Jetta gets stuck in 5th gear

RICHSHAFFER

MEMBER
VOLKSWAGEN

I have a 2000 VW Jetta with the 2.0L 4-cyl. And a 5-speed manual transmission. The car has 149,000 miles.

In the past 10,000 miles or so, any time I come to a stop with 5th gear engaged, it requires an excess of force to disengage it. Also, simply pulling hard on the gearshift doesn't seem to disengage it, but a good swift jerk back into neutral does.

I first noticed this problem when I had to come to an abrupt stop in freeway traffic, but several times after I've tried just coasting to a stop, and the same thing occurs. Turning the car off does not make it any easier to get the car out of 5th gear. If the car is stationary, I have no problems shifting into and out of all of the gears, whether the engine is running or not. I have also tried to reproduce the problem by shifting into 5th gear while the car is parked, then partially releasing the clutch to put pressure on the drivetrain. However, after doing this, I still have no problems disengaging 5th gear.

The other gears feel a little bit sloggish, kind of like shifting through mud, but I have no problems engaging or disengaging them. (I have thought this might just be what a transmission with 149,000 miles feels like.) The car has never had any clutch or transmission work done.

Any ideas what the problem might be?

1 Reply

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

The difficulty you're experiencing with disengaging 5th gear in your 2000 VW Jetta could be related to a few different factors. Since you don't have issues with other gears and the problem occurs specifically when coming to a stop with 5th gear engaged, it's likely a transmission-related issue. Here are some potential causes:

Worn Synchronizer: The synchronizer in the transmission helps match the speed of the gears for smooth engagement. If the synchronizer for 5th gear is worn or damaged, it can make it challenging to disengage the gear, especially when the transmission is under load.

Clutch Drag: If the clutch isn't fully disengaging when you press the clutch pedal, it can cause difficulty in shifting gears, especially when the transmission is under load. Clutch drag can be caused by issues with the clutch hydraulics, the clutch master or slave cylinder, or a worn clutch.

Worn Shifter Components: There may be worn or damaged components in the shifter linkage or shifter cables that are causing resistance when trying to disengage 5th gear.

Transmission Oil: Old or contaminated transmission oil can affect the smooth operation of the gears and synchros, leading to shifting difficulties.

To troubleshoot and fix the issue, you can consider the following steps:

Check Clutch Hydraulics: Inspect the clutch master cylinder, slave cylinder, and clutch fluid lines for leaks or malfunctions. Ensure the clutch pedal is fully disengaging the clutch when pressed.

Inspect Transmission Oil: Check the transmission oil level and condition. If it's old or contaminated, consider replacing it with the manufacturer-recommended oil.

Inspect Shifter Linkage and Cables: Check for any worn or damaged components in the shifter linkage or cables. Lubricate or replace as necessary.

Consider Synchronizer Replacement: If the issue persists, it may be necessary to have a mechanic inspect the transmission and possibly replace the worn synchronizer for 5th gear.