Five speed VW shifter adjustment video

Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
Five speed shifter adjustment video

Hey y'all,

I shot a new YouTube video today showing two new procedures to properly adjust the shift cables on a stock TDI five speed both MK4 and MK5 from year models 2000-2006. This procedure does not apply to 1998 and 1999 MK4 Golf/Jetta/New Beetle. Those cars use an A3 style shift mechanism.

This video also shows a brand new, accurate and very easy procedure for adjusting your shifter when the plastic L-shaped transmission locking pin is broken. This will save a lot of hassles since you won't need to replace the L-pin if you have a broken one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sheTKD03hmo
 
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NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
Nice video! I used your old video a couple of years ago but I don't remember the emphasis on "taking the slack out of the cables and shifter mechanism before locking them back in". I can't remember if I did this and it makes me want to go out and find the pin that came with my TTX kit and re-do it :D
 

muzy

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2012
Location
Southern Alberta
TDI
02 jetta TDI
I thought your first vid was great. Well yup this is even better.
Did this procedure on the weekend. My car was shuddering while releasing clutch in first and revers, as will as grinding all gears even being extra careful.
So with that and new gear oil..... well it is like somebody put a new clutch and tranny in my car. I tip my hat to you, Thank You
Glen
 

Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
Glad I could be of assistance!

As mentioned in this video I also have a video dedicated to the importance of having a good 5mm adjustment pin tool. A few thousandths of an inch on the 5mm pin can make a big difference in the quality of shifter adjustment.
 

Seatman

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Location
Scotland
TDI
2014 Skoda rapid elegance 1.6 cr tdi
That first vid was what I used originally to do my linkage too, don't think I did the taking out the slack part though, I will be checking that.


Ps glad to see you weren't wearing socks with sandals lol :D
 

NarfBLAST

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Location
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2001 Golf 5MT
s
As mentioned in this video I also have a video dedicated to the importance of having a good 5mm adjustment pin tool. A few thousandths of an inch on the 5mm pin can make a big difference in the quality of shifter adjustment.
Yes I noticed that. Sadly I could not find my 5mm pin and all I could find was a pin measuring 4.75mm. I followed the procedure to take out the slack while in home position with locking pins on the transmission and the shifter. Shifting definitely got tighter, but it was a little harder to get into 2nd gear. I am pretty sure this was because of my undersized locking pin and/or the amount of play in all of my 300,000mile parts.

To get 2nd gear back to where it used to "just drop in, sortof" I locked everything down again and un-clipped the "up-down" cable gave everything a wiggle to "center up my loose locking pin and hope for the best" which worked just fine and she shifts like a transmission with half a million kilometers on her again. :eek:

edit: for reference, .25mm difference is equal to 10 thousandths of an inch
 
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Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
You could prolly find a 5mm drill bit locally. Google "fasteners" and your city name and you can make some phone calls and see if the fastener stores stock them. They almost always do. If you are in Canada would also think that Canadian Tire, Home Depot, or Lowes might stock a 5mm drill bit since Canadians aren't the metricphobes we are down here.
 

bigolac

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Location
Wisconsin
TDI
99 Beetle
Hey y'all,

I shot a new YouTube video today showing two new procedures to properly adjust the shift cables on a stock TDI five speed both MK4 and MK5 from year models 2000-2006. This procedure does not apply to 1998 and 1999 MK4 Golf/Jetta/New Beetle. Those cars use an A3 style shift mechanism.

This video also shows a brand new, accurate and very easy procedure for adjusting your shifter when the plastic L-shaped transmission locking pin is broken. This will save a lot of hassles since you won't need to replace the L-pin if you have a broken one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sheTKD03hmo
Any links to an A3 adjustment for a Beetle?

Thanks - Adam
 

George56

Active member
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Location
Jacksonville, FL
TDI
2000 Jetta 5spd. Gone = 2010 Jetta 2014 Passat
I have found that a torx T27 is really close to 5mm (4.997 mm). This worked great for me!
 

coachgeo

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Location
Dayton OH area
TDI
99 Blue Bug.. new top end
just replaced the cable carrier... installed the carrier with the adjuster on the carrier pretty much same place that it came from.

Now all my gears are fubared. I put in what I think is Rev. location but instead get first gear. Can't drive to figure out any other gears.

Suggestions?

Will following this video's steps fix this issue?
 

Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
I would loosen the adjustment nut for that carrier and move it a little fore or aft to see if you can get first and second gears smoothly. If you ever adjusted the old cable holder then putting the new one where the old one is likely the issue, especially if the old one had a hairline crack in it.
 

coachgeo

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Location
Dayton OH area
TDI
99 Blue Bug.. new top end
I would loosen the adjustment nut for that carrier and move it a little fore or aft to see if you can get first and second gears smoothly. If you ever adjusted the old cable holder then putting the new one where the old one is likely the issue, especially if the old one had a hairline crack in it.
The former one broke off. My roommate had to nurse the car home in fourth gear when it happened? Thus; now that I think about it, there was no knowing what gear or even neutral it was in when I reassembled it with the new plastic carrier. Don't know if that is of any consequence in this particular issue now or not.

I think I can find Neutral with the gear shift lever, if that helps in setting up the shifter properly via the nut you mention... or via the setup as described in this video..

But to reiterate.... I dont have REV. at all.... or the push down gate to reach rev. is no longer working. I do have first gear but... not sure if it is where it belongs.... as said; either my rev. stick location is now first.... or I have no rev. push down working..... and first is sitting where it belongs.... hard to tell with no reverse.

PS... this is a 99.5 mk4
 
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Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
Just curious, what video are you referring to? I cannot see a link.
 

oldbird1965

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2006
Location
Arizona
TDI
Black 98 NB, Silver 06 NB, White 98 NB Green 02 NB Silver 03 NB
Jim, you mentioned a earlier video and I can't find it. My 98 Beetle needs adjustment.
 

Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
I never shot a video on the pre 2000 shift linkage adjustment. It is trial and error pretty much.
 

coachgeo

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Location
Dayton OH area
TDI
99 Blue Bug.. new top end
My bad for dredging this up... and you state right there in first post this does not include 98 and 99 MK4's... My oversight
 
Joined
Oct 24, 2022
Location
Lincoln
TDI
2002
I'm having the same issue. I have tried everything I have seen on the internet and YouTube and had zero results, I've replaced the first gear grabber bushing, removed and lubed the shift lever, and adjusted linkages with no results. I know it'll go into reverse because I managed to get it into reverse gear once but not again. Did you find a resolution to this because I could definitely use some advise.
 

jokila

Vendor
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Location
Houston, Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta GLS, Manual
I'm having the same issue. I have tried everything I have seen on the internet and YouTube and had zero results, I've replaced the first gear grabber bushing, removed and lubed the shift lever, and adjusted linkages with no results. I know it'll go into reverse because I managed to get it into reverse gear once but not again. Did you find a resolution to this because I could definitely use some advise.
What's the issue?
 

Dieselgeek

TDIClub Enthusiast, Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Location
Golden, CO
TDI
2016 Golf TDI
Usually issues with 1st, R, and sometimes 5th come down to side to side linkage slop. Have you seen this video <LINK> that covers the usual suspects? I recommend locking the trans in the engine compartment then working backwards to the stick. Find and eliminate the play.
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2002 Golf 6MT; 2015 Sportwagen 6MT; 2016 A3 e-tron 6DSG
Don't know if I just got lucky, but (with broken plastic L-lever on shifter tower), I loosened the cable grabbers, put the transmission into reverse by pushing the shifter "golf club" all the way down and then clockwise (viewed from standing in front of bumper). Then went into the interior and moved the gear shift lever into the "R" position.

Released the cable grabbers, ran through the gears in the interior - felt good. Took it for a drive....still feels great six months later.
 
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