URGENT: tdi stuck in reverse

Johnhenry

Member
Currently got the other half stuck in her car in work car park. Car is stuck in reverse.
- clutch engages and works (car starts and can be moved in reverse)
- gear stick moves forwards and back (but still feels locked at low level in reverse, and wont 'pop' up)
- car has had issues with engaging 2nd and 4th this last week, seem to have resolved by adjusting linkages again.
- recent clutch and fully rebuilt gearbox, all fitted by VAG specialist.
I havent seen car yet, got to get mine sorted as I have a puncture (the joys), then head to hers to have a look.

Any ideas on at least how to get the car out of reverse and then how to Identify which component is going wrong.

Shifter tower?
Linkage bushes?
Reverse switch?
Gearbox internal?

Help
John
 
Sounds like shift tower cables, when I adjusted my cables with the gearstick locked, I found there was a sweet spot between the 3rd gear crunch and a very stiff reverse, so for my TDI75 there seems to be a trade off between the two. I.e the better the 3rd gear crunch (or lack of it) then the stiffer reverse becomes. So I would start with resetting the cables.
 
Sounds like shift tower cables, when I adjusted my cables with the gearstick locked, I found there was a sweet spot between the 3rd gear crunch and a very stiff reverse, so for my TDI75 there seems to be a trade off between the two. I.e the better the 3rd gear crunch (or lack of it) then the stiffer reverse becomes. So I would start with resetting the cables.

Im currently in the dilemma of a notchy 5th or a stiff reverse. Trying to find the sweet spot between the 2 because it’s Definately there....somewhere
 
Thanks all, my only concern is the fact that the gear stick still moves (forward and back) but it doesn't want to come out of reverse gear (like the depress right and forwards) bit seems stuck
 
Would be worth unscrewing the reverse light switch to check if the spring loaded plunger has seized

Cheers Spike
 
If you look under the bonnet, there is an obvious lever on the gearbox. It costs nothing to yank it a few times.
 
Got to car after work.
Car is out of reverse now
I have readjusted the gears. They feel really really spongy and almost elastic in each gear. I can select all gears however reverse and 5rh feel the hardest to deselect.
Any ideas?
 
My reverse feels very stiff, maybe it was set that way so the rest of the gears are OK. Bit of a peculiar beast, these gearboxes. The first one I drove had a terribly vague 3rd gear and it completely put me off the car.
 
Right, so I've removed the shifter box in the interior, revealing the shift bushes. Then replicated the selecting reverse issue. It's as if the cable didn't want to come away from its runner on the underside of the gearbox (the small hook piece that locks it into reverse was quite stiff.

The bushes all look reasonable and in tact with no major slop from them.

Shifter tower didn't have any play in it. However it felt pretty gritty moving up and down. Getting new oil for it tomorrow to change at the weekend.

Going to remove the top of the shifter tower (selector arm) tomorrow evening too, then lift the cap on the selector tower to clean and inspect the bearing (see if I can wash out any grime in there)

I've checked the water cup, its present, and the mounting bracket isn't broken, and there was some moisture in there so I feel pretty confident it's in the right position.

Cables seem pretty tough, so I'm wondering if I need to lubricate them properly (full coverage throughout cable). Any guidance on this? Can it be done with them in situations out out of the car?

Cheers
John
 
Hello

Just to confirm have you spoken to the garage that did the original work? I would be seeing if they can put this right before I got my hands too dirty.

They have advised I speak to the gearbox re-manufacturer. Which to me means gearbox out time. And I'm not paying for that! Car will select all gears. It just seems to get stuck/sticky in reverse
 
Had womautomotive stoke A2 specialists.
Changed my gear box oil fitted new tower bearing kit reset my gear linkage and been so smooth gear change that’s been 2/3years ago.
I’d recommend them.
 
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