Shift Mechanism Overviews
Shift Mechanism Overviews
• Note the radio code on vehicles with a coded radio.
• Disconnect the ground cable from the battery when working on the selector mechanism inside the engine compartment.
• If the battery is to be reconnected, follow the work sequence after connecting the battery. Refer to "Battery, Disconnecting and Connecting".
• When working on the selector mechanism in the engine compartment, remove the complete air filter housing, if it is located above the selector 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 them together.
• Removing and installing, refer the following:
GTI (2006-2009), Golf/GTI (from 2010) and Eos, 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 to the shift knob using the hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275).
4 Center Console Cover
• Combined in one piece with the center console on some versions.
5 Noise Insulation
• Not installed on all vehicles.
• The arrow on the noise insulation points in the direction of vehicle travel.
• The retaining tab spacing varies, therefore can only be installed in one position.
Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06
• Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.
1 Lock Washer
• Removing and installing, refer to => [ Lock Washer, Removing and Installing ].
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 on it.
• Installed onto the shift housing.
13 Shift Lever
14 Shift Housing
15 Bushing
16 Pin
17 Bushing
18 Pressure Spring
• Installing, refer to => [ Pressure Spring, Installing ].
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 => [ Selector and Shift Cables, Removing and Installing ].
24 Shift Cable
• Removing from, and installing onto the shift lever guide. Refer to => [ Selector and Shift Cables, Removing and Installing ].
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.
Selector and Shift Cables, Removing and Installing
- Remove the lock washers 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 guide.
- Remove the selector cable - B - from the selector bracket.
Pressure Spring, Installing
- Install the pressure spring so that the upper leg - A - contacts the upper part of the shift lever - arrow -.
- Pull the lower leg - B - downward so that it reaches the bottom of the shift lever - arrow -.
Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06
• Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.
• Selector mechanism disassembling and assembling. Refer to => [ Selector Mechanism, from 11.06 ] Selector 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 off 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 selector mechanism.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position.
7 Bushing
8 Shift Cable
• Pry off of the shift lever guide.
• Press onto the shift lever guide inside the selector mechanism.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position.
9 Insulation
10 Bearing Shell
• Will get damaged when being removed.
• Always replace.
11 Bushing
12 Lock Washer
• Removing and installing, refer to => [ Lock Washer, Removing and Installing ].
13 Pressure Spring
14 Bushing
15 Shift Lever Guide
16 Nut
• M6 - 8 Nm.
• M8 - 25 Nm.
• Quantity: 4.
17 Gasket
• Between the selector housing and the underbody.
• Equipped with self adhesive.
• Installs to the selector housing.
18 Shift Housing
• With the pressure spring and selector bracket.
• The pressure spring and selector bracket cannot be removed.
Lock Washer, Removing and Installing
- 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.
Shift and Selector Cables
• Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.
1 Shift Cable
• Attaches to the cable retainer => [ (Item 18) Cable Retainer ].
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position.
• From 11.06, the retainer on the shift lever guide inside the shift mechanism has changed.
2 Selector Cable
• Attaches to the cable retainer => [ (Item 11) Cable Retainer ].
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position.
• From 11.06, the retainer on the selector bracket inside the shift mechanism has changed.
3 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
• Discontinued on shift mechanisms from 11.06. Refer to => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ].
4 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
• Be careful not to damage the cables when removing them.
5 Shift Housing
6 Bolt
• 20 Nm
• For the cable bracket.
• On 4 cylinder vehicles: quantity 2.
• On 6 cylinder vehicles: quantity 3.
• The nut => [ (Item 10) Nut ] is then deleted.
7 Cable Bracket
• Can be made of plastic or metal.
• On the Golf/GTI (from 2010), Passat and CC is made of plastic.
8 Grommet
• For the cable bracket to the transmission.
9 Spacer
10 Nut
• 20 Nm.
• For the cable bracket on 4 cylinder vehicles.
11 Cable Retainer
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installing. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.
• 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.
• From 03.07, installed with a plastic relay lever, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Removing from, and installing to, the plastic relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].
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.
• On the Golf/GTI (from 2010), Passat and CC is made of plastic.
• Install the metal relay lever into the bushings => [ (Item 13) Bushing ] and secure it with a lock washer => [ (Item 14) Lock Washer ].
• Plastic relay lever as of 03.07. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Plastic relay lever, removing and installing with the cable retainer. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• The bushings and lock washers are not needed with the plastic relay lever.
13 Bushing
• Not needed for the plastic relay lever.
14 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
• Not needed for the plastic relay lever.
15 Sliding Shoe
16 Transmission Shift Lever
• Installing, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever, Installing ].
• Installed position, refer to => [ Selector Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position ].
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installing. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• As of 06.06, has a smaller pin diameter for the cable retainer. Refer to => [ As of 02.06, Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer ].
17 Nut, Self Locking
• 23 Nm.
• Always replace.
18 Cable Retainer
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installing. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• For attaching the shift cable to the transmission shift lever.
• Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable to relay lever and for the shift cable to transmission shift lever are different.
• Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].
Cable Retainer Allocation
These holes have different diameters.
As of 02.06, Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer
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 -.
Selector Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position
1 Shift lever
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 mechanism forward at the cable retainer for the shift and selector cables as far as the stop - arrows 1 - and then release it to the left - arrows 2 -.
- Remove the shift cable lock washer - 3 - from the transmission selector lever - 1 -.
- Remove the shift cable from the pin.
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 => [ From 03.07 - relay lever is plastic ] Plastic Relay Lever.
- Pry the cable retainer out, refer to => [ Removing the selector cable retainer from the plastic relay lever. ] Plastic Relay Lever.
Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms
- Apply a small amount of grease onto the pins on the transmission shift lever - arrows - - 1 - and on the relay lever - 2 -.
- Replace the lock washers - 3 and 4 - for 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, then it must be installed together with the cable retainer. Refer to => [ From 03.07 - relay lever is plastic ] Plastic Relay Lever.
Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.