VW Golf Mk 3: Gearstick stuck in reverse!!! Please help

Amtmann

While driving home today I noticed that my gearstick seemed a tad resistent when moving up and down through gears, i.e. momentarily not really budging while I tried to go from 2nd to 3rd, and from 4th to 3rd.

I made sure that I was fulling applying the clutch (which feels normal), and as I got home, I reversed to park. The car went into reverse no problem, but wouldn't come out of it no matter what I did. Again, I was using the clutch correctly.

When stuck in reverse, the stick wasn't rigid; I could move it about slightly, but it remained steadfastly in reverse. Eventually my friend and I managed to free it (by braking and clutching), and I put it into first and parked.

I'm finding now that it's highly resistent to changing gear, and I don't think I'd risk driving. Once in gear, it won't slip out - and that seems to be the problem.

Can somebody offer a possible diagnosis, and importantly, how much am I looking at paying to get it fixed?

Many thanks in advance.

E92

Could the slave/master cylinder be gone?

I don't know enough about the goings on under the bonnet to be certain, so wait and see what other posters who will be infinitely more knowledgeable than I am say about it.

But gears not changing sounds expensive to me I'm afraid....

demanufactured

linkage could be loose....

JHMEG

Any noises? Clutch release bearing or the gearbox is fooked.

wil

Cant give you a definitive answer as to what is wrong, just to say it probably isnt safe to drive.
My neighbour wrote off her boyfriends Golf in to a signpost after the gear got stuck.
Luckily she wasnt really hurt but the boyf didnt believe her.
I had to show him the gear was still stuck in the written off car.

I have had a pin go in a Sierra gearbox at low speed, left me unable to put in gear, wasnt too expensive to repair but cant say that yours is so simple.

Amtmann

Thanks guys. There are no strange noises.

I called the AA man out to look at it, and he says it seems to be a problem inside the geerbox, possibly something to do with the 'selectors' (whatever they are). All gears are now affected; they jam when changing, making it impossible to do so smoothly.

He said I'd be looking at 400 euro for a new gearbox. But he also said that it should be possible to get a used gearbox. Anyone know where I'd get one of those in the Cork city area, and how much it would cost?

Also, is it worth it? I bought the car 12 months ago for 2,500. Since then I've had it serviced, I've changed the brake discs and the timing belt, and installed an mp3/CD player. Would I be as well at this stage to retire it? I don't want to, as otherwise it's a great car, and immaculate.

pred racer

bring it to a clutch/ gearbox specialist. This happened to a mate of mine recently on his golf 01 (wouldnt go into 1/2/4/r) new selector 90 euro labour 80 euro.

Amtmann

pred racer wrote: »

bring it to a clutch/ gearbox specialist. This happened to a mate of mine recently on his golf 01 (wouldnt go into 1/2/4/r) new selector 90 euro labour 80 euro.

You've just brightened my day a little.