91 Jetta temp light, clutch problems...I need advice

[JaySwan]

A couple of nights ago, my temp light started coming on. I pulled over and checked the oil, it was low, so I filled it. The light stopped. If my oil was low then why didn't the oil light come on? Anyways, the same thing happened the next night, even at the same point of my drive home from work. I let the engine cool down for 5 minutes and of course the light stopped coming on. My temp gauge isn't rising at all. It's only the light. Any ideas on what this could be?

ALSO

every other time I downshift into first gear, i get a weird rattle/vibration. it drives in 1st gear just fine, its just the actual shift. I can't barely ever get my car in reverse! My brother thinks I have worn brushes in my clutch plate or something like that. Any ideas?

Thanks for any help

[mechy1barry]

if the temp light comes on suspect low coolant/overheating,or defective low coolant switch.for your gear change,try going into 2nd before you try reverse.if it goes in easily could well be gear box,have you checked the oil?as for the rattle??

[buftfan]

I am not sure about the clutch problem but my 92 kept pinging the temp light after a few minutes of running. Yet the car ran cool. I found out that I had a cracked water outlet on the end of the block (above the transaxle) and it was leaking down, causiing the coolant tank level to get low. The tank has a level sensor that will ping the dash light when it gets low. I replaced the water outlet, filled the tank to the right level, and we're good to go. The coolant tank will always set off the temp light if it gets too low. Hope this helps.

[Doug Tatham]

I think your brother may have meant the bushing rather than the brushes. It doesn't sound like a clutch problem to me. The sync ring going from 1st to 2nd gear may be toast, but this is also a not so likely possibility. It sounds to me like the linkage needs adjustment. You need a service tool to do it properly and a lot of shops (not dealers) make a close guess. If it's off, you have the difficult downshifting. If you are at a standstill, you can ususally go through the shifting without a problem, it only is bad when your using the engine to slow. Take it to a dealer or a shop that specializes in VW's and have them adjust the linkage. It is the least expensive possibility and could solve the problem. The sync is still a strong contender. See what Boschman says before you spend anything.