Shift knob button stuck in

[Nick2011B8S4]

Hi Guys,

I was backing out of a spot today and somehow accidentally pulled up on the shift knob instead of back (switching from reverse to drive) and the shift knob popped up and the button is depressed and will not come out. I removed the entire assembly from the car as it won't shift past neutral (only between drive and neutral). The plastic piece at the top of the actual assembly broke but I Krazy glued it back in place for now. I was able to pull up on the plastic piece of the shifter assembly and put it in park and shut the car off. However, my button is still depressed and seems to be jammed in and won't come out. Any ideas as to how to fix this?




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[Nick2011B8S4]

Bump!

[sacandagaD]

Bump!

Odd, since the stock shift knob should have a locking collar on it, to keep it from coming up and off. Has the shifter ever been removed before?

Assuming the plastic shift linkage in the shaft is not broken:
This is a lengthy thread but if you check out post # 417-8, you will see that you can make a home made tool to get the button popped back out. When I switched out mine, the old one popped in, and I had a dentist friend of mine use a dental tool to grab the catch up inside the shifter. Once it pops out, you will need to use something like a wire tie to stick behind the button to keep it from depressing, until you can refit it back down on the plastic shift linkage.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...dsg+shift+knob

[Nick2011B8S4]

I am the 2nd owner but believe that the shifter must have been removed because i didn't see a locking collar or clamp (assume there was one there from the factory). Unfortunately, the plastic linkage did crack at the top because when it popped up the button was depressed in with the pin and as it lifted it must have cracked the top of the "eye" on the plastic shift linkage. I super glued it back down in hopes that would suffice if i could figure out how to fix my shift knob and get the button to come back out and function again. Last night i was able to get the button completely out and noticed that the pin is still depressed but I can't figure out how to get the button to hold the pin/spring mechanism in place (i thought maybe it had to be seated on top), but when i installed the button back it instantly went depressed again. Maybe the spring action needs to sit on the bottom? Or maybe the actual spring/pin mechanism broke and i need a new knob anyway?

Since the shift linkage plastic cracked, I scoured Ebay and was able to find a handful of them for around $150 (including the knob). If i cant figure out how to fix the knob, or if the super glue idea was even good idea, I might pull the trigger and purchase a replacement. Just hoping it wouldn't cost too much to get it installed (assuming 2-3 hours in labor).

[sacandagaD]

I am the 2nd owner but believe that the shifter must have been removed because i didn't see a locking collar or clamp (assume there was one there from the factory). Unfortunately, the plastic linkage did crack at the top because when it popped up the button was depressed in with the pin and as it lifted it must have cracked the top of the "eye" on the plastic shift linkage. I super glued it back down in hopes that would suffice if i could figure out how to fix my shift knob and get the button to come back out and function again. Last night i was able to get the button completely out and noticed that the pin is still depressed but I can't figure out how to get the button to hold the pin/spring mechanism in place (i thought maybe it had to be seated on top), but when i installed the button back it instantly went depressed again. Maybe the spring action needs to sit on the bottom? Or maybe the actual spring/pin mechanism broke and i need a new knob anyway?

Since the shift linkage plastic cracked, I scoured Ebay and was able to find a handful of them for around $150 (including the knob). If i cant figure out how to fix the knob, or if the super glue idea was even good idea, I might pull the trigger and purchase a replacement. Just hoping it wouldn't cost too much to get it installed (assuming 2-3 hours in labor).

As far as the shift knob, were you able to use a hook of some sort up inside to get the button to pop out? If you do it that way, and the button pops out, it is working fine. Just put something behind the button temporarily to hold it in place. It then locks all the way down on the shifter rod before you pull out whatever you use to hold it out.

Unfortunately, if the plastic linkage is broken, you may have no choice but to dismantle the shifter mechanism to replace it, which I have no idea how involved that is.

If you are going to replace the shift knob anyway, might as well upgrade it to a more "sporty" style while you are at it. Check out post # 394 in the thread I referenced above. It is straight replacement and like the one I did.

Are you able to shift it? If not, for now, you should be able to get a pair of pliers and lift up the plastic rod enough so it will change gears.

[JeriQo]

use a floss/string.
run it from behind the trigger. pull out.

[Nick2011B8S4]

As far as the shift knob, were you able to use a hook of some sort up inside to get the button to pop out? If you do it that way, and the button pops out, it is working fine. Just put something behind the button temporarily to hold it in place. It then locks all the way down on the shifter rod before you pull out whatever you use to hold it out.

Unfortunately, if the plastic linkage is broken, you may have no choice but to dismantle the shifter mechanism to replace it, which I have no idea how involved that is.

If you are going to replace the shift knob anyway, might as well upgrade it to a more "sporty" style while you are at it. Check out post # 394 in the thread I referenced above. It is straight replacement and like the one I did.

Are you able to shift it? If not, for now, you should be able to get a pair of pliers and lift up the plastic rod enough so it will change gears.

Thank you for this! I thought the fact that the button would go right back in meant it was broken! I will go ahead and reassemble the shifter and put it back on the car tonight. Hopefully my crazy glue solution will hold up! If not, i will order a replacement. Also, i am able to shift by pulling up on the plastic (using my hands is fine). It just looks ghetto!

use a floss/string.
run it from behind the trigger. pull out.

I was able to get it out with a Flathead screwdriver.

[sacandagaD]

Thank you for this! I thought the fact that the button would go right back in meant it was broken! I will go ahead and reassemble the shifter and put it back on the car tonight. Hopefully my crazy glue solution will hold up! If not, i will order a replacement. Also, i am able to shift by pulling up on the plastic (using my hands is fine). It just looks ghetto!




I was able to get it out with a Flathead screwdriver.

The shifter itself is the least of your worries. If the plastic rod repair does not hold, I'm afraid you are going to have to take it to a shop for some serious disassemby of the transmission selector mechanism.
Good luck and keep the forum posted on your progress, I'm especially curious to know how much is involved in the shifter rod replacement.

[Nick2011B8S4]

The shifter itself is the least of your worries. If the plastic rod repair does not hold, I'm afraid you are going to have to take it to a shop for some serious disassemby of the transmission selector mechanism.
Good luck and keep the forum posted on your progress, I'm especially curious to know how much is involved in the shifter rod replacement.

Will do. FWIW, I found this thread on an older model A4 which it doesn't appear to be too involved (2-3 hours of labor max). http://forums.fourtitude.com/showthr...remove-replace

[sacandagaD]

Will do. FWIW, I found this thread on an older model A4 which it doesn't appear to be too involved (2-3 hours of labor max). http://forums.fourtitude.com/showthr...remove-replace

That is definitely encouraging news for you, and hopefully the DSG is not any different.

[Nick2011B8S4]

That is definitely encouraging news for you, and hopefully the DSG is not any different.

My glue solution did not hold up and immediately broke off as I reinstalled the shift knob. I got a call from my Indy shop, and they quoted me around 1-2 hours to complete the swap which is more than reasonable.

I will post back once I have this completed.


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[Nick2011B8S4]

That is definitely encouraging news for you, and hopefully the DSG is not any different.

Update** Brought my car to the mechanic yesterday and they determined 2 hours of labor which is a big relief! They did need to drop the exhaust to get the bottom part that connects to the transmission, but it wasn't a big job in terms of labor overall. Finally picking the car up tonight!!


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[sacandagaD]

Update** Brought my car to the mechanic yesterday and they determined 2 hours of labor which is a big relief! They did need to drop the exhaust to get the bottom part that connects to the transmission, but it wasn't a big job in terms of labor overall. Finally picking the car up tonight!!


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Glad to hear it was reasonable, expected it to be much worse.

[Psycade]

Hey, how exactly did you pop the button out with a flathead screwdriver? Did you just insert the screwdriver in the hole and push up?