88 Golf: won't stay in park

sometimes the actual cable starts to come apart. and it is usually the end that is at the shifter housing. :-(

the cables from the dealer seem to be the best I have found, that is if you need a new cable. later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Thank you, I will gently suggest this to them.

Cable? what are you referring to? a2's don't have cables, they have rods, a3's have cables. You probably need your shifter aligned with the special tool or the casette tape trick.

Identifying word is "Drive"! This would indicate that it is an automatic. The shifter or selector is connected to the automatic transmission with a cable. :-)

But if I am wrong.........please correct me. ;-)

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

We're talking an automatic here (see subject...keyword "park").

A3s have rods as well...only the VR6 A3s are cable (as is the VR6 Corrado on an A2 platform). The A4s were the first to go cable across the entire range I believe.

I just got it back, and it worked for a day. Now when I start it up, the shifter is in Park and the transmission is cleanly in reverse. And the shifter feels wobbly.

What is the "special tool" or the "cassette tape trick" and even more important, is there a decent Volkswagen shop anywhere in Utah? Crap, pep boys could do better than this. And they'll sell you a new air filter too!

take it elsewhere did you spend any money with them?

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

What is the "special tool", yep there is one! It's called someone who knows how to fix VW's! Take it elsewhere after you get your $$$ back!

For manual transmissions only so it wouldn't apply to you.

But for the record, it's for aligning the shifter lever on a manual transmission A2 Golf/GTI/Jetta. There's a special tool that VW makes that, after loosening the shifter mechanism, goes at between the lever and the reverse lockout and once spaced correctly the shifter is tightened down again. The cassette tape trick is simply that someone discovered part of a cassette is the same width and you can use that to space it out.

I've put $220 into it for parts and labor. The bummer is that this used to be a volkswagen shop at one point, but apparently everyone who knew anything has quit. Any Utah VW owners out there know of a good place?

Sorry, didn't notice Drive. I was referring to manual.

The problem, I found out, was that they didn't order the swivel that holds the (automatic) transmission cable, and were fabricating something that kept breaking. So they said they'd order it and called me, and I drove home only to have the cable come completely off leaving the car stuck in park, 23 miles away from the shop. He finally agreed to pay to have it towed to his shop. This will be trip #4. If this were a relationship, I'd be black and blue right now.