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Mon 25 Oct 2004 20:49

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - mattieboy

Hi all

It is getting difficult to select 1st gear on my Golf Mk2 GTI (137,000 miles).

The symtoms are strange - it is only when the car is on a slant, with a component of the slope running across the car (i.e the slope is going from side to side) that it is hard to get 1st. If the car is level, or on a direct uphill or downhill slope 1st gear is occasionally a little bit stiff, but on certain slopes it is completely impossible to select. It's getting a bit worse with time, although it's just been repaired (crash damage to front wing) and now seems quite a bit worse - I used to have no problems on the slope leading to my garage, but my girlfriend had to drive it in in 2nd last night.

I have checked gearbox oil, seems OK. I don't know how much resistance there should be, but the engine seems to rock quite easily - is there a chance that knackered engine mounts are a cause? It makes sense in terms of the fact the problems only occur when the car is tipped side-to-side. I've heard that the gear selector bushes can go, but I can't see what the slope of the car would have to do with it and hence would expect it to be a problem on the flat.

Has nayone come across this before? All advice gratefully received
Matt

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Mon 25 Oct 2004 20:58

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - Number_Cruncher

Hi Matt,

On these cars, it is always worth checking the bushes on the linkage. Your suggestion of also looking at the engine mountings is also sensible - both the linkage and the mounts are easy to check.

number_cruncher

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Mon 25 Oct 2004 21:09

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - Big John

It could be the clutch dragging due to either a rear crankshaft oil leak , mal adjusted cluth cable or totally worn out clutch.

Does it do it in reverse? A dragging clutch shows up usually in first or reverse.

Unlikely to be engine mounts as gear selection would go pear shaped whilst negotiating roundabouts and corners.

Unlikely to be gearbox syncromesh as its not usually required when first setting off, indeed thats why old cars didn't have syncromesh on first gear.

If its not a simple adjustment its likely to be a gearbox removal job which is not that difficult as long as you get the correct tools to disconnect driveshafts and exhaust. Before you do this, do your best to diagnose the fault before taking to bits.

By the fact a side to side slope affects it more I'd look for a crankshaft oil leak.

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Mon 25 Oct 2004 21:18

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - Civic8

As NC said..These remotes are only usually troublesome when the bushes wear.I think you can get repair kits for them. I have my doubts rear main oil seal will cause one gear problem..Leak of that type would spread onto clutch making it slip.Engine mount another poss
--
Steve

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Tue 26 Oct 2004 11:44

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - mattieboy

Hi all

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I'll go through a few points one by one to try and narrow it down a bit.

It's a new clutch, and 1st gear trouble was evident before change (although worse after, but suspect that's due to the gradual increase in severity of the problem, rather than a fault of the clutch). Reverse is fine, no problems, but I will check for oil leaks. It only happens on 1st gear, and there's no evidence of clutch slip - the current clutch has been in for around 6 months with no problems.

I've never had a problem changing gears going around bends, but as it's only 1st gear where the problems are I'm not sure I'd ever try to select it unless stationary or at a crawl. I might test that out, and try and get first whilst turning in a car park.

Glad to hear it's unlikely to be synchromesh! I want to avoid having to take gearbox out as, whilst I have the tools, the space required is an issue.

I think my first point of call might be some replacement selector bushes - is there any way of deciding if they're worn? I'm happy just replacing them on the balance of probability, as they're dirt cheap, but obviously I'd prefer to cut down the work I might need to do! I'm unsure how to check engine mounts but I've heard one is oil-filled so I'll look for leaks etc. I'll check condition of others, in terms of perishing or splitting.

I'll let you know if I manage to fix it.

Thanks once again

Matt

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Tue 26 Oct 2004 16:11

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - was8v

I have a similar problem on my 120k mk2 golf gti. Apparently its quite common - i have been advised by people on the golfgti.co.uk forum (very helpful!) and was given the following advise:

"first off you need somebody to hold the gearstick in the neutral position if you dont have the special VAG tool for doing this

then, if you look in the engine bay where the actual rod comes out of the tunnel you will see a small clamp on the end of it. loosen it and turn it slightly towards the driverside of the car. tighten back up then go feel your gears. you just need to keep on playing with this till you get it where u want it "

see: www.forum.golfgti.co.uk/index.php?topic=13972.0

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Tue 26 Oct 2004 19:14

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - mattieboy

thanks for link, unfortunately the forum doesn't seem to be accepting new registrations - I'll try again tomorrow.

Sounds quite easy, but I've said that before only to have it fly back in my face!

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Tue 26 Oct 2004 17:39

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - keo-the-dog

probably gear linkage, i believe it's quite common on these and a kit is available cheap

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Wed 27 Oct 2004 21:34

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - Rab355

I had similar symptoms on a mark 2 GTI. They were cured by adjusting the gear linkage (side to side movement of the gear lever). You can hold the lever in the central position as follows:

1. Pull off the gaiter from the base of the gear lever.

2. Insert a suitably sized packer between the reverse detent on
the bottom of the lever and the piece of metal which it bears
against when the lever is pushed to the left.

3. Hold the lever against the packer by tying the top of the
lever to the door pull with some elastic (or get an
asssistant to hold it for you).

Slacken and retighten the clamped connection at the front of the shift rod.

Some trial and error is necessary to get the correct thickness of packer.

Before making the adjustment it might be worthwhile renewing the plastic and metal rods and links. They are not expensive and they are easy to change.

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Thu 28 Oct 2004 06:54

Difficult 1st Gear VW Golf Mk2 GTI - mattieboy

Cheers for comments.

Before I go ahead and try it out, can you remember what access is like? I changed the oil in the car and found access to be a bit of a pig with the front splitter and side skirts. It's a big bumper version, but with standard VW parts and it's not lowered, so I was surprised by how difficult it was. I have some axle stands, but suffer from the lack of a flat surface to work on - I can use Homebase car park, but I don't really like messing with the car in areas where I could get stranded if I mess it up.

Matt

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