Hard shifting

[LukesTDI]

Hello everyone I was just wondering if anyone else finds the mk4 5 speed a little clunky? It's hard to describe... It just feels like it can't be rushed to change gears.
I'm not looking for a race car or anything but I really feel like it's difficult to make a quick shift and now that I'm paying more attention to it I find it clunky even when shifting slow.

Another thing I find strange is after backing out of a parking spot, sometimes the shifter needs to be pulled quite hard to come out of reverse.

It's a 2001 golf 5spd with 153,000km.

Thanks for the help.


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[Seatman]

Try the linkage adjustment by diesel geek on youtube, just remember to push the little lock in at the same time as twisting, it took me a while to figure that part out but it does help. The other things I can think of are oil, clutch wear and maybe cable wear. I've done the oil, going to do a clutch soonish and I need to look at lubing my cables somehow.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Also, I would think that the clutch is not releasing completely.

With the tranny in neutral, the clutch petal out and the engine running, you should be able to push the clutch in and engage any gear with about a 1/2 second delay without grinding.

Reverse does not have a syncro so a clutch that doesn't release completely would be more noticeable in reverse than in a forward gear.

 

[LukesTDI]

Also, I would think that the clutch is not releasing completely.

With the tranny in neutral, the clutch petal out and the engine running, you should be able to push the clutch in and engage any gear with about a 1/2 second delay without grinding.

Reverse does not have a syncro so a clutch that doesn't release completely would be more noticeable in reverse than in a forward gear.

BINGO!!!
Kinda by accident I revved it up while in gear and to my surprise the car went forward... To confirm I changed to reverse and the car backed up.

So what does this mean? Is something dying or needs to be adjusted?
Thanks for the help.


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[Ol'Rattler]

Check the level in the brake reservoir. The clutch uses it also and the tap for the clutch is pretty high up on the side. If the level is low, the clutch could have air in it even though the brakes work fine.

If you hold the clutch down to the floor for a bit does trying to go from neutral to any gear get even worse?

Once you rule out/repair the hydraulic parts of the clutch all that is left is the clutch its self which means removing the transaxle.

How many miles are on the clutch?

 

[LukesTDI]

153,000 KM. That's just under 100,000 miles... I'll check that on my way to work...

If it's the clutch I'll be getting a vr6 with SMF for it.


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