the selector bracket inside the shift housing. See => [ (Item 6) Selector Cable ].

3 Lock Washer

Always replace.

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

4 Lock Washer

Be careful not to damage the cables when removing them.

Always replace.

5 Shift Housing

6 Bolt

20 Nm

For the cable bracket.

Quantity: 2

7 Cable Bracket

Can be made of plastic or metal.

8 Grommet

For the cable bracket to transmission.

9 Spacer

10 Nut

20 Nm

For the cable bracket.

11 Cable Retainer

For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.

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

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable on to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different. Refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

From 05.07 installed in with the plastic relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.

12 Relay Lever

Installed position, refer to => [ Selector Lever/Relay Lever Installed
Position ].

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

Can be made of plastic or metal.

The metal relay lever is placed in the bushings => [ (Item 13) Bushing ] and secured with a lock washer => [ (Item 14) Circlip ].

From 05.07 plastic relay lever.

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

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

13 Bushing

Discontinued with the plastic relay lever.

14 Circlip

Always replace.

Discontinued with the plastic relay lever.

15 Sliding Shoe

16 Shift Lever

With a balance weight.

Insert so that the master spline aligns with the shift rod.

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

Installed position, refer to => [ Selector Lever/Relay Lever Installed
Position ].

From 06.06 the cable retainer pin has a smaller diameter. Refer to => [ As of 02.06, a Smaller Pin Diameter
for the Shift Cable Retainer ].

17 Nut

23 Nm

Self-locking

Always replace.

18 Cable Retainer

For attaching the shift cable to the transmission shift lever.

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

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different. Refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

Cable Retainer Allocation





These holes have different diameters.






As of 02.06, a Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer










Installing the Transmission Shift Lever





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

Selector Lever/Relay Lever Installed Position





1. Transmission selector lever with balance weight

2. The relay lever fits into the sliding rail on the transmission selector lever via the sliding shoe - arrow -.


Cable Retainer, Replacing





- Pull the locking mechanisms forward at the cable retainers for the shift and selector cables as far as the stop - 1 arrows - and then release them 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 - arrow -.

With a Metal Relay Lever:

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

- Remove the selector cable from the pin.

With a Plastic Relay Lever:

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

- Pry the cable retainer out, refer to => [ Removing the Selector Cable Retainer
from the Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.

Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms:

- Apply a small amount of grease (G 000 450 02) on the transmission shift lever and relay lever pins - arrows -.

- Replace the lock washer - 3 - and the lock washer - 4 - on the metal relay lever each time they are removed.

- Attach the shift cable with lock washer - 3 - (metal relay lever) and selector cable with lock washer - 4 -.

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

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