Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

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 shift mechanism inside the engine compartment.

Follow all the steps after connecting the battery.

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

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 ]

III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables ]

Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation






1 Emblem

Can be carefully pried off 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.

Always replace

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

4 Center Control Cover

Available as a separate part only on some equipment levels.

5 Noise Insulation

Not on all vehicles.

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

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.

For the correct grease for the shift mechanism, refer to the Parts Catalog.






1 Base Plate

Bend the tabs down in order to remove.

Always replace

2 Gasket

Always replace

3 Lock Washer

Be careful not to damage the cables when removing them.

Always replace.

4 Selector Cable

Pry off of the selector bracket.

Press onto the selector bracket inside the shift mechanism.

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

5 Bushing

6 Shift Cable

Pry off of the shift lever guide.

Press onto the shift lever guide inside the shift mechanism.

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

7 Bushing

8 Lock Washer

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

9 Bushing

10 Pressure Spring

11 Bearing Shell

Will get damaged when being removed.

Always replace.

12 Sound Absorber

13 Shift Lever

With the shift lever guide.

Removing and installing, refer to=> [ Shift Mechanism ] Shift Mechanism.

14 Nut

8 Nm

Quantity: 4

15 Gasket

Between the shift housing and the underbody.

Equipped with self-adhesive.

Affix to the shift housing.

16 Shift Housing

With the spring and selector bracket.

The spring and selector bracket cannot be removed.

Removing and Installing the Lock Washer





- Push the bushing - arrow B - all the way in the - direction of arrow C - with a screwdriver and remove/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.

For the correct grease for the shift mechanism, refer to the Parts Catalog.

Do not bend the operating cables.






1 Shift Cable

Attach to the selector cable with a cable tie, refer to => [ Attaching the Shift and Selector Cables
with a Cable Tie ].

Attaches to the cable retainer - 12 -

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

2 Selector Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer - 14 -.

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

Attach to the shift cable with a cable tie, refer to => [ Attaching the Shift and Selector Cables
with a Cable Tie ].

3 Bushing

4 Shift Housing

5 Lock Washer

Do not damage the cable when removing.

Always replace.

6 Lock Washer

Do not damage the cable when removing.

Always replace.

7 Lock Washer

Do not damage the cable when removing.

Always replace.

8 Bolt

20 Nm

Quantity: 3

For the cable bracket.

9 Cable Bracket

10 Grommet

For the cable bracket to the transmission.

11 Spacer

12 Cable Retainer

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

For attaching the shift cable to the transmission shift lever.

Do not interchange, the cable securing 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 ].

13 Lock Washer

Always replace

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

14 Cable Retainer

Adjust the shift mechanism after installation, refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Shift Mechanism, Adjusting.

For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.

Do not interchange, the cable securing mechanisms for the selector cable to relay lever and for the shift cable to transmission shift lever are different.

Removing from the relay lever. Refer to => [ Prying the Selector Cable Retainer
Off of the Relay Lever ].

Pressing onto the relay lever. Refer to => [ Installing the Cable Retainer ].

Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

15 Nut

23 Nm

Always replace

16 Shift Lever

With a balance weight.

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

Installing, refer to => [ Installing the Transmission Shift Lever ].

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

17 Relay Lever

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

Shortly after start of production: secured with a clip, refer to => [ Relay Lever with Clip ] Shift Mechanism.

Relay lever and cable retainer, removing, see => [ Removing the Relay Lever Together with
the Cable Retainer ] Shift Mechanismand installing, see => [ Installing the Relay Lever and Cable
Retainer ] Shift Mechanism.

Adjust the shift mechanism after installation, refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Shift Mechanism, Adjusting.

18 Sliding Shoe

Attaching the Shift and Selector Cables with a Cable Tie





- Wrap the cable tie - arrow - in a crossover pattern around the cables and secure it as illustrated.

- A - = shift cable

- B - = selector cable

Prying the Selector Cable Retainer Off of the Relay Lever





The relay lever is removed

- Insert a flat blade screwdriver - A - between the bushing - B - and the relay lever.

Installing the Cable Retainer





The relay lever is removed.

The cable retainer may only be installed at the bushing - arrow -.

The cable retainer must move freely on the relay lever.

It must be behind the tab - arrow 2 -.






Cable Retainer Allocation










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 -.


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 -.

Removing the Lock Washer





- Lift the clamp in the - direction of the arrow -.