GTi gear stick / linkage??

[TROOPER88]

Hi Guys
New here so hope you are all well!!

I have owned my mk3 Golf Gti for about 5 years and it has honestly been superb. I was using it as a daily driver up until buying a 996 12 months ago.
I sold the 996 a few weeks ago and started using the Golf as a daily again and all has been great.

I just left Hammersmith and was making the 15 mile commute home along the A316 when I noticed that the gear change felt different; it felt easier if anything to change gear; somewhat loose.
I honestly thought that it was strange but with it being a very hot day I thought maybe the oil was a little thinner so pretty much forgot about it.

A couple of miles latter it became apparent that I had a problem. The gear stick now had a lot of movement in it whilst in gear. I pulled onto a side road whilst I decided what to do next; I did not want to pull up to a set of lights for example on a busy road and not be able to select a gear.

I decided to try and make it home which fortunately I did.

I would not say it is terribly difficult to select a gear at the moment but the amount of play in the stick whilst in gear resembles probably the amount you would expect in neutral.

Any idea what the problem is?? The car has done 100,000 miles and had a new clutch 5000 miles ago.

It was 100% perfect on the way to work this morn and have never had any gearbox/selector issues what so ever.

I have just had a look; all that appears wrong is there is too much forward and back (not side to side) movement in the geartick when in gear. It was fine on the way to work this morn.....

The car is a 98 Gti 8v. I had a look at the linkage but really do not know what I am looking for as I do not know how it looked before. I am guessing something has fallen off?
Under the bonnet I can slide the gear selector rod back and forth and this is the movement that needs to be erradicated?
Any pictures of how it should look would be great.
Many thanks.

[liva2704]

I doubt if there is anything missing as you would lose some if not all gears.Sounds like the common mk3 linkage wearing problem.

[TROOPER88]

I doubt if there is anything missing as you would lose some if not all gears.Sounds like the common mk3 linkage wearing problem.

Hi
Thanks.
If something 'wears' there would be a gradual loss of performance.

In my case all was excellent and suddenly I had a problem. I have just had a look through some of the threads on here and I found one that looks interesting.
Basically there is a white toothed bush near the selector arm. Is there supposed to be a large rubber grommit or ball or something around this bush??
If so this is my problem as there is a naked white bush and it is around this bush where there seems to be the movement.

[liva2704]

yep thats the one

[TROOPER88]

yep thats the one

And is it this part that causes the problems?
I just removed said part in the last couple of minutes. Without knowing what it should look like its hard to know if it is faulty.....


I have just seen this one on e-bay and the bush looks a lot bigger on this one than mine:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221027027884?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

[liva2704]

That is one of the parts that causes the problem yes

[TROOPER88]

That is one of the parts that causes the problem yes

Firstly, thanks for your help with this, it is much appreciated!

Secondly it would appear from the pictures I have seen on e-bay and the like that the 'ball' is formed from a toothed plastic centre (which is all that is on mine) and a rubber piece that sits over this toothed section. (if this makes any sense).

Is this exactly how it works, a 2 piece part?
If this is the case it seems obvious to me that what has happened is the outer section has perished and falled of.
Cheers

[TROOPER88]

Hi
The problem seemed to be that the ball part had completely fallen off meaning a lot of movement.
I ordered the kit yesterday and have just fitted the ball part.

All seemed good.....

Drove the car 3 miles giving the gears a good going through and when up to temp it started doing it again!!

When I select first, I can then move the gearstick forwwards and backwards a good inch or so and finding gears is not easy; its too sloppy. It seems better when in second.

I got my partner to sit in the car and move the stick for me and I can see from under the bonnet the shaft sliding back and forth.

When I was first looking for the fault I removed the clamp from the end of the shaft. I replaced it this morn and had to make very minor adjustments to it initially to get all gears.
How far through the clamp should the gear selector rod protrude when in neutral??
Mine is only through about 2-3mm.

Thanks