Gearbox Issue

[E63M6]

Hi chaps,

I've got a Mk6 golf with a gearbox issue. Last night 1st gear was totally blocked off. I was having to use 2nd gear from a standstill. 1st gear is back now, although itfeels slightly rough shifting into it and also shifting out of the gear. I have noticed when the car is in any gear there is a lot of play within the lever, I can move it about quite a bit with it still being locked into a gear.

Anyone have any ideas what it could be ?

[stevemcs]

I think the arm on top of the gearbox/linkage falls apart on these, well not falls apart but wears

[InitialDave]

Sounds like maybe a bushing in the linkage has gone and left a lot of slop, something like that? IIRC these are cable shift, so could be the bushing in the eye at one end. There's one cable for the "left-right" motion across the gate, and one for "up-down" between 1-2, 3-4 etc,

The cables should meet the gearbox side of things on the upper side of the gearbox toward the rear, if you can shine a light down there and see it while someone else operates the lever, maybe see if there's an obvious looseness in a connection?

Was it just 1st, or were 3rd and 5th bad also?

[E63M6]

Thanks for the replies. There's quite a bit of play when in gear and also in neutral . It was only 1st gear that was completely blocked off for a good few miles. The main issue is there's a bit more resistance when putting it into 1st and then taking it out to put into 2nd. I've also noticed 2nd does not feel smooth when slotting the gear in.

All the other gears seem fine to me although you can say they're a bit sloppy .

I'm hoping it is the gear linkage and not anything more sinister where the gearbox will have to come out.

[E63M6]

stevemcs said:

I think the arm on top of the gearbox/linkage falls apart on these, well not falls apart but wears

InitialDave said:

Sounds like maybe a bushing in the linkage has gone and left a lot of slop, something like that? IIRC these are cable shift, so could be the bushing in the eye at one end. There's one cable for the "left-right" motion across the gate, and one for "up-down" between 1-2, 3-4 etc,

The cables should meet the gearbox side of things on the upper side of the gearbox toward the rear, if you can shine a light down there and see it while someone else operates the lever, maybe see if there's an obvious looseness in a connection?

Was it just 1st, or were 3rd and 5th bad also?

https://youtu.be/66nATIFqeR8

I've attached a short video of the problem.

Thanks

Edited by E63M6 on Saturday 18th January 14:44

[E63M6]

I've also attempted to have a look at the gear linkages. I'm unsure if the operation is normal, does look loose to me. Would be great if someone can have a look at the video for me.

The car's booked in with a gearbox specialist on Wednesday but I always like to have an idea beforehand on what the problem can be.

https://youtu.be/533xzRncOw4