trouble selecting first gear

[3ontheway]

Hi,

more often than not i cannot select first gear after i stop,
often need to start in 2nd gear which kills the clutch on hill starts,
car: mk1 cabrio

sometimes it lets me select first though and its fine

my guess is a gear selector or bushing??? although i dont have much of an idea, is there anything i could check or wiggle before i take it to the shop?

Thanks again for your tips

Pete

[Peter Jones]

I'd try replacing all the bushings first and making sure the oil level in the box is right.

Pete

[AUC-05L]

here you go, sorted out my first gear selection problems.

http://www.geocities.com/jonnyguru/vw/shifter.html?200813

cheers
john

[3ontheway]

thanks for your reply,
i had a look at the website which was handy

if it wasnt bucketing down outside i would get under and have a look,
im not THAT good with mechanics though

i just called a place here in syd, * name withheld * who said that it would be quite costly to get the bushes changed if thats what it was.........heaps of man hours
which makes me think i cant do it myself......

is there anywhere round western sydders/inner west sydders where i could get this looked at?

its my missus' car and wanted this done b4 she gets back as a suprise....

thanks again for your help!

Pete

[Golf Loon]

The bushes are worth about $50 for the whole set and a couple are hard to change, but if you just do the easy ones and adjust the gearlinkage properly, it will make the shift nicer.

We`d be happy to sort it for you, wont be expensive. We are at Campbelltown, SW Sydders.

[Peter Jones]

It takes me about an hour to change all the shift linkage bushes in my driveway! It's not that hard, especially if your mechanic does the work on a hoist.



Pete

[Jarred]

here's a pretty decent vid if you like to see things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzcejfvI82I&feature=related

starts about 4 mins about the linkages.

[PaulC]

It takes me about an hour to change all the shift linkage bushes in my driveway! It's not that hard, especially if your mechanic does the work on a hoist.



Pete

Yes it doesn't take long, watch out though if you are doing the bushes on the pivots and you have to remove the linkages. Make sure you unclip the little latch and don't force it off the ball joint. Their plastic and old ones can break the latch and then you have to replace it.