Ami
A2OC Donor
A2 1.4 TDI suddenly stuck in 1st gear.
- Thread starter Howdy Ay 2
- Start date
Little Dog
A2OC Donor
Suddenly stuck = something broke.
The clutch is working, I assume the advice to disconnect the cables and manually select the gears has been checked out and that is fine? Only leaves the cables and the gear stick mechanism which appears not to be checking out.
The one bit of advice I would add is have somebody hold the disconnected cables clear in the engine bay. Keep your fingers safe. Then have somebody operate the gear stick. If it is not slick and easy with the correct movements on the engine bay you need to start digging to find out what under the gear stick broke.
The clutch is working, I assume the advice to disconnect the cables and manually select the gears has been checked out and that is fine? Only leaves the cables and the gear stick mechanism which appears not to be checking out.
The one bit of advice I would add is have somebody hold the disconnected cables clear in the engine bay. Keep your fingers safe. Then have somebody operate the gear stick. If it is not slick and easy with the correct movements on the engine bay you need to start digging to find out what under the gear stick broke.
Last edited:
@audifan - could the clutch slave play any part in this issue or at least contribute to it? Just in my mind going back to the role of clutch pedal position mentioned in one of the earlier posts here and noting other threads suggesting that a clutch bleed / fluid change can improve symptoms.
And linked to this - clutch release fork / bearing - some tdi forum discussions describe similar symptoms to the above if these or the fork fulcrum mount are worn / knackered.
And linked to this - clutch release fork / bearing - some tdi forum discussions describe similar symptoms to the above if these or the fork fulcrum mount are worn / knackered.
Last edited:
audifan
A2OC Donor
@Robin_Cox trying to determine first off that the cables are correctly fitted and secure and there is no play in the brackets / pivot. They are not damaged and are producing the required throw at the selector tower. Then asking to see if the selector tower on its own smoothly and freely obtains all gears. If either of these areas shows a fault then the problem is found. From the symptoms it does not sound clutch related YET. I still think this is a selector cable issue and they need to be inspected thoroughly for the ends not locking, not secure in the brackets, brackets loose, pivot bushing bearing worn and cable freedom of movement. With the cables disconnected from the gearbox the gear stick must be capable of moving into all gear positions smoothly and freely. Once the cables are found good and correctly adjusted then a clutch slave flush could be beneficial as probably well overdue.
Howdy Ay 2
A2OC Donor
Update.
The bolts and brackets all seem to be intact and solid.
The cable ends seem to be undamaged and are free to move once the clamps are released.
The cables move freely as the gearstick is moved once they are disconnected from the selector arm.
With the cables free the gearstick sometimes struggles to select reverse and fifth without using some force with clutch depressed.
Following more attempts at adjustment today we have noticed that via the gearstick, the selector arm is not travelling far enough to fully select 2nd and 4th. All gears can be selected by manually using the selector arm.
Please see Youtube links:-
and
Once engaged in reverse and 5th gear via the gearstick or the selector arm we cannot move back into neutral via the gearstick.
We did attempt to release and adjust the cable after manually selecting 2nd then 4th gear using the selector arm. We could not then change into another gear.
Hope this helps with possibly diagnosing the problem.
Thank You
The bolts and brackets all seem to be intact and solid.
The cable ends seem to be undamaged and are free to move once the clamps are released.
The cables move freely as the gearstick is moved once they are disconnected from the selector arm.
With the cables free the gearstick sometimes struggles to select reverse and fifth without using some force with clutch depressed.
Following more attempts at adjustment today we have noticed that via the gearstick, the selector arm is not travelling far enough to fully select 2nd and 4th. All gears can be selected by manually using the selector arm.
Please see Youtube links:-
Once engaged in reverse and 5th gear via the gearstick or the selector arm we cannot move back into neutral via the gearstick.
We did attempt to release and adjust the cable after manually selecting 2nd then 4th gear using the selector arm. We could not then change into another gear.
Hope this helps with possibly diagnosing the problem.
Thank You
Catnip64
A2OC Donor
The adjustment on the cables looks wrong. In the first video, one is fully 'in' and the other fully 'out', normally they are mid-point in the range. (Edit: See annotated screenshot). This will affect the amount of movement that is possible at the selector arm.
I suggested locking the selector tower and seeing what movement you have at the gearstick, could you do this please and this will determine whether there is an issue with the gearstick mechanism or not.
Let's see if the others come up with anything else to try.
I suggested locking the selector tower and seeing what movement you have at the gearstick, could you do this please and this will determine whether there is an issue with the gearstick mechanism or not.
Let's see if the others come up with anything else to try.
Last edited:
Howdy Ay 2
A2OC Donor
Catnip.
Have just locked the selector tower with cables connected as you suggested, sorry I did not try this earlier.
With the selector locked in place the gearstick will move freely straight back into the 2nd gear position. There is little or no other movement range.
Hope this helps.
Thank You
Have just locked the selector tower with cables connected as you suggested, sorry I did not try this earlier.
With the selector locked in place the gearstick will move freely straight back into the 2nd gear position. There is little or no other movement range.
Hope this helps.
Thank You
Little Dog
A2OC Donor
Having seen what is going on there I’m still thinking the fault is under the gear stick.
Have you disconnected the cables at the tower? Then shifted the tower by hand, I expect you will get all gears easily. If not get the tower out and look for broken bits.
Then try shifting gear, cables still disconnected. I suspect then your issue will show.
Edit I’m even more convinced the problem is under the gear stick. Didn’t think it should move with the tower locked.
Have you disconnected the cables at the tower? Then shifted the tower by hand, I expect you will get all gears easily. If not get the tower out and look for broken bits.
Then try shifting gear, cables still disconnected. I suspect then your issue will show.
Edit I’m even more convinced the problem is under the gear stick. Didn’t think it should move with the tower locked.
Howdy Ay 2
A2OC Donor
Catnip
From your post #28, looking at the photo, the amount of cable showing is quite different from the photo in post #5.
The photo in post #5 was taken before we started attempting to adjust the cables as per the procedure, locking the selector and gearstick.
If we lock the selector and pull the cable so that it looks like the photo in post #5 the gearstick is locked in 2nd gear position, that is why we were looking towards perhaps something being wrong at the gearstick end.
Philward and Audifan
The cables do not appear to be damaged and all brackets seem secure and solid . The cables do not seem to be giving the required range of movement to select certain gears even though we followed the adjustment procedure numerous times. The selector arm moves freely and appears to be able to select all gears. As catnip pointed out the amount of new cable showing post adjustment differs significantly from before we ever attempted adjustment. We cannot seem to pull the right hand ( arm rotation) cable any tighter when the tower and the gearstick are locked.
We will try again tomorrow.
Thank you for your patience.
From your post #28, looking at the photo, the amount of cable showing is quite different from the photo in post #5.
The photo in post #5 was taken before we started attempting to adjust the cables as per the procedure, locking the selector and gearstick.
If we lock the selector and pull the cable so that it looks like the photo in post #5 the gearstick is locked in 2nd gear position, that is why we were looking towards perhaps something being wrong at the gearstick end.
Philward and Audifan
The cables do not appear to be damaged and all brackets seem secure and solid . The cables do not seem to be giving the required range of movement to select certain gears even though we followed the adjustment procedure numerous times. The selector arm moves freely and appears to be able to select all gears. As catnip pointed out the amount of new cable showing post adjustment differs significantly from before we ever attempted adjustment. We cannot seem to pull the right hand ( arm rotation) cable any tighter when the tower and the gearstick are locked.
We will try again tomorrow.
Thank you for your patience.
Howdy Ay 2
A2OC Donor
Will recheck the cables on the brackets tomorrow when I get chance.
Thank You
Thank You
Catnip64
A2OC Donor
johnyfartbox
A2OC Donor
Have a look at this link, https://forums.tdiclub.com/index.ph...eel-less-sloppy-and-other-information.409035/
its not A2 but might help.
If you think you might be in need of one of these, pmme.
its not A2 but might help.
If you think you might be in need of one of these, pmme.
Howdy Ay 2
A2OC Donor
We have just rechecked the cables on the brackets, all seem secure and tight.
The brackets and cables do look like the one shown in post #20.
There is a very slight amount of play in the bracket which you say has a bush inserted which can wear.
When adjusted as per the procedure, with the selector arm locked and the gearstick unlocked there is free movement in and out of 2nd gear only.
The brackets and cables do look like the one shown in post #20.
There is a very slight amount of play in the bracket which you say has a bush inserted which can wear.
When adjusted as per the procedure, with the selector arm locked and the gearstick unlocked there is free movement in and out of 2nd gear only.
Catnip64
A2OC Donor
Thanks for the additional information, you are close to finding your problem. There should be no movement of the gearstick when the gearbox selector tower is locked.
There is a problem with the gearstick mechanism, so you now need to remove the assembly and check where the cables attach to the base of the gearstick, it seems as though something has come loose or is broken/worn out.
There is a problem with the gearstick mechanism, so you now need to remove the assembly and check where the cables attach to the base of the gearstick, it seems as though something has come loose or is broken/worn out.
Howdy Ay 2
A2OC Donor
Sorry for the delay, had to take the boss to visit the outlaws this afternoon.
When we did the numerous adjustments the selector arm was locked using the black lever then we used a 5mm drill bit through both holes to lock the gearstick in place. Both were locked solid.
Thank You
When we did the numerous adjustments the selector arm was locked using the black lever then we used a 5mm drill bit through both holes to lock the gearstick in place. Both were locked solid.
Thank You