Shift mechanism, removing and installing

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

NOTE:

If only the shift unit requires service, this can also be removed and installed individually → Shift unit, removing and installing .

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

Fig 1: Pry Lever 80-200

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Pry lever RMV outside mirror 80-200

Fig 2: Identifying Engine/Transmission Jack V.A.G. 1383 A

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Engine/transmission jack V.A.G 1383 A

Removing

Shift selector lever in position "D".
Activate the vehicle jack mode → 43 - Self Leveling Suspension .
With ignition switched off disconnect battery Ground (GND) strap. → 27 - BATTERY, STARTER, GENERATOR, CRUISE CONTROL .
Remove selector lever handle → Selector lever handle, removing and installing .

Remove front ashtray → 68 - INTERIOR EQUIPMENT .
Remove center console cover → 68 - INTERIOR EQUIPMENT .

Fig 3: Circuit Board & Shift Lock Solenoid Harness Connectors & Protective Sleeve

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Remove harness connector - 1 - out of protective sleeve - 2 -.
Disconnect harness connector - 1 - for circuit board.
Disconnect harness connector - 3 - for Shift Lock Solenoid.

NOTE:

The connector - 3 - is also covered by a protective sleeve.

Fig 4: Retaining Tabs, Cover Guides, Shift Unit Holes, Cover & Center Console

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

To remove cover from shift unit, carefully release retaining tabs - arrows - one after the other.
Pull cover upward slightly until guides - 1 - for cover are outside of holes - 2 - on shift unit.
Lift rear of cover upward direction of - arrow - and at the same time pull it over crossmember of center console - 3 -.

Fig 5: Manual Release Mechanism Bracket, Braces & Nuts

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Remove nuts - arrows -.
Remove bracket - A - for manual release mechanism from studs.
Press four braces - B - (for securing shift unit to body) toward the shift unit and secure them, e.g. with wire.
Raise vehicle.

Fig 6: Cross Member, Heat Shield & Rear Exhaust System

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Remove cross member - A - below exhaust system.
Separate front exhaust pipes with catalytic converter from rear exhaust system - arrows - and tie them up to side.
Remove heat shield - B -.

Fig 7: Air Duct, Sound Insulation Panel, Heat Shields & Driveshaft

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Remove air duct - 1 - from transmission.
Remove sound insulation panel - 2 - below transmission.
Remove heat shield - 3 - for driveshaft.
Unbolt driveshaft - 4 - at transmission and tie up or support.

Unbolt heat shield - 5 - above driveshaft and push toward rear.

Fig 8: Trolley Jack, Block Of Wood & Transmission Crossmember Bolts

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Support transmission with engine/transmission jack V.A.G 1383 A and trolley jack - B - from below.

A - Block of wood

NOTE:

Transmission can also be supported beneath the oil pan with transmission support 3282 → Rear transmission supports and transmission mounts, removing and installing .

Mark installation position of transmission crossmember at body - arrows -.
Unbolt transmission crossmember from body - arrows -.
Carefully lower engine and transmission at rear.

NOTE:

The front exhaust pipes should not contact the subframe.

Remove shield from selector shaft lever.

Fig 9: Selector Lever Cable, Selector Shaft Lever & Locking Clip

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Pry off selector lever cable - 1 - from selector shaft lever - 3 - e.g. using pry lever RMV outside mirror 80-200.
Remove locking clip - 2 - on support bracket for selector lever cable and remove selector lever cable.

Fig 10: Selector Lever Cable, Sound Insulation Panel & Retaining Washers

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Pry off retaining washers - arrows - for sound insulation panel - 2 - from cover for shift mechanism.
If equipped, remove bolt for sound insulation panel.
Guide sound insulation panel - 2 - over selector lever cable - 1 - and out.
Remove shift mechanism and selector lever cable downward.

Installing

Installation is in reverse order of removal. Note the following:

Torque specifications for nuts and bolts and whether nuts and bolts are to be replaced, refer to → Shift mechanism, assembly overview and → Shift mechanism, disassembling and assembling .

Shift selector lever and selector shaft lever in "D" position.

Raise vehicle.
Secure shift unit to body. The 4 braces help prevent the shift unit from falling through when installing.

NOTE:

Should one or more of the braces break off, remove the pieces from shift unit. The shift unit does not need to be replaced if this happens.

Fig 11: Selector Lever Cable, Sound Insulation Panel & Retaining Washers

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Guide sound insulation panel - 2 - over selector lever cable - 1 - on the shift mechanism cover.
Install new lock washers - arrows -.
If equipped, install bolt for sound insulation panel to 2 Nm.

Fig 12: Selector Lever Cable, Crossmember/Transmission & Securing Points

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Route selector lever cable - 1 - above securing points - arrows - for crossmember/transmission - 2 -.

NOTE:

Do not bend or kink the selector lever cable.

Fig 13: Selector Lever Cable, Selector Shaft Lever & Locking Clip

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Install selector lever cable - 1 - into support bracket/transmission and carefully press cable onto selector shaft lever - 3 -. When doing this, take care not to bend the lever/selector shaft, otherwise the shift mechanism cannot be adjusted correctly.
Press new locking clip - 2 - onto selector lever cable at support bracket/transmission.

Installed position: The angled end of the locking clip must point toward the end of the selector lever cable.

Attach shield to selector shaft lever.
Carefully raise engine and transmission at rear making sure not to pinch the selector lever cable.

Fig 14: Trolley Jack, Block Of Wood & Transmission Crossmember Bolts

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

When installing crossmember to body, observe installation position (markings made from removal).
Tighten bolts - arrows - to specified torque Crossmember to body: .
Fasten driveshaft to transmission flange → 39 FINAL DRIVE, DIFFERENTIAL .
Reconnect front exhaust pipes to rear exhaust system →
- 26 - EXHAUST SYSTEM, EMISSION CONTROLS for 4.2 LITER V8 4V ENGINE MECHANICAL, ENGINE CODE(S): BVJ
- 26 - EXHAUST SYSTEM, EMISSION CONTROLS for 4.2 LITER V8 5V ENGINE MECHANICAL, ENGINE CODE(S): BFM
- 26 - EXHAUST SYSTEM, EMISSION CONTROLS for 5.2 LITER 10-CYL. 4V ENGINE MECHANICAL, ENGINE CODE(S): BSM
- 26 - EXHAUST SYSTEM, EMISSION CONTROLS for 6.0 LITER 12-CYL. 4V ENGINE MECHANICAL, ENGINE CODE(S): BSB
.

Fig 15: Manual Release Mechanism Bracket, Braces & Nuts

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Set bracket - A - for manual release mechanism onto studs.
Tighten nuts - arrows -.

Fig 16: Guides, Shift Unit Holes, Center Console, Selector Lever, Cover & Retainer Tabs

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Guide cover over selector lever - 4 - and at the same time under crossmember for center console - 3 - at front.
Swing cover downward at rear direction of - arrow -.
Insert guides - 1 - of cover into holes - 2 - of shift unit.
Push down on cover until retainer tabs - arrows - lock into place.

Fig 17: Circuit Board & Shift Lock Solenoid Harness Connectors & Protective Sleeve

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

Connect harness connector - 3 - for Shift Lock Solenoid N110.
Push connector - 3 - into protective sleeve (not shown in illustration).
Connect harness connector - 1 - for circuit board.
Push harness connector - 1 - out of protective sleeve - 2 -.

Adjust selector lever cable → Selector lever cable, checking and adjusting .
Install front ashtray and center console cover → 68 - INTERIOR EQUIPMENT
Install selector lever handle → Selector lever handle, removing and installing .
Reconnect Ground (GND) strap to battery. → 27 - BATTERY, STARTER, GENERATOR, CRUISE CONTROL

Check shift mechanism → Selector mechanism, checking .