RE: Notchy shifter

[mikeandcarmen <mikeandcarmen@pdq.net>]

Shifting into 2nd before shifting into 1st is a good habit to get into all the 
time.  It preserves the 1st gear syncro.  This is something I learned from my 
friends who are into Alfas which have notoriously weak syncros.  However, 
instead of using 2nd, it's an even better idea to shift into 4th before 
shifting into 1st.  This will help you get the most out of both the 1st & 2nd 
gear syncros, & it will not adversely affect 4th because this syncro sees 
hardly any wear.

By the way, when I do this, I never have a problem shifting into 1st.  
Occasionally, I won't do it, & that makes it more difficult to get into 1st.

Michael Keith
Pasadena, TX
'98 Jetta GLX
'85 Golf SCCA ITB
>===== Original Message From jettaglx@igtc.com =====
>At 7:54 AM -0700 10/20/99, David Herlihy wrote:
>>I had always heard that the VR6 setup had a notchy
>>shifter, but I was wondering when too notchy can be a
>>problem? Here's the scenario. When sitting in traffic
>>on occasions getting first gear can be a real pain. I
>>might not be pushing it all the way over to the side
>>so that might be it, but it is inherently difficult to
>>get. This doesn't happen all the time either. Seem
>>that when it is warmed up (driving a lot in city
>>traffic, if you live in DC you'll understand this
>>part)the thing shifts smooth as can be. Is this a
>>question of tranny temp I'm looking at or just getting
>>used to a different setup? The shifter doesn't wobble
>>that much in gear and feels pretty tight. Getting
>>other gears are not a problem. My Peugeot would do
>>this also from time to time and that was the smoothest
>>shifting car that I have ever driven. That I knew was
>>based on engine/tranny temp.
>>
>>One last note. When I can't grab first gear on the
>>first attempt I dump it down into second and then go
>>up and it slots right in.
>
>Maybe I'm just dreaming, but I have associated this problem with the
>fact that if you're moving (practically at ALL) you will have a hard
>time shifting into 1st gear, regardless of whether you have the
>clutch in or not.
>
>So I do exactly what you do, I first shift into second before I shift
>into 1st (without letting out the clutch)
>
>-Khan