Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Shift Mechanism






Shift Mechanism

Removing

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) (V.A.G 1331)

- Determine 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 boot with the shift knob and noise insulation. Refer to => [ Shift Knob with Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob with Boot and Noise Insulation.

- Remove the center console and the center console mounting bracket.

- Remove the nuts - arrows -.





- Remove the air filter housing if is it located over the shift mechanism.

- Remove the shift cable lock washer - 3 - from the transmission selector lever - 1 -.





- Remove the shift cable from the pin.

Metal Relay Lever

- Remove the selector cable lock washer - 4 - from the relay lever - 2 -.

- Remove the selector cable from the pin.

Plastic Relay Lever

Disconnecting the Cable Retainer from the Selector Cable





- Pull the securing mechanism all the way forward in the - direction of arrow 1 - and then unlock to the left in the - direction of arrow 2 -.

- Push the relay lever forward in the - direction of arrow 3 -.

- The relay lever and the cable retainer must be removed together. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.

Continuation for All

- Remove the cable bracket support bolts - arrows - from the transmission, if necessary, unclip the hose/line assembly.





- Remove the noise insulation.

- Remove the tunnel bridges.

- Disconnect the front exhaust system at the double clamp and remove it from the subframe.

- Disengage the exhaust system rear section.

- Remove the floor panel trim.

- Remove the heat shield under the shift mechanism.

- Pivot the shift housing downward and remove with cables.

Installing

Install in reverse order of removal.

- Align the shift housing so that is it parallel to the body.

The distance on both sides to the body must be equal.

- Install the shift housing and nuts - 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 -.

A clip - A - holds the cables and heat shield to each other in place.





- Attach the cable bracket support to the transmission and tighten the bolts - arrows - to specifications, see - item 6 -=> [ Bolt ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.





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 on the transmission shift lever - 1 - and on the relay lever - 2 -.





For the correct grease, refer to the Parts Catalog.

- Replace the lock washers - 3 - and the lock washer from the metal relay lever - 4 - each time they are removed.

- Secure the shift cable with the lock washer - 3 - and selector cable with lock washer - 4 -.

Cable Retainer with Plastic Relay Lever

- Install the relay lever and the cable retainer. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.

- Install the selector cable in the cable retainer.

Continuation for All

- Install the center console and the center console mounting bracket.

- Install the boot with the shift knob and, if necessary, the noise insulation. Refer to => [ Shift Knob with Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob with Boot and Noise Insulation.

- Install the heat shield under the shift mechanism. Install the underbody cover if it was removed earlier.

- Assemble the exhaust system so that it is free of tension and attach the tunnel bridges.

- Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.

- Install the air filter housing, if it was removed earlier.

- Connect the battery and follow the procedure regarding what to do after connecting the battery.