2003 manual transmission reverse not working

[millerjj]

Please help!

The transmission on my '03 Golf will not allow me to go into reverse. When it happened, it would not let me even go over to first and second. Eventually I got over to first and second with some effort. However now it will not go into reverse. It still allows me to push down on the shifter and it stays down when I push it towards reverse, but when I move it forward it only goes into first gear. All 5 other gears seem to be fine, just reverse is causing the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what kind of an issue I'm looking at and any shop recommendations in the Edmonton area to take it to?? The car has 160k on it, mostly highway.

Thanks

[Stonewall]

Re: 2003 manual transmission reverse not working

Might be as simple as readjusting the shifter or as worse as a bad tranny.

[19Fury69]

Re: 2003 manual transmission reverse not working

I know with my jetta theres a big ass metal bar sticking up beside the motor thats connected to the shifter under the hood, could something be stuck under or beside it keeping it from moving, and if you pushed hard enough it might have move it enough to get into 1st and 2nd? Just a thought.

[Kordain]

Re: 2003 manual transmission reverse not working

sounds like play in the linkage, so the bar doesnt get pushed far enough, just enough to let you just about get it into 1&2 but not the max amounted needed to get rev. id go and see about getting it adjsuted before it falls off n you get stranded coz you cant use any gear but 5th!

Disclaimer
(i may be slightly sensationalising things slightly ish)

[Khyron]

Re: 2003 manual transmission reverse not working

I had this happen - it was the stupid little backup hose that hooks to the airbox on the left side. It had come loose and fallen down into the shifter weight (the thing you replace with a short shifter) stopping the full motion. I bet it's that. Look under your battery area for it.