Hi everyone, if im changing down from 3rd and trying to put into 2nd but it keeps trying to go into reverse, is this a major problem? What can i do to stop it from happening. Thanks.

just get the linkages rebushed or loosen the 2 bolts and put the gear stick into second and than retighten the bolts it may help

You will need to adjust the shifter stop plate.
http://www.vw-resource.com/stop_plate.html

is this a MAJOR job? i am no mechanic!!! im just a girl!!!

Fill in your details so we know where you are and we can probabley suggest someone that may be able to help you

Nope shouldn't take long if you follow that guide.
Should only need the one tool, a 13mm spanner I think.
Simon

Im in SA at Klemzig, i have heard there are a few good vw specialists around this way.
So no taking the engine out?

No

many beetles I have driven always have the adjuster plate incorrectly installed
so You can get reverse WithOut pushing the gearlever Down....

its a 2 minute job if you know what You are doing...

or up to a week if You don't .... lol

the plate is located under the gearshifter base...
there are two bolts holding it in place...
the plate is between the top piece and the bottom piece.

Hopefully You can find someone who can do it for you fast and cheaply...

there is also a small under $10 nylon bush under the gearshifter base - inside the tunnel...
these are now wearing out..
and it can make selecting gears difficult too...

best to have someone install a new bush as its a finnicky
difficult job too...
unless You have small hands and know what you are doing....

Any VW mechanic can do these jobs easily and quickly...

cheers

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

Hmmmm, a bit over my head i think! Does the motor need to be removed to do all this?

No No No

only the two bolts under the gearlever...
to adjust the shifter plate...

the small bush can be difficult and it depends on How the mechanic will do it..

but there will be NO engine taking out...

cheers

LEE

PS: Good idea to have a VW mechanic to check over the car at the same time.. Lee

Yeah i agree, only prob is its on ebay and finishing soon! Was reading John Muirs book and he said to sell the car if it was doing htis. Hmmmmm confused!!!

Hi
the late john Muir wasn't a Mechanic...
He just wrote what he thought...

He thought that automatic chokes...
which were on all beetles from about 1961
were a bad thing.....

so, he didn't really know what was causing the problem,..

I have a book amongst My many beetle books that tells You how costly things were to have fixed...

X cheap part to buy
XX
XXX
XXXX Very expensive - work has to be done by a VW Mechanic.... If looking at a car - don't buy it...

It could also mean that the two things i told you about are covering a worse problem... like a worn clutch ..
which would mean taking the engine out...

Sorry, I can't be more helpful...

Lee

Thanks Lee! Thats a lot of help. I have decided to hold off and look at a more classic bug that has been looked at by a vw mechanic before buying her. Ebay might not be such a great way of buying a decent bug!

Now i'mm confused ,
i gather you are looking at a vehicle that is currentley on ebay and is an auction buy.
As Lee has pointed out above , it will only require an adjustment at the stick and will not need the engine or gearbox removed from the car.
I think what you have probabley read in Muirs book will refer to a worn out gear box that has badley worn sincro rings , that yes would require a gearbox and engine removal , but with out driving the vehicle i dought this is the problem .
But in saying this didi the current owner say whether it is fitted with either a quick shift kit or do'es it have an aftermarket shifter , as if so yes it may have worn sincro's due to the faster changes possible with these type of shifters .
Hope this helps , but as you can well imagine it is very hard to diagnose this sort of thing over pc land without actualy driving the car.

Andrew

How long have you been driving vw's for. I remember when i started driving them i had to train myself not to rest my hand on top of the gearstick because of the same reason, especially when driving hard.
I dunno, Just a thought.