Next on the todo list is a gearbox issue which developed about a year ago. The mechanism which prevents you selecting reverse without pushing down the gearstick seems to be faulty. Trying to select first or second by pushing to the left until meeting resistance results in selection of either reverse, or no gear respectively. To select first and second requires a zen-like intuition to push the stick exactly the correct distance to the left. Not a problem for me any more but i worry that eventually, it will fail an MOT. Is this an easy fix?

This workshop manual might help 👍

Gearbox 002.pdf

Most probably the plastic under gearstick. I got a repair kit for my sons MK1 off Amazon for £17-00 Part number 6Q0711699. Havent fitted it yet so cant tell you how tricky it is and hopefully its correct for his car. His return spring has broken so I just bought the complete kit.

Alasdair

18 hours ago, Lee01 said:

This workshop manual might help 👍

Gearbox 002.pdf

Thanks, 6 speed gearbox though.

3 hours ago, Alasdair1 said:

Most probably the plastic under gearstick. I got a repair kit for my sons MK1 off Amazon for £17-00 Part number 6Q0711699. Havent fitted it yet so cant tell you how tricky it is and hopefully its correct for his car. His return spring has broken so I just bought the complete kit.

Alasdair

Could you take a few pictures when you get around to doing the work?

Will do but it will be a while before I get round to it as hes using car every day. Had a quick loo and it seems a bit tricky so will need some time

Alasdair

Do you reckon its just some type of static plastic 'guide' to restrict the movement of the gearstick to either 1-6 or reverse depending on whether the stick is pressed down or not? That sounds like it may be relatively easy to bodge without actually needing to replace the part but I dont know.

Not sure still havent got round to looking at his as weather is awful. His is fine for gear change but wont return to middle as spring has broken. You could try resetting gear cables to see if it makes any difference first.

Alasdair

Still haven't got around to looking at it either. I'm fully used to it now and it doesn't bother me, I'm just worried about a potential MOT failure.

Cant see it being an MOT failure unless things have changed. My old Merc vans gears were awful. I was the only one who could find any of them. They were so worn that you had to watch not smack your knuckles off dash when changing but kept passing MOT.

Same here still havent had a look but sons now got used to it too.

Alasdair