Hi! I'm in need of some help please. My Octavia estate sat for 8 months unused. The battery went flat (AGM Varta) and doesn't charge. I got the car started with a different battery and then swapped in the dead battery to see if it would start charging. BUT, now the engine was running I needed to move the car a bit and found that the gear stick won't go into reverse gear. It can select 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th but not reverse. I've ordered up a new AGM battery (due in a couple of days) but this reverse gear issue is the new challenge! Any experience of this folks? Any suggestion gratefully appreciated. Its a manual gearbox.

If your profile is correct, you have probably posted this in the wrong section.

Have you tried moving the vehicle slightly in first gear before trying to select reverse?

Hi Warrior193. Thanks for your message. I've updated my profile :) The vehicle does move forward in first and I've tried that and then tried to find reverse. The gearstick does depress but doesn't connect to reverse. I also notice that it doesn't select 5th either.

Can you select these gears with engine off?

Maybe clutch just a bit gummy so won't let you push into the gear.

Maybe ride the clutch a bit to clean up the plates

Do you mean the stick won't move into the right position for 5th and Rev?

Maybe a wasp or rat nest blocking the shifter on the box. Have a look while someone moves the stick inside.

Maybe a bit of wd40 on selection cables too

14 hours ago, JHowe said:

Hi Warrior193. Thanks for your message. I've updated my profile :) The vehicle does move forward in first and I've tried that and then tried to find reverse. The gearstick does depress but doesn't connect to reverse. I also notice that it doesn't select 5th either.

While attempting to select reverse, does the stick move fully through the gate when pressed down - or does it just stop at the gate?

@Warrior193 It presses down, moves left but doesn't go any further, so stops at the gate is a far description.

@BlueWagon I can select 1st to 4th, but not reverse, with the engine off.

I've got a new battery so I'll know more tomorrow. If i can push it back so I can get underneath, and find the shifter on the box.

Thanks both for your help so far. Cheers.

Not sure for 2013 Mk3 TDI, but the shift on a 2015 MY16 TSI is visible from above - between engine and battery.

Hi @Warrior193 @BlueWagon .I took out the airfilter box and have a clear view of the linkage. The 1st and 2nd selector arm moves easily, but the reverse linkage (sideways movement) arm won't budge. It moves a millimetre. It looks like there is a solenoid under the armatage. Might this be locked closed when I changed the battery? I don't think there's any sideways movement available, only forward and backwards gear stick movement. I have a new battery but can't get to a garage to recode the battery because I can't get into reverse.

On the MK2 there is a plastic linkage in engine bay near selector housing on Gbox. Looks like this

It can seize up and stop you selecting I think from memory reverse and 4th/5th. Make sure its moving freely. I snapped the one on my old Seat after it was sitting for about the same time. Also check the cast metal weighted lever as well is secure and hasnt come loose. If they are all fine and not seized then maybe reset the cables. Careful if removing the white plastic clips as they get brittle with age.

Alasdair

Hi Alasdair, this looks the same. How did you get it unseized? Or how do I reset the cable?