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.