1997 Jetta shifting 5th gear problem

[Mdjetta12]

Just bought my first tdi and first manual so looking here for help with my issue. When driving on the high way I’ll be at 3k-3500 rpms in 4th going about 60-65 and when I go to shift into 5th gear the rpms shoot up close to redline. The shifter says it’s in 5th but almost feels like it’s catching 3rd instead?? Is that a sign that it needs a new gear? Or the linkage is off? Or something else? Any help would be great! Thank you!

 

[Steve Addy]

Yeah I'd guess you're hitting 3rd again and not 5th. It would appear that your shifter 'inards' are worn excessively and not allowing you to actually get into 5th.

You can try to adjust it, the left right action, to tighten up the system and maybe be able access 5th. At least that's the first thing I would attempt.

If you can't adjust it to make it work then you'll need to look at replacing the tower assembly, and there are a couple options for that.

Steve

 

[garciapiano]

The way the shifter tower wears out, you will lose either 1st/2nd/reverse or 5th. This happens because too much up/down slop is in the system due to the worn linkage at the transmission’s shift tower. You can adjust it so it will go into 5th, but you’ll lose 1st. My suggestion is the get a replacement relay arm. I call this the “gold” arm.

Shift Lever (A3)(B4)

Shift lever for A3 Jetta and B4 Passat....

www.idparts.com

Alternatively dieselgeek sells the slider element only, which replaces the worn slider on your “gold arm”. However if the non-replaceable plastic pivot section is damaged you’ll need to replace the whole thing.

02A Super Slider for 1993-1999 VW

Volkswagen no longer produces 1J0 711 202B and so we have made a new sliding piece to very precise dimensions to help bring 1993-1999.5 Golf/GTI VR6, New Beetle, Jetta TDI and VR6, Corrados and all 1993-1997 Passats back to life. This piece simply mounts onto your old steel relay lever with the...

www.dieselgeek.com

It makes sense to replace this secondary “black arm” as well as it tends to wear out at the same time:

Shift Carrier (Early A4)(A3)(B4)

Shift carrier for the shift linkage on '99.5 Golf and Jetta, and '98 and '99 New Beetle. This carrier can become brittle and break with age. If broken, the transmission will only shift between 3rd ...

www.idparts.com