Shift Mechanism
Shift Mechanism
Removing
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) (V.A.G 1331)
- First, check 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 noise insulation. Refer to one of 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.
GTI (2006-2009) and Eos:
- Remove the footwell trim panel from the center console and the ashtray or storage compartment and then remove the center console. Refer to "Storage Compartments, Covers and Trim".
Golf/GTI (from 2010):
- Remove the ashtray or storage compartment and the center console bracket. Refer to "Storage Compartments, Covers and Trim".
- Remove the center console and then the footwell rear channel, if equipped. Refer to the following:
For the center console, refer to "Storage Compartments, Covers and Trim".
For the footwell rear channel, refer to "Vents".
Continuation for all Vehicles:
- If present, remove the interior monitoring sensor (G273) from the rear nuts.
- Remove the shift housing and center console bracket nuts - arrows -.
- Remove the entire air filter housing if it is located over the shift mechanism.
- Remove the shift cable lock washer - 3 - from the transmission shift 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 - arrow -.
With a Plastic Relay Lever:
Disconnect the cable retainer from the selector cable.
• To avoid damage to the selector cable, the cable retainer must first be removed from the selector lever.
- 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 -.
- Press the relay lever forward (in the - direction of arrow 3 -).
- Remove the relay lever with the cable retainer. Refer to => [ From 03.07 - relay lever is plastic ] Plastic Relay Lever.
Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms:
The cable bracket is secured either with two bolts and a nut - arrows -,
or with three bolts - arrows -.
- Remove the noise insulation.
- Remove the tunnel bridges.
- Remove the underbody trim.
- Separate the front exhaust system front section at the double clamp and remove it from the subframe.
- Disengage the exhaust system rear section and remove the heat shield.
- Pivot the shift housing downward and remove it with the cables.
Installing
Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal while observing the following:
- Align the shift housing so that it is parallel to the body.
• The distance on both sides to the body must be equal.
For tightening the shift housing nuts, see either => [ (Item 26) Nut ] Shift Mechanism Overviews or => [ (Item 16) Nut ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.
- 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 and heat shield in place, to each other.
These holes have different diameters.
Allocation of cable retainers, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.
- Apply a small amount of grease on the pins - arrows - on the transmission shift lever - 1 - and on the relay lever - 2 -.
- Replace the lock washers - 3 and 4 - on the metal relay lever each time they are removed.
- Secure the shift cable with the lock washer - 3 - and the selector cable with the lock washer - 4 -.
Cable Retainer with a Plastic Relay Lever:
- The relay lever and cable retainer must be installed together. Refer to => [ From 03.07 - relay lever is plastic ] Plastic Relay Lever.
- Insert the selector cable into the cable retainer.
Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms:
- If present, position the interior monitoring sensor (G273) on the rear nuts.
- Install the bracket and the center console. Refer to "Storage Compartments, Covers and Trim".
- Install the shift knob, boot and noise insulation. Refer to 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.
- Install the underbody trim.
- Assemble the exhaust system free of tension and install the tunnel bridges.
Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
- If removed, install the entire air filter housing.
- Observe the work sequence after connecting the battery.
Tightening Specifications
