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-.
-- 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-.
-- 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:
- 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.
-- 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-.
-- 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 .