I’ve had a problem with my 88 vw fox 4spd practically since I bought it last
year. The linkage seems out of alignment even though I’ve replaced the
bushings, and re-seated the thing.
Problem looks like this.
Transmission should be like this
R 1 3
|__|__|
| |
2 4
Mine is like this:
1 1 3
|__|__|
| |
2 4
Anyone have any ideas? I was told this was common with the foxes, and
although I’m decently mechanically inclined, but this one’s been out of my
reach so far… So if anyone knows a good VW Mechanic in indianapolis, it
would be most appreciated.
Thanks!
-Larry
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
LC wrote:
> I’ve had a problem with my 88 vw fox 4spd practically since I bought it last
> year. The linkage seems out of alignment even though I’ve replaced the
> bushings, and re-seated the thing.
> Problem looks like this.
> Transmission should be like this
> R 1 3
> |__|__|
> | |
> 2 4
> Mine is like this:
> 1 1 3
> |__|__|
> | |
> 2 4
> Anyone have any ideas? I was told this was common with the foxes, and
> although I’m decently mechanically inclined, but this one’s been out of my
> reach so far… So if anyone knows a good VW Mechanic in indianapolis, it
> would be most appreciated.
> Thanks!
> -Larry
Did you replace shifter bushing while under the car?
Did you replace shifter bushing while sitting inside the car?
If you answer "no" to one of those questions, you haven’t replaced
enough bushings.
My guess is you’ve not replaced the ones while sitting inside the car.
I did my first ones a couple of months ago, pretty easy to do. Take the
center console out, 2 or 4 bolts holds the shifter housing in place, it
just pull out and you slap in the new bushings.
I had done the lower ones first and it helped out a lot, but finding
reverse was still a problem at times. Replacing the upper bushings
solved the problem.
Pencilneck blah blah blah
Replaced 5 bushings for the shifter. and yes, the linkage was out of
the car at one point. Still no reverse =( I didn’t know there was one
inside the vehicle. Do you know the VW part #?
Thanks!
-Larry
"LC" <goali…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:vYvZa.19725$Vx2.10235018@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> I’ve had a problem with my 88 vw fox 4spd practically since I bought it
last
> year. The linkage seems out of alignment even though I’ve replaced the
> bushings, and re-seated the thing.
> Problem looks like this.
> Transmission should be like this
> R 1 3
> |__|__|
> | |
> 2 4
> Mine is like this:
> 1 1 3
> |__|__|
> | |
> 2 4
> Anyone have any ideas? I was told this was common with the foxes, and
> although I’m decently mechanically inclined, but this one’s been out of my
> reach so far… So if anyone knows a good VW Mechanic in indianapolis, it
> would be most appreciated.
> Thanks!
> -Larry
LC wrote:
> Replaced 5 bushings for the shifter. and yes, the linkage was out of
> the car at one point. Still no reverse =( I didn’t know there was one
> inside the vehicle. Do you know the VW part #?
> Thanks!
Remove the shifter knob and rubber boot, then the center console. You
will then see the metal "box" that the top part of the shifter asm sits
inside. You will have to remove that metal box, 2 or 4 bolts as I
recall, not to hard to remove.
I don’t remember the part number at all, and to make things better, or
worse, the ETKA doesn’t show the needed bushing very well. I do
remember said "rubber" bushing has a steel bushing inside of it, to
which a bolt passes though. The rubber part will most likely all be
gone and you will be able to see where the slop is coming from (side to
side movement of your shifter). It isn’t that hard of a job to do, if
you did the lower bushings, you should be able to figure the top part out.
Pencilneck blah blah blah.
That actually makes a TON of sense. I’ll check that out tomorrow. You’re
right about one thing… most of those bushings were COMPLETELY dry rotted
out, if even there. the dealership I hit is usually pretty good about
helping me locate parts..etc. Thanks again, and I’ll keep you updated!
-Larry
"Pencilneck" <newsgro…@4130-products.comZ> wrote in message
news:Zc6dndsuqMKwiKWiXTWJjg@comcast.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> LC wrote:
> > Replaced 5 bushings for the shifter. and yes, the linkage was out of
> > the car at one point. Still no reverse =( I didn’t know there was one
> > inside the vehicle. Do you know the VW part #?
> > Thanks!
> Remove the shifter knob and rubber boot, then the center console. You
> will then see the metal "box" that the top part of the shifter asm sits
> inside. You will have to remove that metal box, 2 or 4 bolts as I
> recall, not to hard to remove.
> I don’t remember the part number at all, and to make things better, or
> worse, the ETKA doesn’t show the needed bushing very well. I do
> remember said "rubber" bushing has a steel bushing inside of it, to
> which a bolt passes though. The rubber part will most likely all be
> gone and you will be able to see where the slop is coming from (side to
> side movement of your shifter). It isn’t that hard of a job to do, if
> you did the lower bushings, you should be able to figure the top part out.
> Pencilneck blah blah blah.
I checked it out… the slop was definitely coming from that bushing.. or
what was left of it.
the guy @ my local VW Dealership got a chuckle out of seeing it. Thirty
dollars for the replacement pieces. No biggie though. ’Specially if I get
the slop out of the linkage and get it able to go back into reverse. We’ll
find out in 3 days or so once I get the parts!
-Larry
"Pencilneck" <newsgro…@4130-products.comZ> wrote in message
news:Zc6dndsuqMKwiKWiXTWJjg@comcast.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> LC wrote:
> > Replaced 5 bushings for the shifter. and yes, the linkage was out of
> > the car at one point. Still no reverse =( I didn’t know there was one
> > inside the vehicle. Do you know the VW part #?
> > Thanks!
> Remove the shifter knob and rubber boot, then the center console. You
> will then see the metal "box" that the top part of the shifter asm sits
> inside. You will have to remove that metal box, 2 or 4 bolts as I
> recall, not to hard to remove.
> I don’t remember the part number at all, and to make things better, or
> worse, the ETKA doesn’t show the needed bushing very well. I do
> remember said "rubber" bushing has a steel bushing inside of it, to
> which a bolt passes though. The rubber part will most likely all be
> gone and you will be able to see where the slop is coming from (side to
> side movement of your shifter). It isn’t that hard of a job to do, if
> you did the lower bushings, you should be able to figure the top part out.
> Pencilneck blah blah blah.
Uhhh… No.. It didn’t work. The slop problem definitely went away when I
took out the bushing and replaced it. I actually replaced the whole shifter
housing unit. It came as a package for 30 bucks, and it was in a ton better
shape than the one that was in there. Replaced everything, set it in..
still no reverse though. Okay, so I’m now down to the mercy of my local
edward’s transmission shop to fix this one. I’m going to take the darned
thing in on monday unless someone’s got some better ideas for me, ’cause at
this point, I’m lost! But hey, at least they give free estimates. =)
Thanks for the help again!
-Larry
"LC" <goali…@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cTh_a.23391$Vx2.10879598@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> I checked it out… the slop was definitely coming from that bushing.. or
> what was left of it.
> the guy @ my local VW Dealership got a chuckle out of seeing it. Thirty
> dollars for the replacement pieces. No biggie though. ’Specially if I
get
> the slop out of the linkage and get it able to go back into reverse.
We’ll
> find out in 3 days or so once I get the parts!
> -Larry
> "Pencilneck" <newsgro…@4130-products.comZ> wrote in message
> news:Zc6dndsuqMKwiKWiXTWJjg@comcast.com…
> > LC wrote:
> > > Replaced 5 bushings for the shifter. and yes, the linkage was out of
> > > the car at one point. Still no reverse =( I didn’t know there was
one
> > > inside the vehicle. Do you know the VW part #?
> > > Thanks!
> > Remove the shifter knob and rubber boot, then the center console. You
> > will then see the metal "box" that the top part of the shifter asm sits
> > inside. You will have to remove that metal box, 2 or 4 bolts as I
> > recall, not to hard to remove.
> > I don’t remember the part number at all, and to make things better, or
> > worse, the ETKA doesn’t show the needed bushing very well. I do
> > remember said "rubber" bushing has a steel bushing inside of it, to
> > which a bolt passes though. The rubber part will most likely all be
> > gone and you will be able to see where the slop is coming from (side to
> > side movement of your shifter). It isn’t that hard of a job to do, if
> > you did the lower bushings, you should be able to figure the top part
out.
> > Pencilneck blah blah blah.
>From: "LC" goali…@hotmail.com
>Uhhh… No.. It didn’t work. The slop problem definitely went away when I
>took out the bushing and replaced it. I actually replaced the whole shifter
>housing unit. It came as a package for 30 bucks, and it was in a ton better
>shape than the one that was in there. Replaced everything, set it in..
>still no reverse though. Okay, so I’m now down to the mercy of my local
>edward’s transmission shop to fix this one. I’m going to take the darned
>thing in on monday unless someone’s got some better ideas for me, ’cause at
>this point, I’m lost! But hey, at least they give free estimates. =)
>Thanks for the help again!
>-Larry
Did you try to adjust the linkage from underneath the vehicle? That clamp on
the splined shaft might need to be loosened and the linkage twisted one way or
the other.
later,
dave
Reminder……..
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way,
when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their
shoes. Frieda Norris
LC wrote:
> Uhhh… No.. It didn’t work. The slop problem definitely went away when I
> took out the bushing and replaced it. I actually replaced the whole shifter
> housing unit. It came as a package for 30 bucks, and it was in a ton better
> shape than the one that was in there. Replaced everything, set it in..
> still no reverse though. Okay, so I’m now down to the mercy of my local
> edward’s transmission shop to fix this one. I’m going to take the darned
> thing in on monday unless someone’s got some better ideas for me, ’cause at
> this point, I’m lost! But hey, at least they give free estimates. =)
> Thanks for the help again!
> -Larry
When you did the lower bushing (under the car), did you by chance loosen
the clamp up? If so, you may just now need to adjust your linkage. I
don’t know how all to adjust it though since the car I worked on was
fixed once all the worn bushings were replaced.
Keep at it, you’ll figure it out.
–
Pencilneck blah blah blah
Custom VW gauge overlays
http://www.4130-products.com
86 (soon to be 2.0L turbo) Jetta
86 VR6 Quaifed/Schricked/Garrett’d Jetta
87 stock $600 dog hauler Jetta
ANTI SPAM – REMOVE THE "Z"
Dave,
Yes.. I did attempt that, and it seems to have only made the problem worse.
I’ve finally resigned to just give it over to the guys at my local edward’s
transmission. I’ve avoided the inevitable for a long time, and I’m finally
going to just give up the ghost and give it to an expert. At least I get a
free estimate of the problem/work.
Thanks again for everyone’s help!
-Larry
"dave" <vwd…@aol.comANTISPAM> wrote in message
news:20030817103650.00623.00000192@mb-m02.aol.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> >From: "LC" goali…@hotmail.com
> >Uhhh… No.. It didn’t work. The slop problem definitely went away
when I
> >took out the bushing and replaced it. I actually replaced the whole
shifter
> >housing unit. It came as a package for 30 bucks, and it was in a ton
better
> >shape than the one that was in there. Replaced everything, set it in..
> >still no reverse though. Okay, so I’m now down to the mercy of my local
> >edward’s transmission shop to fix this one. I’m going to take the darned
> >thing in on monday unless someone’s got some better ideas for me, ’cause
at
> >this point, I’m lost! But hey, at least they give free estimates. =)
> >Thanks for the help again!
> >-Larry
> Did you try to adjust the linkage from underneath the vehicle? That clamp
on
> the splined shaft might need to be loosened and the linkage twisted one
way or
> the other.
> later,
> dave
> Reminder……..
> Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That
way,
> when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their
> shoes. Frieda Norris
>From: "LC" goali…@hotmail.com
>Dave,
>Yes.. I did attempt that, and it seems to have only made the problem worse.
>I’ve finally resigned to just give it over to the guys at my local edward’s
>transmission. I’ve avoided the inevitable for a long time, and I’m finally
>going to just give up the ghost and give it to an expert. At least I get a
>free estimate of the problem/work.
>Thanks again for everyone’s help!
>-Larry
I think you were soooooooooo close too! lol
let us know what happens.
later,
dave
Reminder……..
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way,
when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their
shoes. Frieda Norris