Complete shift mechanism with selector lever cable, removing and installing

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

NOTE:

If repair work only needs to be done on the shift mechanism function unit, it can be removed and installed separately → Shift mechanism function unit, removing and installing .

Special tools, testers and auxiliary items required

Fig 1: Pry Lever 80-200

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Pry lever 80 - 200

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

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Engine/Transmission Jack V.A.G 1383 A

Removing

Place selector lever in position "D".
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 panel → 68 - INTERIOR EQUIPMENT .

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

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Pull electrical connector - 1 - out of protective sleeve - 2 -.
Disconnect electrical connector - 1 - for circuit board.
Disconnect electrical 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

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To disconnect cover from shift mechanism function unit, carefully release retaining tabs - arrows - one after another.
Pull cover upward slightly until cover guides - 1 - outside of openings - 2 - on shift mechanism function unit.
Then lift rear of cover upward direction of - arrow - and at the same time pull it over cross member of center console - 3 -.

Fig 5: Manual Release Mechanism Bracket, Braces & Nuts

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Remove nuts - arrows -.
Remove bracket - A - for manual release mechanism from studs.
Press 4 bracket - B - for shift mechanism function unit and secure it, e.g. with wire.
Raise vehicle.

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

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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 shield - B -.

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

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Remove air duct - 1 - from transmission.
Remove noise insulation - 2 - below transmission.
Remove heat shield - 3 - for drive shaft.
Remove drive shaft - 4 - at transmission and tie up or support.

Remove heat shield - 5 - above drive shaft and push toward rear.

Lower back of transmission:

CAUTION:

For the following steps, note:
Do not support on transmission oil pan - risk of damage.

Fig 8: Bolt M12X100 With Attached Nut Inserted In Mount Behind Transmission Oil Pan

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Insert a bolt M12x100 - 1 - with attached nut - 2 - in mount behind transmission oil pan.

Dimension - a - = 13 mm.

Position Engine/Transmission Jack V.A.G 1383 A plunger on bolt head and slightly raise transmission, as shown in illustration.
Remove bracket for noise insulation below ATF cooler.
Mark installed position of transmission tunnel cross member on body.

Fig 9: Transmission Bolts On Tunnel Cross Member

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Remove left - 1 - and right - 2 - transmission bolts on tunnel cross member.

Fig 10: Removing/Installing Bolts At Tunnel Cross Member

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Remove transmission tunnel cross member from body - arrows -.

CAUTION: To prevent damage from occurring, it is very important to pay attention to everything in the engine compartment.

Carefully lower rear of engine and transmission with Engine/Transmission Jack V.A.G 1383 A.
The front exhaust pipes should not contact subframe.

Fig 11: Selector Lever Cable, Selector Shaft Lever & Locking Clip

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Remove shield from selector shaft lever.
Press selector lever cable ball socket - 1 - off selector shaft lever - 3 - using Pry Lever 80 - 200.
Remove locking clip - 2 - on support bracket for selector lever cable and remove selector lever cable.

Fig 12: Selector Lever Cable, Sound Insulation Panel & Retaining Washers

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Pry off retaining washers - arrows - for noise insulation - 2 - from cover for shift mechanism.
If equipped, remove bolt for noise insulation.
Guide noise insulation - 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 bolts and nuts, and whether bolts and nuts are to be replaced, refer to → Shift mechanism function unit, manual release, assembly overview .

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

Raise vehicle.
Install shift mechanism function unit on body.

NOTE:

When inserting, the 4 braces serve as protection to prevent the shift mechanism function unit from falling out.
If one or more braces break off, remove them. The shift mechanism function unit does not have to be replaced because of this.

Fig 13: Selector Lever Cable, Sound Insulation Panel & Retaining Washers

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

Fig 14: Selector Lever Cable, Crossmember/Transmission & Securing Points

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Route selector lever cable - 1 - above securing points - arrows - for tunnel cross member - 2 -.

NOTE:

Do not bend or kink the selector lever cable.

Fig 15: Selector Lever Cable, Selector Shaft Lever & Locking Clip

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Place selector lever cable - 1 - into support bracket/transmission and carefully press cable onto selector shaft lever - 3 -. Do not bend lever/selector shaft when doing this, otherwise shifting can no longer be adjusted precisely.
Press new locking clip - 2 - onto selector lever cable at support bracket/transmission.

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

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

NOTE:

When installing tunnel cross member on body, observe installation position (markings from removal).

Install tunnel cross member → Tunnel cross member, removing and installing .
Attach drive shaft 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 16: Manual Release Mechanism Bracket, Braces & Nuts

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

Fig 17: Guides, Shift Unit Holes, Center Console, Selector Lever, Cover & Retainer Tabs

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Guide cover over selector lever - 4 - and at the same time under cross member for center console - 3 - at front.
Then pivot cover downward at rear in direction of - arrow -.
Insert cover guides - 1 - in openings - 2 -.
Then push down on cover until retainer tabs - arrows - clip into place.

Fig 18: Circuit Board & Shift Lock Solenoid Harness Connectors & Protective Sleeve

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

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

Check shift mechanism → Selector mechanism, checking .