A4: Can't select first gear
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 53
From: Southern US
A4: Can't select first gear
Gents,
I'm in a 2004 with an automatic transmission. I've owned it for about a month and have noticed that the operating gear and the indication at the shifter don't correlate precisely. It's not off by an entire gear though, more like half a gear (i.e. when in reverse, the orange indicator is halfway between park and reverse and so on down the line). After playing around with it a little bit I realized that I can not select first gear, only 2nd through park. I'm hoping that the issue can be resolved by some sort of cable adjustment but I am not familiar with the procedure. Can anyone point me in the right direction or offer any other conclusions? Thank you in advance.
I'm in a 2004 with an automatic transmission. I've owned it for about a month and have noticed that the operating gear and the indication at the shifter don't correlate precisely. It's not off by an entire gear though, more like half a gear (i.e. when in reverse, the orange indicator is halfway between park and reverse and so on down the line). After playing around with it a little bit I realized that I can not select first gear, only 2nd through park. I'm hoping that the issue can be resolved by some sort of cable adjustment but I am not familiar with the procedure. Can anyone point me in the right direction or offer any other conclusions? Thank you in advance.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Check the shifter cable where its attached at the transmission lever at the rear of the car. The clip that secures the cable to the lever may have sprung open/loose. The flat part of the shifter connector in the picture below is the clip that secures it onto the lever post. If its loose or off, before you press it on make sure you shifter lever indicator inside the car and the gear the transmission lever is line up, ie Park to park, etc.
If it turns out to be clip coming loose, after securing it wrap a couple of small zip ties around it keep it held in place. If the connector is broken, time to replace the shifter cable.
If it turns out to be clip coming loose, after securing it wrap a couple of small zip ties around it keep it held in place. If the connector is broken, time to replace the shifter cable.
Last edited by MAC5; Jun 4, 2015 at 09:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 53
From: Southern US
A4: Can't select first gear
MAC5,
Thank you for that very informative response. The pictures were very helpful. I went out to try to take a quick look at it without jacking up the back end. I was able to see that the cap was closed but that was it. I'll let you know what I find when I get around to jacking it up. Thanks again!
Thank you for that very informative response. The pictures were very helpful. I went out to try to take a quick look at it without jacking up the back end. I was able to see that the cap was closed but that was it. I'll let you know what I find when I get around to jacking it up. Thanks again!
