When cold there is a slight delay going into gear (D or Reverse) from park. When semi cold or just warming up I sometimes get a rather abrupt "slamming" into gear going from 2 to 3 or sometimes 3 to 4.
I don't think this has ever happened when the car is fully warmed but I can't be certain because it is my wifes car and I don't drive it all that much.
Normally first thing I would check is fluid level but it looks like a nightmare in this car.
Known problem? Any ideas? TIA Lenny
Put it in 'D'.- Head for the dealer. Complain.
What are you referring to as the nightmare, checking the tranny fluid level? Sounds like a typical auto tranny that needs a fluid and filter change, and possibly adjustment. Unless VW auto trannys in these cars are some odd bird.
The delay is there in my car too (4 speed auto 99.5 TDI Golf)... After I changed the fluid at the recommended by my dealer 90-100K Kms interval the delay wasn't as bad... and if I didn't wait for it, it wouldn't slam abusively into gear.
2-3, 3-4, and downshifts are smooth and silky in my Golf
That's normal and your dealer should be able to show you the tech bulletin if you don't believe them. It has to do with the emission requirements to keep them low on a cold engine. Also you engine RPM maybe higher cold and shift later cold so the cat convertor warms up faster.
When semi cold or just warming up I sometimes get a rather abrupt
May or may not be normal, now I got you confused don't I? That transmission has what's called adaptive learning so it just may shift differently from time to time. It all depends on how a person drives the car. Give you car to a teenager for a day and when you get it back it will definitely shirt harsher. Let granny drive it and it will shift softer when you get back in the car. But what I would do... is have your dealer check the fluid level since it's still under warranty and would be FREE if some is needed.
The tranny will shift more crisply, with less torque converter smoothing out when it's in a sporty mode, but it's not rough by any measure (for a car of it's price).... His tranny sounds like mine after I got the car (it had
How does a delay going into gear help lower emissions?
Higher RPM to warm up the cat, yes...my Eurovan does that. But a longer delay going into gear for emissions purposes doesn't make sense to me. Sounds like it's low on fluid (probably a leak) to me.
Since the mid 1990s VW has not provided a dipstick on the auto transmission so this is not easy for the DIY-er as older autos. VW also is not consistent in documenting the maintenance requirements either. For example, online they list for my Eurovan to check the transmission fluid level every
40K miles. But in my manual it says to *change* the fluid every 40K.
Sounds like something's wrong - and because it's cold, that points to the hydraulics that control the shifting. If there's not enough pressure, it has a hard time forcing the plates/gears apart.
2003? Dealer - see the dealer yesterday.
I don't have a clue and may not agree with what VW has programmed for their shifting, but then again if the VW gods say that's how we designed it I can't do anything to change it.
Thank you to Woodchuc and everyone else that replied! Since it is still under warranty, I am going to take it in and have it looked at just to have it documented. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out! Lenny
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