What is wrong with my 03 Golf and how much would I expect to pay to fix it?

Question

Why is my 2003 VW Golf having trouble shifting into 4th gear?
I am having problems shifting into 4th gear of my 2003 VW golf. When I try to shift, the clutch is completely engaged and the gears grind a little bit. This typically happens the most when I am accelerating quickly. Some have said it is the 4th gear syncro, but im not sure

Answer 1

could be quite a few things.

first, put your foot under the clutch and pull up. If it moves up, then its a nice, simple fix (return spring, or you can just pull it up periodically with your foot).

second, synchro. Warranty. Dont wanna replace that one.

third, Master/slave cylender. Dont wanna replace that one either. Warranty.

Answer 2

There's what they call a "Slave Cylinder" on many "stick shifts" and you might just need to add a little fluid to the little reservoir and it uses brake fluid and nothing else. After you add fluid to it you can have someone help you purge the line to the slave cylinder or do what I did and open up the little "fitting" on the cylinder and let the fluid drain and then keep filling it top side 'til it runs clean and then push it to the floor and put a brick on the clutch pedal and then close the weep hole and then top it off.
You may need a simple linkage adjustment and might need to know if the car has ever been in a crash or if it has a junkyard tranny in it.
If it's anything other than a simple procedure I'd trade it in as I've seen idiots pay as much as $5,600 for a rebuild on a stock "stick shift" tranny.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

im going to say this is more then likely a loose bearing problem... ive had it on a few of my cars, and if you just ease it in, it wont grind and it wont damage anything.
to get a vw fixed, youre looking at about $1500-$2000. it requires a complete transmission rebuild.
I have a 96 geo prizm as a daily driver, and ive had this problem for 4 years. Im a doit yourselfer, and i took out the transmission pan and found no metal shavings on the magnet, just to be sure, i had some mechanic friends look at it, and they said its fine... if you dont force it, youre not going to damage the gears.
in my instance, i paid less for the car then what the repair was going to be.. like i said 4 years and have had no problems related too it.