Shift Mechanism

Special tools and workshop equipment required 

• Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) V.A.G 1331
• grease G 000 450 02

Removing 

-- First check whether a coded radio is installed. If so, obtain the antitheft code.

-- Turn off the ignition and disconnect the battery ground cable. Refer to Removal and Installation .

-- Remove the boot with the shift knob and noise insulation. Refer to SHIFT KNOB, BOOT AND NOISE INSULATION .

-- Remove the center console and the center console bracket. Refer to Removal and Installation .

-- Remove the nuts -arrows-.

Fig 1: Identifying Nuts For Selector Housing

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Remove the air filter housing if it is located above the shift mechanism. Refer to one of the following:

Gas engines, refer to ENGINE COVER/UPPER AIR FILTER HOUSING , or AIR FILTER HOUSING .

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

Fig 2: Identifying Shift Cable Lock Washer To Transmission Shift Lever, Cable And Pins

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Remove the shift cable from the pin -arrow-.

With a Metal Relay Lever:

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

-- Remove the selector cable from the pin -arrow-.

With a Plastic Relay Lever:

Fig 3: Identifying Sequence To Disconnect Cable Retainer From Selector Cable

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

• To avoid damage to the selector cable, the cable retainer must be disconnected from the selector lever before removal.

-- 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 .

Continuation for all Vehicles:

-- Remove the cable bracket bolts/nut -arrows- from the transmission.

Fig 4: Identifying Cable Bracket Bolts/Nut -Arrows- To Remove/Install Cable Mounting Bracket From Transmission

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Remove the noise insulation. Refer to Description and Operation .

-- Remove the tunnel bridges.

-- Remove the underbody trim. Refer to Description and Operation .

-- Disconnect the front exhaust pipe at the double clamp and remove the suspended mount from the subframe.

-- Disengage the rear exhaust system and remove the heat shield.

-- 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 the specification for tightening the shift housing nuts, see "Nut" in item:  26 or  16.

-- Attach the cable bracket to the transmission and tighten the bolts to specifications, see "Bolt" in item:  6 and "Nut" in item:  10.

These holes have different diameters.

Allocation of the cable retainers. Refer to Figure.

-- Apply a small amount of grease G 000 450 02 on the transmission shift lever -1- and on the relay lever -2- pins -arrows-.

Fig 5: Identifying Shift Cable Lock Washer To Transmission Shift Lever, Cable And Pins

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Replace the lock washers -3 and 4- for 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 .

-- Insert the selector cable into the cable retainer.

Continuation for all Shift Mechanisms:

-- Install the bracket and the center console. Refer to Removal and Installation .

-- Install the shift knob, boot and noise insulation. Refer to SHIFT KNOB, BOOT AND NOISE INSULATION .

-- Install the underbody trim. Refer to Description and Operation .

-- Install the heat shield.

-- Assemble the exhaust system so that it is free of tension and install the tunnel bridges. Refer to one of the following:

Diesel engines, refer to EXHAUST SYSTEM .

Gas engines, refer to EXHAUST SYSTEM OVERVIEW .

-- Adjust the shift mechanism. Refer to SHIFT MECHANISM, ADJUSTING .

-- Install the air filter housing, if it was removed earlier. Refer to one of the following:

Gas engines, refer to ENGINE COVER/UPPER AIR FILTER HOUSING , or AIR FILTER HOUSING .

-- Observe the work sequence after connecting the battery. Refer to Removal and Installation .