Gears gone wrong...help!

[Eurobox]

Hi

Right today I took the car out for a test drive after I finally got to the bottom of a running problem only for something else to go wrong...

So I had the car out for about an hour today and on my way home something happened to the gears, it was mostly around town driving then onto a stretch of motorway doing 60-70ish then when I left the motorway the trouble started as I downshifted out of 5th I've now only got two forward gears... 3rd and 4th, so I've got no 1st, 2nd, 5th or reversing gears, and the stick no longer stands up straight when in neutral it just waggles freely left to right as if it's not connected to anything.

It's a bit late to be taking a look at it now so it'll have to be in the morning, but does anyone have any idea of whats happened?

Does it sound a case of the shifter linkage or something daft like that or is my gearbox shot?

Cheers

[go-for-it1]

Same happened to mine. You will probably find one of the ball joints on the solid links behind the gearbox has popped off. You can see them from the engine bay, just look down under the brake servo and you can push the loose one back on by hand. Get a new link which will stop it happening again.
Rob

[Eurobox]

Ah right cheers, I'll take a ganders at it in the morning.

I've just fitted coilovers so thats probably caused it then.

[go-for-it1]

Probably not, they just pop off when they get a bit worn and you are a bit enthusiastic with the gearstick especially if its a bit stiff to engage gears.

[mark1gls]

You can buy service kits and rods for a few pound.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK1-GOLF-JETT ... 2a1dc771d2

I don't know what the quailty is like for these listed on ebay, but it does give you a drawing of what goes where at the bottom of the page.

[Eurobox]

Probably not, they just pop off when they get a bit worn and you are a bit enthusiastic with the gearstick especially if its a bit stiff to engage gears.

You know your stuff chap, as I joined the motorway I was more 'spirited' with the upchanges than usual, so that'll have been it.

Mark1gls thanks for that also!

[ghost123uk]

When I went all the way to Leeds (from Chester) on the train to buy my current GTS I checked it over and set off home, pleased with my new purchase. As soon as I got on the M6 the same happened to me. It was raining and I DID have 4th gear so I limped on home thinking oh heck (or words to that effect ;). It was the same issue, fixed in 2 minutes next day and then properly with new linkages a week later :)

[Eurobox]

Yeah took a look this morning and there it was, just clicked it back on and done.

[go-for-it1]

Result

[ghost123uk]

Good stuff but remember it likely came off because the ball / socket is worn (common issue) and it is bound to pop off again at the worst possible moment ! Like at 2am in the morning in the pouring rain, or half way across a busy junction !