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 cover. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Cover ] Shift Knob, Boot and Cover.

Rabbit for Model Years (MY) 2006-2009

- Remove the foot well trim panel from the center console and the ashtray or storage compartment and then remove the center console.

Golf from MY 2010

- Remove the ashtray or storage compartment from the center console.

The foot well rear channel is located above the bracket for the center console on some vehicles:

- Remove the foot well rear channel.






- Remove the center console mounting bracket nut.

- Remove the shift housing nuts. Refer to => [ Remove the shift housing nuts. ].

- Lower the shift housing.

• If it is not possible to lower the shift housing, then the nuts on the shift housing are located under the bracket on the center console.

• It will be necessary to remove the bracket from the center console.

Continuation for all Vehicles

- If present, remove the interior monitoring sensor (G273) from rear nuts.

Remove the shift housing nuts - arrows -.





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

- Remove the shift cable from the pin.






With a Metal Relay Lever

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

- Remove the selector cable from the pin.

With a Plastic Relay Lever

Disconnect the Cable Retainer from the Selector Cable





- 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 ] Plastic Relay Lever.

Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms

- Remove the cable bracket bolts - arrows - and bracket from the transmission. Unclip the hose/line assembly - A - from the bracket - B - beforehand, if necessary.






- Remove the noise insulation.

- Remove the tunnel bridges.

- Separate the front exhaust system at the double clamp and remove the suspended mount from the subframe.

- Remove the underbody trim.

- 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 nut, see - item 26 - in => [ Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06 ] Shift Mechanism Overviews or - item 16 - in => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.

- Route the cables - 1 - from the shift mechanism - 2 - to the transmission as follows:






• After the cables cross each other diagonally - arrow -, they must run parallel to each other up to the cable bracket on the transmission.

• Make sure the cable tie - arrow - for attaching the cables is installed correctly. Installed position, refer to => [ Cable Tie Installed Location ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.

• The cables must be routed inside the depression in the heat shield - 3 -.

A clip - A - holds the cables to the heat shield.






Allocation of cable retainers, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ] Shift Mechanism Overviews.

The cable retainers have different diameter holes.

- Apply a small amount of grease on the pins - arrows - for the transmission shift lever - 1 - and on the relay lever - 2 -.






• For the correct grease allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog.

- 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 => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.

- Insert the selector cable into the cable retainer.

Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms

- Install the center console.

- Install the shift knob, boot and cover. Refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Cover ] Shift Knob, Boot and Cover.

- 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.

- Observe the work sequence after connecting the battery.

Tightening specifications