FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
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Shift Mechanism Overviews






Shift Mechanism Overviews

Obtain the radio code on vehicles with coded radio.

Disconnect the ground cable from the battery when working on the shift mechanism inside the engine compartment.

If the battery is to be reconnected, follow the steps to reconnect the battery.

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, Boot and Cover ]

II - => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ]

Rabbit for MY 2006-2009 and Golf from MY 2010.

III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables, with a Metal Cable Bracket and Relay Lever ]

III - => [ Shift and Selector Cables, with a Plastic Cable Bracket and Relay Lever ]

Shift Knob, Boot and Cover






1 Emblem

Can be carefully pried out of a plastic or leather shift knob using the trim removal wedge (3409).

2 Shift Knob

With the boot.

The shift knob and boot cannot be separated from each other. Always replace them together.

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Shift Knob, Boot and Cover ] Shift Knob, Boot and Cover.

3 Clamp

For securing the shift knob to the shift lever.

Attach to the shift knob using the hose clamp pliers (V.A.G 1275)

Always replace.

4 Center Control Cover

Combined in one piece with the upper center console section on some versions.

5 Noise Insulation

Not installed on all vehicles.

The arrow on the noise insulation points in the direction of travel.

The retaining tab spacing varies. Therefore, can only be installed in one position.

Shift Lever and Housing, through 10.06

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.

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






1 Lock Washer

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Lock Washer, Removing and Installing ].

2 Bushing

3 Pressure Spring

4 Bushing

5 TORX(R) 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.

With self adhesive.

Installed to the shift housing.

13 Shift Lever

14 Shift Housing

15 Bushing

16 Pin

17 Bushing

18 Pressure Spring

Installing, refer to => [ Installing the Pressure Spring ].

19 Selector Bracket

20 TORX(R) Bolt, 5 Nm

21 Gasket

Always replace.

22 Base Plate

Bend the tabs down in order to remove.

Always replace.

23 Selector Cable

To the selector bracket inside the shift housing.

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Selector and Shift Cables, Inside the Shift Housing ].

24 Shift Cable

To the shift lever guide inside the shift housing.

Removing and installing, refer to => [ Removing and Installing the Selector and Shift Cables, Inside the Shift Housing ].

25 Lock Washer

Always replace.

26 Nut

M6 - 8 Nm

M8 - 25 Nm

Quantity: 4

27 Bushing

Fits in one position only.

28 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Removing and Installing the Selector and Shift Cables, Inside the Shift Housing





- Remove the lock washers from the shift cable - A - and the selector cable - B -.

Lift the tab with a screwdriver - arrow 1 - and remove the lock washers - arrow 2 -.

- Remove the shift cable - A - from the shift lever guide.

- Remove the selector cable - B - from the selector bracket.

Installing the Pressure Spring





- Install the pressure spring so that the upper leg - A - contacts the upper part of the pin - arrow -.

- Pull the lower leg - B - downward so that it reached 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 allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog.

Shift mechanism disassembly and assembly. Refer to => [ Shift Mechanism, from 11.06 ] Shift Mechanism, From 11.06.






1 Base Plate

Bend down the tabs in the order to remove.

Always replace.

2 Gasket

Always replace.

3 Shift Lever

Can be removed and installed with the shift lever guide installed.

4 Washer

Slide onto the shift lever as far as the stop - arrow -.

5 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Be careful not to damage the cables when removing them.

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 ] Description and Operation.

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 ] 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, refer to => [ Lock Washer, Removing and Installing ].

13 Pressure Spring

14 Bushing

15 Shift Lever Guide

16 Nut

M6 nut: 8 Nm

M8 nut: 25 Nm

Quantity: 4

17 Gasket

Between the shift housing and the underbody.

With self adhesive.

Installed to the shift housing.

18 Shift Housing

With the pressure spring and selector bracket.

The pressure spring and selector bracket cannot be removed.

Lock Washer, Removing and Installing





- Push the bushing - arrow B - down all the way in the - direction of arrow C - using a screwdriver and remove 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, with a Metal Cable Bracket and Relay Lever

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.

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

Do not bend the operating cables.






1 Shift Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer - item 11 -.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.

Attach to the selector cable with a cable tie. Refer to => [ Cable Tie Installed Location ].

From 11.06 changed fastener on the shift lever guide inside the shift mechanism, see - item 8 - in => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ].

2 Selector Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer - item 10 -.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.

Attach to the shift cable with a cable tie. Refer to => [ Cable Tie Installed Location ].

From 11.06 changed fastener on the selector bracket inside shift mechanism, see - item 6 - in => [ Shift Lever and Housing, from 11.06 ].

3 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Discontinued on shift mechanisms from 11.06. Refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, with a Plastic Cable Bracket and Relay Lever ].

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 installing the cable bracket to the transmission.

7 Cable Bracket

Metal

8 Grommet

For the cable bracket to the transmission.

9 Spacer Support

10 Cable Retainer

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

For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different.

Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

11 Cable Retainer

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

For attaching the shift cable to the transmission shift lever.

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different.

Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

12 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Not 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

Through 04.07 the relay lever is made of metal.

From 05.07 the relay lever is made of plastic.

Installed position, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position ].

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

Install the metal relay lever into the bushing - item 14 - and secure it with the lock washer - item 13 -.

16 Sliding Shoe

17 Shift Lever

Installing, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever, Installing ].

Installed position, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position ].

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

As of 06.06 smaller pin diameter for the cable retainer. Refer to => [ As of 06.06, Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer ].

18 Self-Locking Nut

23 Nm

Always replace.

Cable Retainer Allocation





These holes have different diameters.






As of 06.06, Smaller Pin Diameter for the Shift Cable Retainer










Transmission Shift Lever, Installing





- When positioning the transmission shift lever, make sure the gap - arrow A - is placed over the missing selector shaft teeth - arrow B -.

Transmission Shift Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position





1 Transmission shift lever
2 The relay lever fits into the sliding rail on the transmission shift 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.

Shift and Selector Cables, with a Plastic Cable Bracket and Relay Lever

Lubricate the bearing areas and the sliding surfaces.

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

Do not bend the operating cables.






1 Gear Shift Unit

2 Sliding Shoe

3 Relay Lever

Made of plastic.

For the correct allocation, refer to the Parts Catalog.

Installed position, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position ].

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

Plastic relay lever, removing and installing with the cable retainer. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.

4 Cable Retainer

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

For attaching the selector cable to the relay lever.

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different.

Removing from and installing to the relay lever. Refer to => [ Plastic Relay Lever ] Plastic Relay Lever.

Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

5 Cable Retainer

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

For attaching the shift cable to the transmission shift lever.

Do not interchange, the cable locking mechanisms for the selector cable to the relay lever and for the shift cable to the transmission shift lever are different.

Allocation, refer to => [ Cable Retainer Allocation ].

6 Lock Washer

Always replace.

7 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Be careful not to damage the cables when removing.

8 Selector Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer - item 4 -.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.

9 Shift Cable

Attaches to the cable retainer - item 5 -.

Installed position, refer to => [ Shift and Selector Cables, Installed Position ] Description and Operation.

10 Shift Housing

11 Lock Washer

Always replace.

Be careful not to damage the cables when removing.

12 Cable Bracket

Made of plastic.

13 Bolt

20 Nm

Quantity: 3

For the cable bracket to the transmission.

14 Grommet

Quantity: 3

For the cable bracket to the transmission.

15 Spacer

Quantity: 3

16 Nut

See - item 7 - in => [ Gear Shift Unit Overview ] Gear Shift Unit Overview.

17 Transmission Shift Lever

Installing, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever, Installing ].

Installed position, refer to => [ Transmission Shift Lever/Relay Lever, Installed Position ].

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

18 Seal

Removing and installing, see - item 6 - in => [ Gear Shift Unit Overview ] Gear Shift Unit Overview.

19 Clip

For the relay lever to the gear shift unit.