golf mk1 clipper

[ali_k1982]

helllllllllllllllllllllllllp meeeeeeeeeeeeee pleeeeeeease. GEARBOX PROBLEM
ok i have a vw golf mk1. i was trying to park my car up when i tryied to put the gear into reverse, it simply would not go in. the gear stick became very lose and i tryied the other gears but it seems like i have only got 2nd gear and 4th gear no matter which gear i try to select.
i was told it is the linkage???????? but i was wandering if any one knows how to fix it, does it cost alot???? or is it easy to DIY???????

thanks

[boschmann]

It sounds like linkage to me. There are several rods & bushings that will need to be checked. Some can be difficult to get to, Get a manual & see if it's something you want to try.

[naterkane]

repairing the shift linkage is very very common on almost all mk1/mk2 golfs. the bushing kit only costs a few and shouldn't take very long to replace... most of it is very straight forward...

take a look at the top of your transmission...

there is a lever coming out of it that if you looked from the right side (drivers in the US/ passenger in the UK) looks like this.

/
|_.

the bottom on is for moving it forward and backward
and the top is from side to side...

trace all the pieces of linkage from that point backward and see what isn't hooked up, or is going on in general.

then get the bushing kit anyway (you can find them online or from your stealer... err um, i mean dealer) and install it. they only run like 5-10$ US

if any of the pieces look damaged, then replace them (of course)

aside from just the bushing kits, there are also linkage replacement kits available for about 2-3 times the cost of just the bushings... but they are also a very good idea.

good luck.

-naterkane