MY car wont go in reverse, 1st, 2nd, or 5th gear its aggravating. I parked it at a baseball field and when i was ready to leave the thing would not let me go in reverse. it took me a min. to realize what is happening but I figured it out pretty quick when i had to almost burn up the clutch in the car to get it home.
By the way its a 1983 1.6TD
( one more quick question what type of lifters are in the my car? )
Your lateral shift rod has popped off, it is dangling between the tranny and firewall. I retained mine with tie wire, but there are other solutions.
Pop it back on, and try not to shift like an animal
Your lateral shift rod has popped off, it is dangling between the tranny and firewall. I retained mine with tie wire, but there are other solutions.
Pop it back on, and try not to shift like an animal 
What are you talking about shifting like an animal lol

Alright ill take another look at it
do you know what type of lifters my car has ive been trying to read abunch and hasn't found anything, ive looked in the Bentley also
Check the engine code. The year it should be a solid lifter head, but lots can happen in 27 years.
The VIN is WVWGH0162DW048936
The number on the head is 068 103 373 E
85 was first year for NA Hydraulic lifters.
Mid to Late 86 was first year for Hydraulic on TD.
An 83 'would' be mechanical if all original.
Check this link to see picture of how to tell a Mechanical Lifter head from a Hydraulic Lifter head:
http://www.vwdieselparts.com/h&m.htmIf it happened while the car was parked - somebody probly mighta played a prank on ya. The shift rods are accessible from under the hood. One is about 8inches long, the other is about 3inches.
They have ball-cup ends on them and just kinda pop on.
They have keeper tabs that are supposed to be unlocked for removing/installing - but if the cups are worn inside- they can pop off pretty easy.
Look down in lower area of section between tranny - firewall.
You'll find them.
The link theman53 supplied has top dog deluxe stuff to rebuild.
But you can get everything to go back OEM style with new bushings, relay ball, and rods for about 20-25 kit on eBay and other vendors - if you need it. And you can buy the rods seperately as well.
85 was first year for NA Hydraulic lifters.
Mid to Late 86 was first year for Hydraulic on TD.
An 83 'would' be mechanical if all original.
Check this link to see picture of how to tell a Mechanical Lifter head from a Hydraulic Lifter head:
http://www.vwdieselparts.com/h&m.htm
If it happened while the car was parked - somebody probly mighta played a prank on ya. The shift rods are accessible from under the hood. One is about 8inches long, the other is about 3inches.
They have ball-cup ends on them and just kinda pop on.
They have keeper tabs that are supposed to be unlocked for removing/installing - but if the cups are worn inside- they can pop off pretty easy.
Look down in lower area of section between tranny - firewall.
You'll find them.
The link theman53 supplied has top dog deluxe stuff to rebuild.
But you can get everything to go back OEM style with new bushings, relay ball, and rods for about 20-25 kit on eBay and other vendors - if you need it. And you can buy the rods seperately as well.
Yep mines a mechanical lifters. Now i need to figure out how many notch head gasket i need to get when i rebuild it.
No, you need to take it apart and measure, unless you were the last one to rebuild it, and measured.