Gear Changing Problem On Mk.3 Golf

[mac500]

HELP!
My wife’s car, a 1993 Mk.3 VW Golf Ryder 1.4, has an intermittent problem with the gears. It started about 2 years ago with 60,000 miles on the clock. Normally gear changing is smooth and easy but every so often changing gear up or down becomes difficult/impossible. After repeated attempts to move the gear lever the fault would right itself and normal operation would resume for an indeterminate preiod, perhaps only a day or perhaps 6 or 8 months. Lengthy periods of faultless operation interspersed with shorter unsatisfactory periods is the norm. This makes the car very unreliable.
With the engine running, when the fault is present, attempts to move the car into gear does not result in scrunching of the gears, as might be expected.
I have been told that this car is probably fitted with an automatic clutch which could be causing the problem. The clutch cable,however, appears to be operating normally. I am not familiar with the mechanism of an automatic clutch.

Can anyone advise me please as to what is the likely cause of this recurring problem?

The fault comes and goes and when gone faultless operation resumes. It is very baffling.

Thank You

[thefoolmccool]

Possible Causes:

Ratchet Mechanism on clutch pedal (This would cause a loud banging noise when clutch depressed and gears not being selected)

Dodgy Engine Mount (Most likely- check for any movement of the engine in the engine bay with the car off, should be some but not excessive)

Worn linkage/selector shaft (If this is out of tolerance, the gears will be hard to engage but at all times)

I am not sure about an automatic clutch. I know there is some sort of counterbalanced lever at the bottom of the gear box connected to the clutch, but as to what way it work, no idea. Will check the Haynes manual tonight, but my bet is the mounts (common problem)

[mac500]

Hi thefoolmccool
Many thanks for your help.
I have had a quick look at the engine mountings and visually they appear to be in good order. Also, I can detect little or no movement when pulling/pushing on the engine. I will, however, have a closer look tomorrow.
Thanks anyhow.
Regards

[mac500]

Hi thefoolmccool
Many thanks for your help.
I have had a quick look at the engine mountings and visually they appear to be in good order. Also, I can detect little or no movement when pulling/pushing on the engine. I will, however, have a closer look tomorrow.
Thanks anyhow.
Regards

[passat boy]

HELP!
My wife’s car, a 1993 Mk.3 VW Golf Ryder 1.4, has an intermittent problem with the gears. It started about 2 years ago with 60,000 miles on the clock. Normally gear changing is smooth and easy but every so often changing gear up or down becomes difficult/impossible. After repeated attempts to move the gear lever the fault would right itself and normal operation would resume for an indeterminate preiod, perhaps only a day or perhaps 6 or 8 months. Lengthy periods of faultless operation interspersed with shorter unsatisfactory periods is the norm. This makes the car very unreliable.
With the engine running, when the fault is present, attempts to move the car into gear does not result in scrunching of the gears, as might be expected.
I have been told that this car is probably fitted with an automatic clutch which could be causing the problem. The clutch cable,however, appears to be operating normally. I am not familiar with the mechanism of an automatic clutch.

Can anyone advise me please as to what is the likely cause of this recurring problem?

The fault comes and goes and when gone faultless operation resumes. It is very baffling.

Thank You

You might try removing your gear lever gator(turn the gearstick cover off) and the ball joint you see under can do with a little greasing on all working parts but knead it into the ball area on the gearstick.In the engine bay look at the centre bottom at the back of the engine,there is a plastic ball in a steel cup that needs greasing(dry&worn ones are cracked up or break away leading to your type of problem)if you cant locate it(can be seen easy from front of car)get your wife to move the gearstick to locate it.lubricate any moving parts attached to it(grease only).Inspect your clutch cable for wear as my wifes polo looked fine but intermittently would do what your golf does and upon inspecting the cable(loosen&remove from gearbox only its easy)you find theres lots of slack as the spring tensioner(hidden in plastic case on cable)wears and a new cable from the main dealer is only £36.

[mac500]

Passat boy
Many thanks
I have carried out the greasing of ball joints etc as you suggested. I had thought (wrongly) that depressing the clutch pedal disengaged the clutch because the gears did not scrunch when attempting to engage a gear. I now know that it is precisely because the clutch is not disengaging that it is not possible to engage a gear. The problem is most likely with the spring tensioner in the cable.
I have been told that there is an automatic adjusting mechanism in the cable and I presume that the spring tensioner is part of that mechanism. I think that there must be something in the mechanism that sometimes slips or fails to engage in order to operate the clutch. If I understood how it worked I might be able to understand why at times the cable fails to disengage the clutch and at other times to work perfectly.
If I loosen and remove the cable from the gearbox end will I be able to get at this spring tensioner in order to carry out a close examination of its condition?
To disengage the other end from beneath the dash would probably be a bit of a pain.
Thanks again for your help
Regards

[passat boy]

Passat boy
Many thanks
I have carried out the greasing of ball joints etc as you suggested. I had thought (wrongly) that depressing the clutch pedal disengaged the clutch because the gears did not scrunch when attempting to engage a gear. I now know that it is precisely because the clutch is not disengaging that it is not possible to engage a gear. The problem is most likely with the spring tensioner in the cable.
I have been told that there is an automatic adjusting mechanism in the cable and I presume that the spring tensioner is part of that mechanism. I think that there must be something in the mechanism that sometimes slips or fails to engage in order to operate the clutch. If I understood how it worked I might be able to understand why at times the cable fails to disengage the clutch and at other times to work perfectly.
If I loosen and remove the cable from the gearbox end will I be able to get at this spring tensioner in order to carry out a close examination of its condition?
To disengage the other end from beneath the dash would probably be a bit of a pain.
Thanks again for your help
Regards

Hello mac500

You cant buy the tensioner spring,it's the black plastic oversised cigar shaped unit in the enginebay side of things on the cable.it's easy to change in the car,just remove the lower cover(looks like a glovebox lid under steering column)and look for the clutch pedal and with it removed on the gearbox just unhook it from the pedal and pull it out from the engine side.fitting is the reverse but lightly grease the cable both ends(push the cable out and grease then repeat the other end)before fitting.
good luck,if you dont do it sooner rather than later kiss your clutch goodbye(£££££££££).

[mac500]

Hi Passat boy
The Golf is the wife’s runabout in which she does no more than 1500 miles per year, and is due an MOT next week. The clutch is disengaging fully at present but from past experience over a two year period I know that the fault is likely to return at any time. It is my intention to replace the clutch cable immediately after the MOT. I only hope that it does not start to act up during the test.
I take it that you are a Passat enthusiast . I am currently running a 1.9TDI Passat. A nice car although I dislike and can’t get used to the Electronic Handbrake.
You have been very helpful.
Many Thanks

[passat boy]

Hi Passat boy
The Golf is the wife’s runabout in which she does no more than 1500 miles per year, and is due an MOT next week. The clutch is disengaging fully at present but from past experience over a two year period I know that the fault is likely to return at any time. It is my intention to replace the clutch cable immediately after the MOT. I only hope that it does not start to act up during the test.
I take it that you are a Passat enthusiast . I am currently running a 1.9TDI Passat. A nice car although I dislike and can’t get used to the Electronic Handbrake.
You have been very helpful.
Many Thanks

Glad to help,yes i am a VW enthusiast unlike the criminal fraternity that tried foolishly to break into my 1998 passat in the week,fools caused enough damage but more to their egos but then again they restored the clever dumb balance i suppose.They destroyed my boot lock&complete mechanism and the passenger door lock then proceeded to use a object to prise the door open,such silliness.If you wonder why my alarm didnt go off,thats because the muppet i bought the car off long ago turned the sensor to off.That restored and tested and the damage repaired for £30(friends in the breaker buisness)im a happy man again.Out of intrest they could not get in my car and sodded off in self pity i presume after having failed like defeated mice(men have respect for others).