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MK1 Golf GTi 1st gear trouble

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Hi all,

So thought I was almost there mechanically and planning to book MOT until I was hit with another problem.

1st gear does not go in. It's a 5 speed gearbox, all gears apart from 1st work fine. Occasionally the 1st gear will work. Clutch free play is fine and within spec.

Watching an old episode of Wheeler Dealer I came to know this is a common issue with the DX Engine due to bush wear in the gear link mechanisms.

There are 2 options, either replace all the bushes (cheaper option) or purchase a complete kit, with includes bushes, links, and other components.

Can you please advise the best option and if there are any helpful guides I can use.

Cheers

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You'll find a guide in the guides section at the bottom of the forum.

It's ample enough job to do but it will all need adjusting afterwards which is the fiddly bit.

I'd go for the whole kit and do the gearknob stuff too whilst your at it. Helps stop the feeling of stirring porridge

Ian

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Might be worth checking where the gearstick connects to the splined shaft is in the correct place, bad description I know but it will be part of the above guide recommended by borednow.

Mine was out but only found out on mot day - had to do the whole thing with no access to first, second & 5th!

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Cool, will check.

Can you advise best place to purchase the kit?

Thanks

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Ebay, Parts vendors on-line, where ever sells the kits cheapest.  :)

I am after all a cost effective SOB.
Read CHEAP.

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

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Looks right to me and affordable as hades on a cool day.


What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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As Brian says that looks right, it's what I did on my a while back. ;)


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www.cabby-info.com has the how to adjust shifters after a change of parts how to.  

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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Hi Brinz,
I know this may sound stupid, but I have always had occasional difficulty getting mine into first.
I found that if I turned the steering wheel slightly as I put the gear lever into first, it engaged. Give it a try, might just work!!

Campaign Mk 1 Black

16v Mk2 Red (decsd )

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Two things to check if you're struggling with selecting first or fifth or even reverse.. 
check rack bushes: lock to lock with someone to help you. If you see the rack move within its bushes.( by this I mean excessive) can affect the selection of gears.  Past experience from running 16" rims. Renew bushes and nuts too. 
  Or most likely the splined  selector requires an adjustment. Again with help from under the car (safety first so use axle stands etc where necessary)loosen the selector clamp a fraction to allow selector to move,  (do not move gearstick back and forth only side to side)in the car hold the gearstick 10 mm approx to the right off reverse gate.This then should be held in this position and the person underneath should tighten the clamp. 
You should now have 1-5  and all gates should feel slip and slide. 
I have done this many a time no problems.
 

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MK1 Golf GTi 1st gear trouble

Hi everyone,

I purchased a complete bush kit + gear stick bearing from eBay. Seemed to fix the issue.

Thanks for everyone's input. Much appreciated.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

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Well done you.

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?

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Hi there,

I appreciate some assistance please.

I still have 1st gear issue.

I noticed that when the front wheels are facing straight, I have no issues selecting the 1st gear and all the other gears.

However, when I full lock the steering to the right, I cannot select 1st or 2nd gears. Only gears available are 3rd / 4th / 5th.

When I full lock the steering to left, when I select 1st, it goes into reverse. I notice the restrictive plate does not stop the reverse gear to be selected. Basically I don't need to push down the gear stick to select the reverse gear as I usually would do.

Could this be due to worn engine mounts which is altering the gear stick alignment when the steering is being turned?

Also I noticed when driving, when I turn the steering left or right to take a left or right turn, when driving straight, after the turn, the steering offsets from normal centre.

Appreciate your help in establishing the issue I am having.

Thanks

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Hi, with all the "steering" comments i would be looking at the steering rack bushes and the brackets for secureness and wear. 
  Also what rims are you currently running..? 
My concern would be to be examine the whole steering mechanism. 
Checking through in a reverse engineered manner.
Tie rod to hub. Tie rod to rack. Rack to bulkhead mounts. Rack to uj. Uj to steering column. Steering column to steering wheel. Thus to elimate any play. 

Could check bearings while youve got the front up .
 Further that the ball is known to wear( situated at the base of the gearstick). Though most likely rack mount bushes either worn or insecure. 

Hope this helps.. 

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Hi,
Thanks for the info.
The car is fitted with standard Pirelli P Slots (14").
No modifications to the car, everything is box standard.

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Part of the gear linkage is attached to the steering rack, have you removed the steering rack at any point?

Check for play in the mounting on the rack or old cracked/worn rubber bushes.

Check in this link that they are for the left and right bush as they do differ.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-JETTA-CADDY-SCIROCCO-TOP-QUALITY-STEERING-RACK-MOUNTS-X2-171419883-4/170985919981?epid=1807714652&hash=item27cf8e15ed:g:XSsAAOSwFL9TvTYL:rk:1:pf:0

Or poly bush, I went for these but you do notice a slight increase in road noise inside the car…
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-MK1-1973-1985-Powerflex-Steering-Rack-Mount-Bushes-PFF85-229-230/370697042374?epid=1225297073&hash=item564f43f9c6:g:1eEAAOSwACZZuTPC:rk:5:pf:0


Not uncommon for the mountings on the bulk head to crack or split so if possible I try to avoid turning the steering while stationary.  

1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Hi Mark,
Never removed the steering rack since I have owned the car.
Will take to my mechanic to put on ramp to check play etc and advise outcome.
Thanks

Last edit: by BRINZ

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New bushes might help reduce movement and play??

I've read that the U brackets holding the bush and rack are slightly different so make sure you put them back in the same place… (I did not see much difference when I changed my steering rack???)

1988 Mk1 Golf GTi Cabriolet 1.8cc DX, K-jet. Daily drive. 317,000 miles and counting
1978 Mk1 Scirocco GLS 1.6cc FR, Webber carb. Weekend toy.

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Hi, just a quick update. I found the rack is moving when steering to the left and right which explains why the gears are not going in. The rack is original so will just replace the bushes and see the outcome.

Should I go for standard bushes or poly bushes?

Any recommendations much appreciated.
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