96 Passat Station Wagon Automatic - Transmission problem

I bought this car couple of months ago...has 86K on it. I am noticing a jerk when moving from low speed to high. When the car is and if I press the pedal little quickly I feel a jerk. If I do that very slowly till the car picks up momentum then everything is fine. I have also noticed similar problem when I am moving from 10 mph to 20 mph. If I pass this phase slowly then the jerk is not there.

Yesterday I took the car to a mechanics' place. Here is his diagnosis. 1) Transmission oil is contaminated (showed the liquid which was very dark... said it should be transparent yellow). 2) Filter might has got clogged. To start with he has suggested Transmission fluid flush and new filter (He is not ruling out the possibility of replacing the transmission). His estimate for this job is $336 ($180 for the fluid -G 052 162 A2, $90 for the labour, filter and flush kit about $55).

Questions. 1) How serious is this problem? Does Flush and new filter solve the problem Or I need to replace transmission? 2) How reasonable is the charges for the flush job? Do I have any alternatives like different brand fluid etc? 3) It seems VW doesn't recommend Fluid flush and claim that it will last lifetime. Is this true? 4) Any idea as ton what could be the cost for transmission replacement?

Sorry for that many questions. Appreciate your replies.

Pravin

Reply to
pravin2k
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1- hard to know, it may go another 100,000miles or 100miles 2-yes 3-yes, but a flush is a good idea 4- $2000 and up

5- maybe the fluid is just low which can cause shift issues.

Reply to
Woodchuck

OK What is a flush and fill kit for the VW automatic transmissions?

I recommended to someone that their 1991 Passat auto trans fluid be changed. Now she says that the transmission shifts beautifully and she is quite pleased. Hers was shifting with a jerk also IIRC!

thanks, dave (One out of many daves)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

Woodchuck,

Do you suggest any other brand of Fluid?

Pravin

Reply to
PK

Hi vwdoc1

Mechanics estimate is Filter Kit - $29.95 and Transmission Flush Kit

10210 Tflush Kit - $22.96

for 1991 Passat what fluid did you recommend? and what is IIRC?

Thanks, Pravin

Reply to
PK

The VW stuff is pricy, but a very good fluid.

Reply to
Woodchuck

And it's synthetic.

Reply to
Woodchuck

Sounds familiar.

The price is reasonable, BUT:

make sure the mech knows what he's doing. Take it to a vw guy, not a tranny specialist unless you know he's decent. VW recommends draining and filling the transmission at the same time, and they have a gravity bag deal to do it. They hang the new oil up top and it flows gently in while the old comes out the bottom, if I understand the procedure correctly. If some doofus puts a pressure flusher onto your transmission, there's a very good chance he'll stir up a whole bunch of crap that you don't want stirred up, and it will get into the clutches and ruin your transmission. So be careful!

If he's good, have him check the level of your transmission fluid first. Being a little low will cause it to slip and then jerk suddenly, especially into first. But you should still have him change the fluid anyway.

The lifetime transmission fluid nonsense from VW is just that - nonsense. If you read German you can find online documents from eastern europe, for the same 01M transmission, where vw is recommending changing the fluid at around 80,000 miles. They consider that lifetime here, or at least time to unbelt and buy an new vw, which you'll prol'ly have to do if you go 100k miles without changing the fluid. The r&r on the tranny is around 2 - 4 grand.

I did my own fluid - changed the filter and gaskets and cleaned the pan. Since you can only get about 2 quarts out this way, and the system holds about six, you need to redo it a few times over a period of months. Eventually, the fluid that comes out will look more or less like the stuff that goes in, not like burnt coffee. My transmission feels very good now. Adirondack sells the filter and gasket, and they sell the transmission fluid too.

The fluid is very expensive stuff. THere is one alternative that I'm aware of. One of the vw boneyard/mechanic places down here has been using a product from Swepco (Hydraulic Transmission Fluid 714) that has precisely the same characteristics as vw's transmission oil. THey've been using it for quite a while now and say they've have had no problems. It costs abut 30 dollars a gallon - a lot cheaper than the Petosin stuff from the vw dealer. I used it, crossing my fingers, and have had no problems in about a year. But YMMV. Do NOT use ANY other type of oil unless you're prepared to write off the transmission. It is a very finnicky machine and is easily killed.

There are a few places online to find instructions on how to do this job yourself if you want to. Try VW vortex "passat all other models" for more info. The transmission in yours should be the 01M. Do some research to make sure.

best o luck - Chris

Reply to
starburst

I have read this write-up here.

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What does that Trans Flush Kit do or how does it work? Is it the filler tube and a new cap?

IIRC = If I Recall Correctly

My 91 auto trans was rebuilt before I bought my passat. They put in regular Dextron in it and I have kept it that way for now. later, dave (One out of many daves)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

Chris,

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. A question. Any idea how much fluid is needed for the flush job? My mechanic has given me an estimate of 12 Qty(I am exactly not sure what's the measure) at $14.95 (total $179.40).

He suggested to leave the vehicle overnight so that he can fill in the evening, allow it to cool overnight and top it off in the morning.

Thanks Pravin

Reply to
PK

Dave,

Thanks. The right up is informative.

Did google on Trans flush kit and this is what I found "AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUSH KIT Helps prolong transmission life. Safely removes harmful sludge and varnish deposits Helps stop and prevent leaks Helps smooth rough/hard shifting problems Each kit contains: #64401 Automatic Transmission Flush and #64506 Automatic Transmission Treatment Products also sold separately. "

Thanks Pravin

Reply to
PK

I was thinking that it took like 15 liters to do the job, so that sounds at least in the right ballpark. For a shop, the price he's quoting you is very reasonable.

That sounds about right. He'll do the drain and refill while the engine is running, and then he'll adjust the level when the car has cooled down. The transmission level is checked when it's about 100F, with the engine running.

Just make sure he's not forcing fluid in under high pressure.

Good luck - Chris

Reply to
starburst

That Trans Flush Kit........ how does it work? Like the motor oil flush......drop it in and run for a while? Or does it only work with the TRANSERVE® II+ Automatic Transmission Flush & Fill Machine?

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later, dave (One out of many daves)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

Got the flush job done. But it didn't help. The jerk is still there. Mechanic says there might be "pressure leak at forward clutch piston, would require complete overhaul procedure". Has given an estimate of $2700 for the job. :-((

Pravin

Reply to
PK

Any DTCs thrown? Sorry the flush didn't work. :-( So did the trans get the VW fluid?

later, dave (One out of many daves)

Reply to
One out of many daves

There were no DTCs related to this, or rather Mechanic didn't mention any. Are there any DTCs for Transmission related issues? As for the fluid, yes I got it changed (G 052 162 A2)... some 12 ltrs...

Do you think the mechanic's diagnosis ("pressure leak at forward clutch piston, would require complete overhaul procedure") is fair / logical?Should I get it checked with VW dealer?

Reg's, Pravin

Reply to
PK

I was handling some Auto Trans problems with a couple of older Passats (both 1991s) My 91 had wiring problems with the valve body harness being affected by water, the trans temperature sensor and the vehicle speed sensor wiring. The other 91 needed a TCM and fluid change. Both threw some DTCs.

Yours needs to be scanned! Find someone close to you with a vag-com tool. When did your trans start to jerk?

later, dave (One out of many daves)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

About a month back. The jerk was intermittent in the bigenning. I guess the mechanic had this scan tool. Some time earlier there was some ignition switch problem and had to replace it (at another place). Since then Airbag lights was on in my car. THe mechanic who did the transmision flush job had scanned for this and found a fault code. He also attributed the code to the ignistion switch job and cleared it.

But he did not mention about anyother codes and I did not explicitly ask him if there were any codes for the transmission.

Reg's, Pravin

Reply to
PK

Hmmm You might have him check for transmission DTCs and possibly do a throttle body adaptation and a basic settings reset of the automatic transmission if possible on your 96 Passat. Trying to think of the cheap easy solutions first1 ;-)

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go here and read up on the transmission posts
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(Talks about changing the solenoids/pistons)
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later, dave (One out of many daves)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

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