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.
• Connect the battery and follow the procedures to be performed after connecting the battery.
• To work on the shift mechanism in engine compartment, remove the entire air filter housing if it is located over the shift 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 and Cover ]
II - => [ Shift Lever and Housing ]
III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables ]
Shift Knob and Cover
1 Badge
• 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 together.
• Removing and installing, refer to => [ Shift Knob with Boot and Noise Insulation ] Shift Knob with Boot and Noise Insulation.
3 Clamp
• For securing the shift knob to the shift lever.
• Always replace.
• Attach to the shift knob using hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275).
4 Center Control Cover
• Combined as one piece with the upper center console section on some versions.
5 Noise Insulation
• Not on all vehicles.
• Arrow on noise insulation points in 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, refer to the Parts Catalog.
• Shift mechanism disassembling and assembling. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism ] Shift Mechanism.
1 Base Plate
• Bend the tabs 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 - installed.
4 Washer
• Slide onto 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 shift mechanism.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Service and Repair.
7 Bushing
8 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 ] Service and Repair.
9 Insulation
10 Bearing Shell
• Will get damaged when being removed.
• Always replace.
11 Bushing
12 Lock Washer
• Removing and installing.
13 Pressure Spring
14 Bushing
15 Shift Lever Guide
16 Nut
• M8: 25 Nm
• M6: 8 Nm
• Quantity: 4
17 Gasket
• Between the shift housing and the underbody.
• Self-adhesive.
• Affix to the shift housing.
18 Shift Housing
• With the spring and selector bracket.
• 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 - 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. For the correct grease, refer to the Parts Catalog.
1 Shift Cable
• Attach to the cable retainer - item 11 -.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Service and Repair.
• From 11.06 changed fastener on shift lever inside the shift mechanism - item 8 -.
2 Selector Cable
• Attach to the cable retainer - item 10 -.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Service and Repair.
• From 11.06 changed fastener on selector bracket inside shift mechanism - item 6 -.
3 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
4 Shift Housing
5 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
• Be careful not to damage the cables when removing them.
6 Bolt
• 20 Nm
• Quantity: 3
• For the cable bracket support.
7 Cable Bracket Support
• Can be made of plastic or metal.
8 Grommet
• Cable bracket support to transmission
9 Spacer
10 Cable Retainer
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.
• Do not interchange, cable locking mechanisms for selector cable on linkage lever and for shift cable on transmission shift lever are different.
• Is secured with a lock washer - item 12 - in the case of the metal relay lever.
• From 05.07 installed with a plastic relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Removing from plastic relay lever, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Installing to a plastic relay lever, refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Allocation.
11 Cable Retainer
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• For attaching the shift cable to the transmission shift lever.
• Do not interchange, cable locking mechanisms for selector cable on linkage lever and for shift cable on transmission shift lever are different.
• Allocation.
12 Lock Washer
• Always replace
• Not needed with the plastic relay lever.
13 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
• Not needed with the plastic relay lever.
14 Bushing
• Not needed with the plastic relay lever.
15 Relay Lever
• Installed position.
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• Can be made of plastic or metal.
• Install the metal relay lever into the bushings - item 14 - and secure it with a lock washer - item 13 -.
• From 05.07, the relay lever is plastic.
• Relay lever and cable retainer removing and installing. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• The bushings and lock washers are not needed with the plastic relay lever.
16 Sliding Shoe
17 Self Locking Nut
23 Nm
• Always replace.
18 Shift Lever
• With a balance weight.
• Installing.
• Installed position.
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• As of 06.06 smaller pin diameter for the cable retainer.
Cable Retainer Allocation
These holes have different diameters.
As of 06.06, Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer
Installing the Transmission Shift Lever
- When positioning the transmission shift lever, make sure the tooth gap - arrow A - is placed over the missing selector shaft teeth - arrow B -.
- Tighten the nut to specification, see - item 17 -.
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 -.