Shift Mechanism
Shift Mechanism
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) (V.A.G 1331)
• Grease (G 000 450 02)
Removing
- First check whether a coded radio is installed. If so, obtain the antitheft code.
- Turn off the ignition and disconnect the battery ground cable.
- Remove the boot with the shift knob and noise insulation. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.
- Remove the center console and the center console bracket.
- Remove the nuts - arrows -.
- Remove the air filter housing if it is located above the shift mechanism. Refer to one of the following:
Diesel engines.
Gas engines.
- 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:
Disconnecting the Cable Retainer from the Selector Cable
• To avoid damage to the selector cable, the cable retainer must be disconnected from the selector lever before removal.
- Pull the locking mechanism all the way forward in the - direction of arrow 1 - and then unlock it 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 => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.
Continuation for all Vehicles:
- Remove the cable bracket bolts/nut - arrows - from the transmission.
- Remove the noise insulation.
- Remove the tunnel bridges.
- Remove the underbody trim.
- Disconnect the front exhaust pipe at the double clamp and remove the suspended mount from the subframe.
- Disengage the rear exhaust system 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 the specification for tightening the shift housing nuts, see => [ (Item 26) Nut ] Shift Mechanism Overviews or => [ (Item 16) Nut ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.
- Attach the cable bracket to the transmission and tighten the bolts to specifications, see => [ (Item 6) Bolt ] Shift Mechanism Overviews and => [ (Item 10) Nut ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.
These holes have different diameters.
Allocation of the cable retainers. Refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.
- Apply a small amount of grease (G 000 450 02) on the transmission shift lever - 1 - and on the relay lever - 2 - pins - arrows -.
- Replace the lock washers - 3 and 4 - for 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 => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Description and Operation.
- Insert the selector cable into the cable retainer.
Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms:
- Install the bracket and the center console.
- Install the shift knob, boot and noise insulation. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob, Boot and Noise Insulation.
- Install the underbody trim.
- Install the heat shield.
- Assemble the exhaust system so that it is free of tension and install the tunnel bridges. Refer to one of the following:
Diesel engines.
Gas engines.
- Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
- Install the air filter housing, if it was removed earlier. Refer to one of the following:
Diesel engines.
Gas engines.
- Observe the work sequence after connecting the battery.