This worked getting 1st back but now ive lost 5th. Any advice?

Just in case anyone is wondering, it's 2023 and this video is just as applicable. Bought a Jetta with a ton of Km onm it, owner said it had been shifting bad for about 5 years. Figured it was more serious. All you have to do (in case it wasnt mentioned here) is disconnect the air box and you should have access to everything you need. After re-adjusting, its a totally different car. Thanks for this awesome how-to video, saved me the hassle of going to the transmission shop!

Your tip on how to adjust it with a broken pin is worth its weight in gold. You're the only one who's ever shown that. Thanks

Apparently my shop didn't know how to do this because it was hard to shift after I got it back from a clutch replacement. This did the trick. Thank you for sharing knowledge!

This is the most helpful video I've ever come across; invaluable information for those that need it. The clear and concise presentation is a rarity and so easy to comprehend. 1,000 pts. awarded!!

Thank you for this video. I broke my locking pin and didn't know what to do, kept getting false reverse. Now after the non pin adjustment it works perfect!

Thank you so much Jim! I can't tell you how much I am appreciative of this video that you have done. This helped me so much and I am extremely grateful of people like you that go through the trouble to help out others that may have questions on how to fix their car. I have a 2001 VW Jetta TDI and just last week the shifter cables came off the shifter. This happened while I was at a car wash and well as bad as this was for it to happen in the first place I was grateful for the fact that it was stuck in first gear so that way I was able to save myself a tow and was able to drive it back home. I had found both of your videos about these issues and really had no idea that this was even a thing that could happen to old cars like this. Gotta tell you I was extremely freaked when this happened but all the same I when I found your videos and was directed to your website for the parts my mind was put at ease knowing that because of you I was able to fix my car. Thank you so much and please keep up the good work in the future. :)

So for about three months, Second gear has been making this strange grinding noise when I shift out of first at high revs. This solved that problem, and made all of the other gears much smoother. Thanks for the vid.

I had lost my rear shift. I've done exactly your procedure and everything works perfectly. Thanks a lot !

Thank you for this great video! My daughters 2000 VW TDI was grinding going into 5th gear. Your video walked me through adjusting the linkage and it works great now.

Thanks guys for taking the time to do this video in aid of all out there! It was an absolute breeze getting it done!

90% acurate, very useful. 1. Put the pin into lock position by pushing it and wagering up and down the counter weight piece, that will allow you to push the lock pin all the way in pointing up. 2. Lose the cables as described in the video 3. Lock the shifter as described in the video 4. Make sure the tensioning on both cables it's adequate and lock the cables again 5. Pull the locking pin by wagering the counter weight, this will allow you to pull the pin from locking position. 6. Remove the locking pin in the shifter and try to shift all gears. This should conclude the proper alingment and you should be good to go!

Both 1st and 2nd gear were sticking and to get into reverse I had to really push the shifter hard. I followed your vid and now it's changing smoothly and as good as new! Thanks guys - awesome vid!

This could not have been more helpful. THANKS! Once I saw that the orientation is a bit different for MKVII and I focused on the cable with the horizontal end vs. the cable with the vertical one all was well. Taking up the slack is key!

After memorizing the clip, I followed the steps and my car is working LIKE NEW!!! Outstanding tutorial. All that took me 60secs.

thanx a lot for the clear video instruction. I almost threw my transmission apart to view why it didn't shift well but I could fix it and now it's running perfectly.

Thank you Diesel Geeks! I had issues with shifting into first. After following the video, my VW Jetta TDI shifts better than the day I bought it!

Thanks for the detailed instructions, it’s no longer a struggle to shift into 3rd and 4th. Even when it feels like gear 1 or 5 is not in at times you’d find that it’s actually engaged🙏🏾

I have a 2008 City Golf (Canada) and this solution worked amazingly. Just a note, make sure that when you release the cable springs, you make sure they return all of the way back. The first time I did this, I lost first gear because the linkage shifted after 5 minutes. I repeated the steps and this time made sure the springs had fully returned (there is almost a ridge that you have to pull past) and now my first gear is perfect. My car shifts better than it did when it was new. Thanks.

THANK YOU. This is awesome. Didn't know about the home position on the shifter in the car last I tried this and it was almost an hour of trial and error to get it to shift right. And that trick with holding the slack is trick.

Brilliant video. Used this to cure the lack of crispness in engaging 4th gear on my mk4 golf. NB if your bushings are worn, don’t take out the cable slack when re-engaging the lock collars. I did this and lost reverse. Just snap them back. And then replace your worn bushings! Many thanks for this super helpful vid.

Thank you for making a short easy video to follow. Fix my issue and cured my panic attack

I had previously replaced the first gear getter which made finding 5th gear once again possible. it then made it a little bit more difficult to downshift into second, having to hunt it a little bit. once I followed the procedure in this video everything in the gear shift is right up to snuff again. all the gears are there crisply neatly and where they are supposed to be. hard to believe it's a 220,000 mile car. thank you so much for creating and sharing this video

Thanks for the video. After 14 years and 270K miles, my shifter started feeling notchy. Gear changes from 2-3 and 3-4 were starting to miss, so I followed the instructions and my shifter is as good as new. I would suggest working on a cold car or waiting an hour with the hood up to prevent burning your hands.

This video saved me untold time and money. I'm selling a 2001 Jetta. A potential buyer took a test drive today and when they came back, the car wouldn't shift into reverse. Meanwhile first and second were where reverse was supposed to be. Even though the cable ends on my car were dry and balky and I'd never done this before, the repair took less than five minutes. Now the car shifts into all five gears and reverse better than it ever has in the five years I've owned it. Thank you so much for posting this video.

Thanks! The tip to pull the linkages tight before resetting made all the difference. I did the adjustment before without doing that and I lose 5th. Now, with that tip, perfect shifting!

just put new shifter cables in my 2007 beetle went through the Hayes manual they gave me a picture of that locking pin I couldn't find it to save my life apreciate the video man you save my ass

Thanks Bro. It totally works you are the man. Sweet. I am still having trouble with p1128 and a brake leak issue ongoing.. New stage 2 clutch not even broken in yet but the transmission passes.

Good evening Sir, I used your video to adjust my gear linkage on a 2000 Audi TT. Wow I must admit that your video was simply explained and totally accurate, the gear linkage is now perfect. Thank you for a well presented video. GOD Bless all .

I just adjusted the shift linkage on my 2001 Audi TT Quattro using this video, and it worked I even got 1st and 2nd gear back.

I just finished a year long engine rebuild/rehab project on my BEW jetta tdi! I put it all together and the missing piece of the puzzle was the shifter! I couldn't get it into First or Reverse! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELP

Thanks, just used this on my mk5 diesel after 3rd gear became fucked after an engine wash. Back to the good life of smooth gear changes

Hi. Thanks a lot! I ended up using the second option ( with broken pin ) even that my pin is there, it doesn't do anything. I used alan 4mm key first time but and didn't do good job. On second try I made sure the gear stick is well positioned and I repeat the adjustments. Perfect video!

I much appreciate your very descriptive tutorial, using your video I was able to adjust my shifter and regain proper actuation of 1st and 2nd gear in my 2001 VW Golf. Prior to watching this I had no idea how to do this and was able to do it in literally 10 minutes including finding the correct drill. Thank you Sir

This is honestly one of the best tutorials I have ever seen on KZfaq. It didn't solve my problem I'm afraid, I have a 1997 2.0 8v GTi Golf. The clutch is slipping and I recognise this is a common problem, but there is zilch on resolution of the problem. It is a self adjuster and I think that is the problem. Thanks for a very instructive Video, (Now I'll have to try to find out why my Renault isn't correctly adjusted!)

Thanks Jim, I have tried your both method on my 2001 s3. Your first holding pin(chrome wheel locking pin on the gear box) method is working after I have tried several times(exhausting) tried to get right. Before that I also tried your second method, for some reason, I always missed the reverse gear, and even I have tried several times. It is always engaged in first gear even you push the gear knob down. First method, required many attempts due to locking pin slide off. Finally, I got the gear box locking pin "locked" and I was able to get gears right.

Dude, thank you so much...you saved me allot. I recently began having problems getting into 1st gear. After watching a bunch of your vids I think the adjustment really helped my 2000 Jetta. I was so pumped after watching that I still wanted to order your FIGG just so I could have it. So I did. :)

Thank you so much for this new video, i adjusted it by the old method before but when my shifter got some play in it and started popping out of 1st 3rd and 5th, i tried to adjust it again to find that my locking pin was broken and i have been trying to adjust it for the past few months!

I managed to resurrect my 2000 Jetta TDI thanks to your video, many thanks!!!

Thank you for the clear and informative video!! 2001 JETTA 1.8T WOLFSBURG EDITION - AWW

Thank you shifts a lot smoother now took a while to get it just right at first it wouldn’t go in second or third but when I got it just right shifts into all gears smoothly

My 2006 VW Passat 1.9TDi (B6) had an issue selecting 2nd gear problem changing from 1st to 2nd or 3th to 2nd you would 30% of the time end up getting 4th Gear (problem at traffic lights and while crossing a busy road !!!!) used this video to re-adjust the linkage and worked first time (well problem shifted to selecting 5th gear ) second time managed to perfect guess the locking drill bit shifted the first time just want to say a big thanks for well explained Video

Jim thanks for the great instruction. I had an old cheapie screw driver that was 5mm dia. I think a 5mm pin gage (used in machine shops) that is 2'' long would work too.

I bought a short shifter kit for my B5 Passat 1.8T from you long time ago. Still one of my favourite mods. ...😀😀😀

This video is 8 years old and still helped me! I couldn't get into 1st gear and I knew it wasn't transmission. Felt like an adjustment. Thanks to your video I now have smooth shifting action. Thanks a lot for doing this if you even see these comments anymore lol.

Brilliant work mate, Ordered the 1st gear getter for my wife's Audi tt, As she had lost reverse and 5th?> Simple install and her locking pin had been previously sheered off "i imagine by a ham fisted workshop" . Following these instructions made the job Quick and easy, i highly recommend these bushings for anyone wanting a tight feel and perfect shifting back

Love videos like this, short and to the point. Thanks!

Just a quick thanks to the guys at dieselgeek for making this video! I don't work on VW much, finding this video made adjusting with the broken pin a piece of cake that was done in about 3 minutes!

There are other videos about this matter but this one is a ``MUST`` to understand how , what and why you are doing things for the shifter adjustment. You definitely made the best video of how to solve this problem!!!👏👏👏 Excellent !!!!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟😃👌

Hey guys this video is still helping people. My cables fused the 3 little plastic fingers of the adjuster with rust. Some WD-40 and a few taps with screwdriver freed them so then I could adjust them correctly. Works great now. Thanks!

Excellent video, I just repair my car using your video, Thanks a lot!! you save my a lot of time, very easy to follow your video.

thanks...been working on vw for a long time yet its been awhile since ive done this...couldnt remember how...very informative

Awesome is save me from messing up my transmission I was able to put the cables back in place thanks so much for the video man

My TDI would not go into reverse at all it would just think it’s first and first and second were very difficult to get into but after just asjusting the side to side everything works perfect, absolute lifesaver

very helpful I had problems with the reverse and first speed, and with the adjustment was perfect thanks

Thank you so much.. i like the fact that you clearly state that you need to pull the cables outwards,that made the whole difference.

Thank you for posting this excellent video. Clear explanation, outstanding visuals and....IT WORKED!!!!!!

for me on a mk6 gt petrol 6 speed in the uk, my reverse had always played up so that i would have to roll the car an inch or 2 while putting it in reverse sometimes. Then couple of days ago I reversed out my drive then wernt to put it in first and couldn't get it into any of the gears. Anyway what had happened is the selector had come off the gearbox, the securing e clip must have come off. I went to vw got one for £1 fitted it and went through the instructions here adjusting it by pulling the spring back then just letting go, and its better than it ever was. Thank you to this channel.

I have a 2000 MKIV Jetta 2.0, and only a 3mm Allen Wrench. Before, the only way I could get into 1st and 2nd Gear was to drop the shifter into reverse gear and easing out into 1st and second gears! After this tutorial, I can confirm this method works; I'm back to normal. Thank You.

Thank you, shifts great now.

Give Jim from diesel geek a metal thanks for the guidance really helped I understand the concept of how to adjust the gears now

Super video, managed to sort out poor shifting on a Seat Leon FR 2016 TDI! Thanks Mr! :)

Thanks for the video, helped me fix my brothers 01 turbo diesel beetle. Was having a hard time going into first, not any more. Great Video!

Great video helped me out big time, when taking the slack out push the cable away from the shift tower I did it the other way and had to redo it

I just followed these instructions with the diesel-geek alignment pin and words cannot explain how good it shifts. Many thanks for this! 👍 Now time to reunite myself with first gear using another one of your great creations. 👍❤

Great how to👌. Used it on my 02m and works perfectly🤗 Thanks 👊

Thank you so much! this worked perfect for me.

That was exactly the problem! It was hitting something. You were right! Thank you! You saved me a trip to the shop!

This video is great!!! Because of the info here I got my car working perfectly!!!

I love this system. It’s so easy to adjust and you can fine tune your adjustment in Minutes

Thanks man you are the only one who explains all right .

changing the clutch on my 2007 fabia, this helped soo much thank you for this perfect video!

The pin on my jetta was broken. I used the second method and worked perfectly. Thank you!!

Thank you! I’ve been dealing with some hard shifting for a year and lost reverse just a few days ago. This process worked great 🙏🙏🙏

Despite how old this video is, thanks for sharing it.

My good man you're an excellent mechanic

Thanks for the video, one thing that would improve it would be to indicated what direction you're pulling to pull the slack out of the cable, an arrow or something would be nice. The first time I did it I pulled the wrong direction and lost 1st gear. 2000 Golf TDI w/267K miles and still getting 50 MPG.

nice and smoooth, thanks for the help. Greetings from Mexico City

Thanks for the video! My golf 5 gti wouldnt shift smoothly into rear gear i used a 5mm drill bit to lock transmission and now it shifts perfect again!

Thanks man, feels good as new.

well done video!! thanks for helping me smoothen out the 5 speed on my Mark 4!! if anyone needs VW help, i will definitely remember to send them to you guys. thanks

This help me a lot fixing my 01 jetta about almos 3 weeks ago.

Man I've watched a bunch of videos of how to adjust the cables and I couldn't seem to get it right, it would shift into 1,3,5 gear perfectly but no 2,4,6 gear this is the first video I've seen about pulling the slack out. Gonna try it first thing in the morning, I've been having trouble for the last few days with my 09 CC 6 speed, I believe my pin may be broken as well, it'll lock the weight from going up and down however I can still rotate it a ways. Going to try the broken pin adjustment as well. THANK YOU GOOD SIR for the video. GREAAAATLY APPRECIATED keep up the great work

My 05 Gt tdi 6 speed, struggles with 1st & Reverse, I heard about doing a realiment but feels a big job, watched this video can't wait to give it a try now seems so simple, thanks

Great tutorial - Thanks so much!

Thank you, this worked a treat to give me 1st and 2nd back without having to push yhe reverse gate down 😆 it took a couple of attempts to get all gears though as there is alot of wear.

This video has got me out of a few pickles, as my tower locking pin diesnt work. Thanks so much for making this

Excellent video ... Just what i was looking for... My skoda octavia difficult to put in first and second gear...

Even better than the other explanation. Awesome and very clear

Congratulations on a fantastic video. You really have the gift to explain this stuff to a layman like myself. Thank YOU very much.

The video helped me set the gears. thank you👍

Thank you for this video 👍

Thank you so much man, your a god damn genius! Lol, really.. Thank you a lot for this, I feel smarter just after watching it, I've seen alotta videos but you, lol, this one, wow! Thanks for both methods and making the whole system make sense.. OK, funny story I think, I bought a 1.8t jetta that had the head off and axles off and motor out, I really didn't know a whole lot of mechanics ( I kinda avoided it sorta) but I'm mechanically inclined and finally got interested last summer. Anyway the car was in pieces but I love puzzles and challenges so I put this whole car back together like a learning project, I always wanted to get a turbo and build it.. Anyway when I did the shifter cables (1st time) I just put them together and tightened the bolt and it was the first manual I've worked on and first like this anyway I learned later when I had to actually figure it out that I was so lucky to just put the cables on and tighten it down in no order at all and just have it all work so perfect.. Crazy lucky.. I just put the cables together and tightened the bolt and it shifted perfect But this time around, thank god for your video and help its been a little tricky but now I know what I'm doin.. Thanks

Thanks for the video!

Fantastic video no more grinding into 5th :))))

Thank you very much, I really appreciate your help!!!

I find it impossible to lock the shift mechanism in the home position. I'm afraid I'm going to break the plastic lever off......Just went out and locked it up! Watching you did it helped. Thanks.

Perfect, thanks Jim 👌😀

thanks this fixed my shifting!!!!!

muito boa esplicaçao da regulagem do cabio das marcha.obrigado colega