Shifter M/T: Description and Operation
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.
• When working on the shift mechanism in the engine compartment, remove the complete air filter housing if it is located above the selector 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 Boot ]
II - => [ Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06 ]
II - => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ]
III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables ]
Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required
• Hose Clamp Pliers (V.A.G 1275)
• Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) (V.A.G 1331)
Shift Knob and Boot
1 Badge
• Can be carefully pried out of a plastic or leather shift knob
2 Shift Knob
• With 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.
• Attach to the shift knob - item 2 - using (V.A.G 1275).
• Always replace.
4 Center Control Cover
• Combined as one piece with the center console upper 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, through 10.06
• Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces. For the correct grease, refer to the Parts Catalog.
1 Lock Washer
• Removing and installing.
2 Bushing
3 Pressure Spring
4 Bushing
5 Bolt
• 5 Nm
6 Cover
7 Sound Insulation
8 Bearing Shell
9 Bearing Shell
10 Shift Lever Guide
11 Washer
12 Gasket
• Between the shift housing and the underbody.
• Self-adhesive.
• Affix to the shift housing.
13 Shift Lever
14 Shift Housing
15 Bushing
16 Pin
17 Bushing
18 Pressure Spring
• Installing.
19 Selector Bracket
20 Bolt
• 5 Nm
21 Gasket
• Always replace.
22 Base Plate
• Bend the tabs in order to remove.
• Always replace.
23 Selector Cable
• To the selector bracket.
• Removing and installing.
24 Shift Cable
• Removing from, and installing to the shift lever guide.
25 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
26 Nut
• M8: 25 Nm
• M6: 8 Nm
• Quantity: 4
27 Bushing
• Fits in one position only
28 Lock Washer
• Always replace.
Selector Cable and Shift Cable, Removing and Installing
- Remove the lock washer from the shift cable - A - and the selector cable - B -.
Lift the tab with a screwdriver - arrow 1 - and remove the lock washer - arrow 2 -.
- Remove the shift cable - A - from the shift lever mount.
- Remove the selector cable - B - from the selector bracket mount.
Lock Washer, Removing and Installing
- 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.
Pressure Spring, Installing
- Install the pressure spring so that the leg - A - contacts the upper part of the pin - arrow -.
- Pull the leg - B - downward so that it reaches the bottom of the pin - arrow -.
Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06
• 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, from 11.06 ] Shift Mechanism, from 11.06.
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 out of shift lever as far as 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 housing.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.
7 Bushing
8 Shift Cable
• Pry off of the shift lever guide.
• Press onto the shift lever guide inside the shift housing.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.
9 Sound Insulation
10 Bearing Shell
• Will get damaged when being removed.
• Always replace.
11 Bushing
12 Lock Washer
• Removing and installing.
13 Pressure Spring
• Installing.
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 pressure spring and selector bracket.
• Pressure spring and selector bracket cannot be removed.
Shift and Selector Cables
• Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces. For the correct grease, refer to the Parts Catalog.
1 Shift Cable
• Attached to the cable retainer - item 11 -.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.
• Secured to the selector cable with a cable tie.
• Removing and installing, refer to => [ Shift Cable and Selector Cable ] Shift Cable and Selector Cable.
• From 11.06 changed fastener on shift lever guide inside the shift housing, see - item 8 -.
2 Selector Cable
• Attached to the cable retainer - item 10 -.
• Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.
• Secured to the shift cable with a cable tie.
• Removing and installing, refer to => [ Shift Cable and Selector Cable ] Shift Cable and Selector Cable.
• From 11.06 changed fastener on selector bracket inside the shift housing, see - item 6 -.
3 Lock Washer
• Always replace
• Discontinued on shift mechanisms from 11.06. Refer to => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ].
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
• For the cable bracket support to transmission.
9 Spacer Support
10 Cable Retainer
• For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• Do not interchange, cable securing mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the 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 the plastic relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Removing from the plastic relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Installing on the plastic relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.
• Allocation.
11 Cable Retainer
• For attaching the shift cable to the shift lever.
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• Do not interchange, cable securing mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the 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
• The metal relay lever is placed in the bushings - item 14 - and secured with a lock washer - item 13 -.
• From 05.07 is a plastic relay lever.
• Plastic relay lever, removing and installing with cable retainer. 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 Shift Lever
• With a balance weight.
• Insert so that the master spline aligns with the shift shaft.
• Installed position.
• Adjust the shift mechanism after installation. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, Adjusting ] Adjustments.
• From 06.06 the cable retainer pin has a smaller diameter.
18 Nut
• 23 Nm
• Self locking.
• Always replace.
Cable Retainer Allocation
These holes have different diameters.
As of 02.06, Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer
Selector Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position
1 Selector lever with balance weight
2 Relay lever fits into the sliding rail on the selector lever via the sliding shoe - arrow -.
Cable Tie, Installed Location
- Wrap the cable tie - arrow - in a crossover pattern around the cables and attach it as illustrated.