PLEASE HELP ME!!!MY mk1 gearbox has gone...hasnt it???????

hi everybody,

i own a mk1 gti and on my way to hospital last night (my nephew broke his leg) i decided to fill up my mk1 golf gti.  as soon as i stopped into the forecourt at the petrol station, the golf gearbox WENT REALLY FLOPPY AND WOULDNT GET INTO ANY…I MEAN ANY GEAR(AND I SMELT A HORRIBLE SMELL SIMILAR TO BURNT PLASTIC) 8O !!!! NOW ITS STILL THERE WHILE I'M HAVING A SLEEPLESS NIGHT AT HOME WONDERING WHETHER SOME CHAV IS EYEING UP BITS OFF IT :cry:  WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM?? THE CAR STARTS AND THE CLUTCH SEEMS FINE…BUT THE GEAR SELECTION HAS GONE….TOTALLY…PLEASE ME FELLOW MATEY'S,.. HELP A DUBBER OUT….THANKS IN ANTICIPATION  :dontknow:

Could be something dead simple like the gear selector linkage has fallen off or broken, or the clamp bolt which connects the linkage to the gearbox has come loose…although this wouldn't explain the smell of burning - unless something is resting on the hot exhaust?
Always eliminate the simple things first - if it is the gearbox, don't panic, ?50 for a scrap one and you're motoring again
…there, there,, is that better?
Whereabouts are you, somebody might give you a hand?

thanks for your reply oldfart(no offence intended!!!!)…coincidentally i spluttered out next to a garage that had replaced the gear box last year on my previous campaign…he's having a look at it today and will let me know as soon as…. now breath in….hold…and relax…..!!i will keep u updated on whats going on as well. p.s. im in newcastle upon tyne!