[Nrguzman16]

Just bought my first jetta..it's a 1997 jetta gt, paid 300 bucks for it has one problem the gears aren't shifting right. It has 2 reverses one in the normal reverse gear and also reverses in first. First gear starts out in 3rd and so one from there. Not sure of anyone could help with suggestions, this is the first car I've owned with a Manual transmission and I'm not familiar with working on them please help if possible would really love to get out and enjoy the full gear range soon

 

[BooglesMcGee]

Sounds similar to a problem I had with my MkI Rabbit. On mine the linkage came undone. Pop the hood and look around while someone else moves the shifter (with the car off of course ). If you notice anything moving around freely while they do that, try to find where that is supposed to go and reconnect it. This is about all I can think of.

 

[apocpg]

Sounds similar to a problem I had with my MkI Rabbit. On mine the linkage came undone. Pop the hood and look around while someone else moves the shifter (with the car off of course ). If you notice anything moving around freely while they do that, try to find where that is supposed to go and reconnect it. This is about all I can think of.

i agree, also take off your shifter boot and take a peak in there and see if anything is loose, but more than likely its the linkage ontop of the tranny

 

[joenewton07]

your shifter cables are out of alignment. there are some DIY's on vortex i believe, and if you have a bentley manual(which you should if you dont) it will tell you how to realign them.

 

[Nrguzman16]

I was poking around today shift boot is off and the linkages look like they are going to where they should be no loose pieces flopping around. I'll look into getting a bentley manual soon for the cables. There is another thing I noticed too when in neutral the shifter is all the way to the right and has to be pulledto the left to center then when I let it go it swings back to the right. Is it normal for that to happen?

 

[joenewton07]

that's not at all normal. it more and more sounds like you just need your shifter cables realigned.