Jetta 1997, Gear is not shifting smoothly.

Hi,

First, congrats on the most detailed problem description I have ever seen! Seriously, it does assist us.

All this is completely consistent with your clutch not releasing properly, meaning that the gearbox is still turning when the pedal is depressed. The syncros in the gearbox will then keep you out of gear, that is what they should do. You can indeed shift into higher gears however when driving as the gearbox revs more nearly match to what is needed. The jerking forward when you hit the starter is due to the poor old starter motor having to move the whole car instead of just the engine, because the clutch has not released !

Now as to why, it is likely that the clutch release fork has broken, inside the housing. I had this once with a Mazda, and symptoms were exactly as you describe. The gearbox has to be removed if this is the problem, and you should also then take the chance to renew the clutch, pressure and driven plate both, unless quite new.

Also a possible cause is a complete loss of clutch fluid if a hydraulic clutch, or a broken cable if that type of clutch. Loss of fluid in a hydraulic clutch can be easily checked in the fluid reservoir, and can occur if a hose splits
..

Look for an adjustable cable to put in your Jetta. They are available through the aftermarket.

you need a new clutch kit and make sure gear oil in level may need refresh and inspect and grease shifter linkage for smother shifting you can update with 42 dizayn's linkage kit for vw it is works great.

check the linkage on the end of the gear shift,

put car in 3rd gear and release clutch pedal slowly,if car stalls then its not the clutch...

clutch self adjuster is bad,you need to replase cabel/try orileys auto parts first,or dealer for cable.
tim

well usually you have to do so in order to change gears
anyway this maybe a clutch problem and or needs a gear shift adjustment
more likely the clutch plate

You have bad sycronizers in the gearbox. They are made of softer metal so they will wear out. They are used to smoothly shifte from one gear to another. How does the clutch feel? Any play in the shifter? Could be the clutch going bad, or play in the shifter also.

Jetta TDI manual from 1998 was always going with 5 gear speed and with hudraulic clutch. First off all make shure that you don't have any air in this hydraulic. After you are shure that pushing pedal is effective you may think about changing your clutch set. Depending what engine do you have 1Z,ALH or AFN there're diferent clucthes and prices

if its manual transmission, when moving in any gear try stepping on the gas pedal, does the engine feels like its running away? if it does it maybe the clutch lining is expended expensive job.
If not you have to check the clutch fluid level or a leak in the master cylinder (at the foot pedal) assembly or in the slave(clutch lever actuator) the clutch actuator may not be traveling (pushing) sufficiently to give you an adequate clutch separation in other words you are trying to shift the gears with little or no clutch at all.
There is an overhaul kit that you can buy (cheap) for the master or the slave. easy to do really just remove, disassemble, replace the rubber seals and cups, reinstall, bleed the air out.