SHIFTER PROBLEM? FREEPLAY?

SPICOLI

MEMBER
VOLKSWAGEN

I have a 98 Jetta GLS with a 5 speed manual transmission. Just rolled ove 117,000 miles. The car shifts fine, but just recently and all of a sudden the shifter has become loose. It still shifts into gears as normal, but there is a lot of loose free play if you wiggle or move the shifter while in gear or just any where between the gears. Is there something common that will wear or give out to cause this and if so, is it easy to repair.I do most of my vehicle maintenance myself. Thanks :(

2 Replies

CAPTAINMANIACDRIVER

MEMBER
15 POSTS

Always see linkage area right? Anyway your central ball seems to have come off. There is this ball held at the end of the shifter rod, it is what pushes all the linkages around.

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Monday, October 30th, 2006 AT 5:21 PM

FRIEDEMANN

MEMBER
47 POSTS

Vw"s always had some slop but where you could check. Under the car, you will find the shifter ball and where it goes into the linkages. Each one of the linkages is a nylon cup that snaps over the steel ball of the corresponding linkage These cups are made tight with a small snap (in fact you can't seperate the ball and cup unless you release the snap. The only wear point that I am aware of is those nylon cups.