Low Miler 16valve

[The Hoax]

Sorry about the subject, but if I had put "gearbox problem" no-one would have read it.

Anyway, my wives 1990 51k 16v has a problem. When you put it into first, it is just as easy to go too far and put it into reverse which is a bit of a Roger Hunt if you are rollng away from a junction. It seems that you don't have to push down the lever to engage reverse.

Can it be adjusted or is is Donald ducked? I have tried the Haynes manual but it is useless.

Thanks for your help.

Incidentally, I was in the scrappy the other day and came across a full set of BBS 15 inchers for ?60. Bought them and now giving them a tidy.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

you need to replace the ball/cup selector thing (cant remember its proper name) i think.

excellent hawking on the bbs

[The Hoax]

Thanks Veedub, you are up early. There is an article in one of last year's Golf magazine issues so I wll give it a read.

Thanks a mllion for your quick response.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

no problem mate

have you looked under the gaitor at the plastic guide which stops the gearstick going into reverse? on the left of the gearstick. might be broken also/instead.

[golfvr6]

There should be a plastic stop, like veedub said, on my first car , a polo, i had the same problem, select 1st and get reverse. I never bothered repairing it.

[RKett 16v]

got the same problem on my 1990 16v you need a ball repair kit. Watch out that you get a decent kit as some of the cheap kits tend to be a bit crap on the quality side!!

[The Hoax]

Thanks for all your replies guys. I ran quickly ran into German Swedish today and got the bit. I started to repair as in Golf mag and lo and behold they fail to tell you that you have to remove the heat shield and most probably drop the exhaust.

Anyway, I had loosened the mechanism from the inside and decided to put it back together to fix it when i have more time. To tell the truth I couldn't be c*****(swear word derived from Gareth or Roger). When I was finished, I tried it and it felt fine. I took it for a run and it was fine. The only thing I can think that the grease in the ball mechanism had got a bit thick with the cars lack of use over the years and stopped it working properly.

Either I have had a lucky Easter or I have just postponed the inevitable.

Thanks again guys.

[mk1]

You have postponed the inevitable .
I did a 16v and had to take the exhaust off to drop the linkage out, fairly straight forward from there. Have at least half a day spare to be on the safe side.
Steve.

[RKett 16v]

Mate theres a really good how too on a web site but i cant f**kin remember the address!!! check the old pages for topics ref crappy gears ps. can u post it cuz i cant b rsed to look my self but its on here somewhere!!!