Why is it difficult to engage first gear and reverse gear in Volkswagen Polo?
2 Answers
Volkswagen Polo first gear and reverse gear difficult to engage reasons are as follows: Lack of maintenance in the shift mechanism: The shift mechanism is a frequently used component, so its wear and tear will also be relatively high. When the shift mechanism lacks oil, the operation will be unusually stiff. Low winter temperature and insufficient lubrication in the transmission: Since the inside of the transmission is lubricated by transmission oil, the low temperature in winter makes the transmission oil flow poorly, and the lubrication effect will naturally not be very good. This problem can be solved once the vehicle is fully warmed up. Excessive wear of the shift lever ball seat: The ball seat of the vehicle has been completely worn out. Since the ball seat does not exist, the shift lever ball moves upward under the action of the conical spring, maintaining contact with the shell hole, with its ball head plane about 3-4mm higher than the shell hole plane. Due to the front and rear movement distance when engaging first gear and reverse gear without using a synchronizer. Therefore, when engaging first gear and reverse gear, the lower end of the shift lever cannot push the sliding gear into place, and it escapes from above the groove of the first gear and reverse gear shift fork shaft guide block, causing the first gear and reverse gear shift fork shaft to not enter the correct position when engaging. Therefore, first gear and reverse gear cannot be engaged.
I've been driving my Volkswagen Polo for almost ten years, and the difficulty in engaging first gear and reverse gear is quite common, especially reverse gear, which feels more troublesome than other cars. There could be several reasons, such as the clutch not being fully depressed causing it to jam, or the clutch plate being severely worn, leading to poor gear engagement. My car had this gear-shifting issue, and I specifically went to get it repaired—it turned out the transmission synchronizer was loose. The mechanic tightened it, and it improved significantly. Additionally, aging transmission fluid can also affect smooth gear shifting, especially noticeable in cold winters. I suggest you first try repeatedly pressing the clutch a few times while parked to lubricate it. If that doesn't help, take it to a professional shop for inspection immediately. Don’t underestimate this issue—delaying repairs can damage the transmission, making repairs more expensive. Personally, I always ask the mechanic to pay extra attention to the gear-shifting mechanism during maintenance to prevent problems early and save a lot of hassle.
