MISSING 1st & 2nd GEARS

[audi_s3_2002]

Hi Guys, I have and Audi S3 2002 Quattro, was driving home tonight and went to stop at a junction and realised that i didnt have 1st or 2nd gears but had all the others, not sure if our local flooding will have made a difference to this or not but im really stuck,I really hope someone can help diagnose this problem I have. Cheers Allan

[chancer514]

Most likely the selection cables/rods. I doubt it is the gearbox. If you have a copy of the manual on DVD the system is shown in full. if not message me and I will attach the relevant diagrams to an email for you.
I am away this weekend in manchester though so it may be monday. Someone else may have had to adjust these or repair them so may have more accurate info.

[audi_s3_2002]

Thanks very much for that mate, would appreciate the diagram so i can have a look and get this mess sorted, its not handy not havin 1st and 2nd gear. my email is allanbuchan1@aol.com.

cheers again

Allan

[jgvw]

Had the same problem on my old golf gt tdi 6 speed,went for 1st gear at a junction and nothing.
Your s3 quattro will have a different 6 speed box to a golf but maybe similar internal selector set up.
When I removed the selector housing where the cables fasten on from the gearbox the 1st/2nd selector was missing.Being a mechanic I stripped the box myself to see what had happened and found the 1st/2nd slector fork is made up of 2 pieces pegged and rivetted together.A new fork was more ore less £100 so studying the old one I found the rivet coud be replaced with a 6mm nut and bolt without fouling anything else in the gearbox.
Hope this maybe of some use

[martin1810]

I doubt this is a cable linkage problem. As jgvw say's it's most likely to be a broken selector fork in the gearbox. This happens in a lot of boxes when a pin shears that holds the fork on the selector rod. If it was a linkage problem you would expect problems with 1st/2nd and also with 3rd/4th. Hope I'm wrong.

[audi_s3_2002]

Just thought I would let you all know that it looks like its a broken selector fork in the gearbox, for which alot of work is needed to get this fixed, so jgvw it looks like you were spot on, I really wish you were not but hey ho nevermind!! Anyway guys thanks for all advice given and hope if I can ever help with anyone elses problems I certainly will.. Thanks again

Allan