How NOT to fit a Short Shifter

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 7:24 pm

Got mine today so thought I'd give up studying for my exams to fit it today. Instructions show a passat (I think) centre console where all you have to do is undo a few clips/screw then its out. Of course the Polo HAS to be different!

No screws or anything so I got out the Haynes manual. It told me to first remove the black plastic bit underneath the steering column, held by 3 screws. Done the middle one first. Fine. Done the passenger side one, it was a different size but I found it. Fine. Move onto the one nearest to the driver door and the bit didn't seem to fit in with the screw head. Tried for 30 mins with heaps of different sizes and about 3 of them fit, but they kept slipping no matter how tight my grip was.

So basically I got a screw that won't budge and if I want to fit my short shifter, I'll have to snap the underside of the steering column off

1 GTI · Post by **1 GTI** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:23 pm

Are they supposed to be easy to fit? Am I right in thinking a short shifter are like F1 cars?

Redline · Post by **Redline** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:50 pm

1 GTI wrote: Am I right in thinking a short shifter are like F1 cars?

Ermm....no.

A short shifter, shortens the throw of a manual gearbox. I'm guessing that you're somehow confusing that with a sequential gearbox which is a completely different principle altogether.

mk4 glx 1.6 · Post by **mk4 glx 1.6** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:20 am

You may need an impact driver to remove the stubborn screw, but if the screw is into plastic, you obviously need to be careful not to split it.

PD · Post by PD » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:09 pm

how much do you have to take off, do you have to take off all the pannels around the gear stick?

I would be quite interested to know where it goes and how it all works

JPR_polo_gti · Post by **JPR_polo_gti** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:27 pm

I left some tips in the other thread... I guess you missed it
anyway this is what I found

pretty straight forward to fit, the only fiddly bits was removing the centre console as there was a bit more to it than in the instructions.
you have to remove two torx screws either side in the footwells
two others behind the coin tray
and two plastic nuts where the gear stick is, then it just lifts out, a bit fiddly trying to push it to the side but found it easiest to push it to the drivers side and have part of it sticking out the open door.

the other tricky bit was removing and replacing the pivot rod, as it's a bit low and hits a nut and even if you remove the nut it touches the side, there's another nut that releases the stick mechanism which lets you tilt it a bit but it's still a bit of a squeeze.

finally the pin it comes with snapped on me while I was testing the gear engagement....it seems a bit flimsy and the original pin is too fat, so I used one of those little rings that you get on keys? sorry don't know the name, it was a tiny one about 8mm in diameter, a bit tricky to get on but it works brilliant, been driving around all day and it's makes a big difference, it's so easy to change gear now and so much faster.

oh and forgot to mention that the knob doesn't screw on like it says it should... I just fixed it with a jubilee clip

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:27 pm

Almost done fitting it, been at it 4 hours but got a problem. Was engaging gears and we couldnt get reverse. Then we heard something fall off then the clip for securing the pivot rod came off. We are finding it hard to secure it. Any tips?

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:40 pm

Ok the first thing that did fall off was the clip. It hasn't snapped but is bent out of shape. Does it need this? I need the car tomorrow for work and we don't have any washers suitable.

The older kits came with a metal bracket thing, so why one earth did they replace it with a s**t little clip?

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:34 pm

Ok we bent the small pin into shape, and the securing metal clip for the pivet that fell off, we tightned in a spanner and it seems to be sitting tighter. Can engage all gears now. Not driven the car though. Not too confident about it though, just because of the two crappy fasteners. Also disappointed the gear knob doesn't screw on

JPR_polo_gti - how did you attach the gear knob with a jubilee clip? Any problems since?

JPR_polo_gti · Post by **JPR_polo_gti** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:51 pm

haven't had any problems since,
to attatch the gear stick I just took off the old ring clip thing that was there, and put a small jubilee clip in it's place.
the gear knob was still turning a bit so I took off the gear knob and wrapped a small elastic band around the area of the stick where the jubilee clip would need to grip, bit crude but it's done the job nicely lol

Kam Racing · Post by **Kam Racing** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:48 am

sounds like its going to be interesting when i try to fit mine

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:01 am

We had to drill the screw under the steering column just to get it out!

Just about to leave for work, I hope my gearbox doesn't go on the dualer!

JPR_polo_gti · Post by **JPR_polo_gti** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 12:01 pm

seriously it's not that difficult I fitted mine in under an hour and I'm not experienced in this type of thing

Mouse_GTI · Post by **Mouse_GTI** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:25 pm

An hour, that's madness lol. I suppose it was little things that held us back. For the main part most of it was straightforward, if not a little overcomplicated at first. Haynes manual is crap - says remove 6 screws in one section, you end up removing 12 or something! B&M instructions are pretty good, especially with the labelling, but the pictures are printed far too small.

The gearbox was fine to and from work. Getting used to it though it feels good. I went down to VAG at lunch to order 2 spare clips to hold the pivot in place. Guy at work reckons the pin that sits at the bottom should be ok if we bent it (which we did). Fingers crossed!

JPR_polo_gti · Post by **JPR_polo_gti** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:46 pm

sounds like you removed a lot of screws.
I only removed 4 and the plastic nuts near the stick.
nothing under the steering column..