HELP, gear linkage?

hiya there,

just got my mk1 a couple of days ago and most things were fine up until this morning, i had her in reverse, tried to get out of reverse and it was pretty much stuck in, i turned the car off and managed to get it back into neutral then what i though was first. i started the car back up and it seemed more like i was in 3rd but i could still move the gearstick all over the place while engaged in a gear. while driving home i found i could get into 3rd 4th and sometimes 5th and reverse. i was thinking gear linkage, so i got underneath and had a look and this is what i found under the gear stick



now i'm not sure what's meant to be there or if anything is missing so i presumed the plastic L shape was mean to too hook around the metal bracket so i hooked that back around so it was like this…



thinking that might be it i got back in the car and had a play with the gear stick just to find that it went back the same again with loads of play, i went back and had a look underneath to find that the plastic part had slipped back off again.

hopefully someone can help me out with what i need to to.

i'd really appreciate it

thanks in advance

Olie

I am sure a true expert will be along shortly to advise. But from memory when you select reverse by pushing down on the gearstick and moving top far left you are pushing the cream plastic guide into the lower position to enable the linkage to engage reverse gear at the gearbox. On your pics you can see where the selection has worn the metal bracket. If you select reverse and take another look you should see the plastic "L" piece in the position of Pic 3. As you re-engage to the forward gears it will revert to position as Pics 1 & 2.
Regards the general sloppiness of the gear selection and problems in selecting, may be best to start with a replacement of the gearlinkage bushes the kits are @ £20 look for the really excellent "How Too " on the forum. Getting bit on the cold side now, but it will help. Perhaps try a simple adjustment first, if you've access its surprisingly simple and may be all thats required.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK1-GOLF-JETTA-CADDY-GTI-GEAR-CHANGE-LINKAGE-BUSH-KIT-/170740245253?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27c0e96305#ht_2320wt_1121

Plus you'll need item 31,32,33 and 49 on his schematic. Item 49 incorporates a spring in a plastic ball and socket arrangement this may have become damaged over time and be what's jamming. the below kit includes the parts I am on about.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEAR-SHIFT-REPAIR-KIT-5-SPEED-NEW-GOLF-MK1-CADDY-SCIROCCO-/390362709873?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5ae36e3f71#ht_2141wt_887

Good luck, otherwise are you pleased with the car?

the bit in the pic is the reverse lockout, as you can see you have to push down on the stick so the plastic bit clears the metal tab, then you can select reverse. if the reverse lockout spring is worn then it will be easy to slip into reverse accidentally, plus also you might find there is play.

i bought this baby and it was a good quality part, plus easier than stripping the old one down to put new bushes in:
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&product_id=593&option=com_virtuemart