Shifter wont go into 1,3,or5th

[JTEK24]

What is the problem? When I try to put it in 1st it doesnt engage, I have to pull off in second now and then shift to 4th since 3rd doesnt work and neither does 5th. what can I do to fix it?

[NAiL05]

See if cables are binding up in engine bay.

[JTEK24]

I'll go and check that out once my car cool off and I'll let you know the outcome.

[JTEK24]

Well I went and checked the linkage for binding and it wasn't that. Im not sure what it is now since I had my girlfriend moving the shifter to each gear and tried to look under the hood while she did it. The one in the back pulls out and goes over but the front one goes over but doesnt stay and it isnt hitting up against anything because it worked before. Any takers on what else could be wrong?

[wagalude]

you need to check the clips that hold the cables if one comes loose it won't go into the odd gears

[JTEK24]

you need to check the clips that hold the cables if one comes loose it won't go into the odd gears

Do you have any idea which clip it is because the clips look fine.

[JTEK24]

well cant find the problem, all i can do is drain the fluid and see if any metal is in the tranny if not just use a heavyer weight instead of the penzoil syncromesh.

[F20A CB7]

syncro's mayb?

[NAiL05]

How bout the cable itself? Sometimes it could just be broken. Doesnt sound like a syncro problem too me if all three gears crapped out all of a sudden.

[mozzandherb]

Could be the syncros but sounds more like the cable because like NAil said syncros dont all usually mess up at the same time.

[foamypirate]

My friends car did the same thing, and believe it or not, it was the motor mount. The bracket came off the frame...but I doubt that's your problem.

[JTEK24]

This is what it looks like, when I move the shifter both cables move in the engine bay but it seem like the top mounted cable doesnt push out all the way. So Im not sure how the cable could be broken, I hope not because that was a pain and a half to put in under the car.

[NAiL05]

So move it by hand and see if it engages. Only other thing I would mention is slave cylinder since that controls most of the engage/disengage clutch deal. But you said 2/4 go in fine.

[quickangel93]

i remember in the jettas they have adjusters there. each gear you put it in you could adjust the teeth so that the shifter cable slides in perfectly.

[JTEK24]

So move it by hand and see if it engages. Only other thing I would mention is slave cylinder since that controls most of the engage/disengage clutch deal. But you said 2/4 go in fine.

Yeah, 2nd, 4th and R work fine. When I put the shifter in first, it has no click feel to it. It just goes back to the neutral position, same thing for 3rd and 5th. So could be the cables but they worked fine 3 days ago. Its strange.