TheSamba.com :: View topic - 88 Fox tranny trouble question --simple fix or big money?

Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:50 am

This is for a friend's $1.00 car I helped him get and is his only transport.

Here are the symptoms:

88 Fox. 4 speed, tranny is shared by other models

Sometimes the tranny shifts fine but most often reverse, first, and second gears can't be found. For instance when trying to put it in first gear it will shift into third. Is this a simple linkage adjustment or an expensive tranny fix.

thanks for any input.

Mon Jul 18, 2005 7:49 pm

Sounds like the linkage is wore out....
my fox wagen did the same thing, had to climb up under it and replace all the bushings.....

not hard, but takes a bit of doing

Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:55 pm

Thanks for the input. I'll let my friend know. I guess he will have to get a good book or a decent mechanic and give it a go.

He took it to a non-VW mechanic who just tried to scare him off

Any other pointers are appreciated ,books or tools needed or other resources --- Thanks again!

Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:21 pm

I have an 80 model Passat (same thing really) it did the same could only select 3rd and 4th in the end. It was only the gearshift coupling bushes... If your Fox is an earlier model then my 80 model it should be alot simpler to fix.

Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:40 pm

Great!

I've done that on my air cooled vw's. Is it a similiar thing? I've had to replace the coupling on my 69 Baja under the back seat and the bushing in the tunnel just behind the shifter. If so it should't be too bad.
Thanks again.

Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:32 am

Its going to be a bit easier on the water wagon. there is one of the linkages if you look with a light that runs side to side this one has caused me numerous problems. You can get a complete kit on the famous auction site for 10-15 bucks.

Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:23 pm

If you spend 15-20 min. looking at how the linkages work, while having someone shifting while you look, you should be able to figure out which arms /plastic sockets are not doing what there supposed to, and go from there, try to find a junkyard that has a Fox in stock, it should be a low $$ fix.

Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:05 pm

Thanks again,
He took a look and put some carboard spacers in it to take up some slack so he could get around. He says it works most of the time but not when he is turning right. A rebuild kit or to the junk yard is next. You can only take cheap soo far!
Thanks again for the help!!!!

Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:23 pm

My friend with the fox finally went to the junk yard and got parts to fix the linkage. All is working good now.