Hi I have similar problems in my A4 2.0t B7, I can't select 1st or reverse when cold. Also I had the clutch switch fault twice now where the car won't drop the revs on changing gear!
Are these two problems related?
I have changed the gear box oil and clutch switch with no success.
My garage just suggested they replaced the clutch kit at the cost of £628.00 I'm reluctant as the car has done less than 30k miles. On a 57 plate!!!
Any suggestions much appreciated.

 

what oil did you put in the gearbox?

you should only put dealer oil in the gearbox, if you fill with any other brand it doesn't shift properly especially when cold.

1st and 2nd generally seem to be most common.

the same thing happens when the oil is old.

I am led to believe the oil is supposed to be fill for life, but its not, every 2 years is probably a good service time.

 

Most manuals don't have synchro on the first gear. My B5 didn't. Because of that, it's not uncommon to have to go back to neutral, let out the clutch to give the gears and spin and then go into first.


If I'm wrong and ZF got ambitious and put a synchro on 1st, I'll slink back to my cave. But if they did and the synchro is broken, that means it's like every other manual made for years. No synchro on 1st. I'd just drive it.

 

on the b7's the gearboxs are made by GETRAG

 

Do they have a synchro ring in 1st?

 

according to vw software, they list a syncro for 1st gear as a separate part, so I will say yes 1st has a syncro

 

^^^Interesting. Never had a tranny with a 1st gear synchro.^^^^

 

syncro ring P/N: 01X311247P

syncro hub with lock ring P/N: 01X311239B

these are located on the output shaft

 

Both my A6 and newer A4 sometimes resist going smoothly into first, more often in cold weather. I find that downshifting to second and then into first, just before stopping, does the trick. I suspect it is more a worn synchro problem on the A6 with 235k miles. For frame of reference, my 2005 Chrysler Crossfire was always terrible about going from first to second - it would stick or not engage properly about a quarter of the time. I lived with it for 10 years and then last summer it would not go into 1st or 2nd. Took it to my indie shop who found the shift cable had slipped so they re-attached and then adjusted - and it shifts from 1-2 much, much more smoothly. So, if the A4 has a linkage cable which I suspect it does, maybe adjustment would help.