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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: mtnbob on March 19, 2007, 06:28:13 pm

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: mtnbob on March 19, 2007, 06:28:13 pm

I've been working on my new 86 golf, and as i was driving it today, the shifter got even more loose than when i got it a few days ago. i lost the ability to shift from 4th to 5th. i then realized i only had 3rd and 4th gear, and had to limp it home. any ideas? i was told by a friend when i got the car that the shifter on these cars is kinda sloppy, but obviously something has loosened up or broken. I'm going to look at it as soon as the sun come up, but not sure what i'm looking for.
thanks
mtnbob :shock:

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: burn_your_money on March 19, 2007, 07:15:43 pm

something probably popped off

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: mtnbob on March 19, 2007, 07:25:14 pm

lol  ok  that narrows it down :roll:

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: craiggroombridge on March 19, 2007, 07:32:01 pm

the shifter is connected by 2 seprate platic links to the trans one link is the range( r-12-34-5) and the other beeing gear (1-2,3-4,). Check weather these links are in place (neer the fire wall) under the coolant expansion Tank, if these are good then you broke the shifter tube,  :cry:
that is a lot more work trust me I know

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: Powjetta on March 19, 2007, 07:55:02 pm

One of the plastic links broke in your shifter system.  It has happened to me before and I fixed mine with a small screw and ordered the metal parts from Roger Brown.  You can do that or order the plastic one from VW, but its not too bad to get too and change out.  I believe it is the short one closer to the wheel.

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: mtnbob on March 19, 2007, 09:02:10 pm

were the metal linkage parts hard to replace?? i see a webpage that sells metal replacement linkage arms.

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: 745 turbogreasel on March 19, 2007, 11:12:07 pm

its easier than shifting without em.

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: mtnbob on March 20, 2007, 03:52:56 am

:mrgreen:

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: dieselsnowmobile on March 20, 2007, 07:50:03 am

I broke that same plastic link on my brothers Jetta.  What seems to happen is that one of the ends breaks off, so I reinforced it with some wire to keep the tension off of the weak plasstic ends and drove 300 miles back home with no problem.  We eventally fixed it back to a new stock plastic piece.  I still carry that old piece with some wire incase it happens to my Jetta.

The best part is that atleast VW designed the transmission to center in the 3rd and 4th gear columns, otherwise, if it centered in the 1st and 2nd column, it would be much slower limping it anywhere.

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: jtanguay on March 20, 2007, 09:09:38 am

yea those little plastic balls look really brittle..  i can't wait to install the newer type linkage.  (its basically 2 lines going to the tranny, no arms to break or anything)

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: mtnbob on March 20, 2007, 09:31:33 am

Thanks you guys nailed it!!!  the short connector broke off at the end. i just ordered a shift linkage rod and bushing kit from ebay for 14 bucks.  :D

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: jtanguay on March 20, 2007, 09:53:31 am

in the meantime i'm pretty sure you could use some duct tape... lol

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: mtnbob on March 20, 2007, 11:58:36 am

i could definitely rig it but i'm parking it till the new parts come   back to the subaru 8)

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: Powjetta on March 20, 2007, 03:18:54 pm

The metal links are just as easy to put on as the plastic, and are adjustable to help center the shifting.  I bought the links and some bushings for $48 or so IIRC.

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: AdAm84 on March 20, 2007, 06:16:14 pm

where did you get the metal linkage pieces at? i recently replaced mine and thought they looked pretty weak.

Title: 86 Golf Diesel 5-speed I lost my #1,#2,#5 Gears- Help Please
Post by: Powjetta on March 21, 2007, 06:03:43 am

I got mine at visual diagnostics, Roger Brown is a fellow VW guy in San Jose I think.  http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSale/ShiftLinkage.shtml