Is my transmission giving up?

[PPiL]

First of all, I drive a Jetta TDI 2003 with 393,000km so I guess it would be normal if the transmission was to giving up.

My transmission has become really hard to engage in first gear when stopped, and if I engage in rear it just make a big noise and it gives a little bump like if the car was dropping… It's harder than before to shift gear when driving, but it's not as hard as when I engage in first gear.

I've also notice that when it was cold outside, the transmission was working better than during hot temperature (we had a period of hot temperature during last winter and during that period the transmission was really hard, but when it got colder, the transmission was back to "normal", or let's say, softer).

What can I expect if the transmission give up? (will I be stuck on neutral, will it do damage to other parts of the car, etc...) I'm shopping for a new car, but I haven't found anything that I really want in my price range. I'm hopping for good end of season deals on 2012 Golf TDI, but will my car last until then…

[sickcars]

Have you had any service done on the transmission?

Ever change the filter & oil? If not something simple like that could prolong the life of it for a while.

If you have not already bring it in to a good trusted mechanic and see what they say, again it could be something fairly cheap to fix and last until you buy your new TDI.

[Ironsmack]

Have you had any service done on the transmission?

Ever change the filter & oil? If not something simple like that could prolong the life of it for a while.

If you have not already bring it in to a good trusted mechanic and see what they say, again it could be something fairly cheap to fix and last until you buy your new TDI.

This. Have you done any servicing? Have you replaced the Clutch, TOB, pivot ball?

[PPiL]

I've got the car at 325,000km so I don't know all the historic, but it was to my father in law so I will ask.

I think the pivot ball should be done (if I remember well what the mechanic told at my last oil change...).

But I didn't do much maintenance on the car since I got it... My father in law sold it to me 1,500$ and he was sure it was about to die, so I didn't want to put money in it. 2.5 years later it's still working, so in retrospect I should have done a little more maintenance and I might have been able to get another year or two out of it… (well the rust is becoming a challenge…)

[BDSL]

I don't get it. Why don't people check their fluids first........
A car drivetrain needs more than just fuel and engine oil....

[gnuman]

I don't get it. Why don't people check their fluids first........
A car drivetrain needs more than just fuel and engine oil....

It also needs windshield washer fluid ;)

[macnut]

My transmission has become really hard to engage in first gear when stopped, and if I engage in rear it just make a big noise and it gives a little bump like if the car was dropping… It's harder than before to shift gear when driving, but it's not as hard as when I engage in first gear.…

If it doesn't make sense to throw too much money into it, I'd just try #1 and maybe #2 on this list:

1. Get pivot bearing disassembled, examined, and re-greased on reassembly. Adjust linkages to allow better engagement of 1st. and reverse. Renew any plastic components or other parts only if unavoidable.

2. Get gear oil replaced with same fluid that it came with (not newer lifetime expensive stuff)

3. Get a good used clutch plate and throw-out bearing from a wreckers and have them installed (still expensive though)

[Pete_Coach]

Get it serviced for sure. you may easily get a lot more life out of it.
If you are having trouble in all gears, it could be as simple as low fluid (or dirty fluid or air in the fluid) in the brake reservoir. The clutch pedal uses the same fluid.

[Exas]

Sounds like the clutch is not fully disengaging, but I can't tie this to the cold/hot temperature thing. Bleeding the clutch line is where I would start though, then check if the clutch fork is moving freely and smoothly with pedal movement.

[packardbell]

did you verify to make sure your shifter cables are adjusted correctly?

[PPiL]

I tried looking at the transmission fluid, but there's no dip stick and I'm not equiped to jack the car and look at it from under. I always assumed that the mechanic was looking at it when he was doing my oil changes (he was sometime telling me that he added transmission fluid when I had my Echo), but now that I see how it's done on youtube, I guess he never looked at it...

I'll try to find a reliable mechanic (which I don't have at the moment...) to take a look at it...

Thanks guys

[BDSL]

I tried looking at the transmission fluid, but there's no dip stick and I'm not equiped to jack the car and look at it from under. I always assumed that the mechanic was looking at it when he was doing my oil changes (he was sometime telling me that he added transmission fluid when I had my Echo), but now that I see how it's done on youtube, I guess he never looked at it...

I'll try to find a reliable mechanic (which I don't have at the moment...) to take a look at it...

Thanks guys

Some vehicles don't have dip sticks but are still required to have the transmission fluid replaced. See owner's manual for service interval.

[vaportech]

Replace tranny fluid and you will see a drastic change

[sickcars]

Replace tranny fluid and you will see a drastic change

Or it could get worse, I have seen that happen before.

[BDSL]

Just do a drain and fill. Don't flush. Don't add any additives.

[packardbell]

Get it serviced for sure. you may easily get a lot more life out of it.
If you are having trouble in all gears, it could be as simple as low fluid (or dirty fluid or air in the fluid) in the brake reservoir. The clutch pedal uses the same fluid.
Kind of contradicting yourself since VW is using lifetime fluid? no? :)

[PPiL]

I'm thinking of using the current Volkswagen free 29 points inspection promotion for out of warranty vehicles. They'll probably find a ton of things to repair on my car, but at least I might get a better idea of what's really up with this issue.

[RS6quattro]

First of all, I drive a Jetta TDI 2003 with 393,000km so I guess it would be normal if the transmission was to giving up.


OP, is your jetta manual or automatick?

[PPiL]

Manual

[RS6quattro]

First of all, I drive a Jetta TDI 2003 with 393,000km so I guess it would be normal if the transmission was to giving up.

My transmission has become really hard to engage in first gear when stopped, and if I engage in rear it just make a big noise and it gives a little bump like if the car was dropping… It's harder than before to shift gear when driving, but it's not as hard as when I engage in first gear.


Harder to shift is a sign of leaky slave cylinder. If it was a Honda, Camry, Nissan etc, the slave cylinder is outside the tyranny box so could be replaced easily. Not sure with Jettas. I had a Sunfire with similar problem and the only way to fix was to replace entire clutch, which came with slave in a kit. Is the clutch pedal soft sometimes? Is the clutch fluid reservoir dry?



What can I expect if the transmission give up? (will I be stuck on neutral, will it do damage to other parts of the car, etc...) I'm shopping for a new car, but I haven't found anything that I really want in my price range. I'm hopping for good end of season deals on 2012 Golf TDI, but will my car last until then…

Most likely, it wont die on you on the highway, it will just get harder and harder to shift.Take it to a tranny guy and see whats wrong with the tranny. Your car is a manual, manual trannies are very robust and only the clutch (mostly) needs to be serviced. You can have your clutch done for less than $700 parts and labour and could drive your Jetta up to 600k. Unless you have other engine issues, i'd keep your $$$ where it belongs, and that's your pocket. Take your car to Auto Trax, Steeles and Pine Valley, the guy seemed to be honest when I took my car for a clutch job

[Pete_Coach]

Kind of contradicting yourself since VW is using lifetime fluid? no? :)

Not at all.
A "service" is considerably more than a mere fluid check. It can be as little as topping up fluid to as much as filter replacements or linkage adjustment or replacement of any worn parts but, as a competent DIYer, you knew that, right?

[poedua]

Not at all.
A "service" is considerably more than a mere fluid check. It can be as little as topping up fluid to as much as filter replacements or linkage adjustment or replacement of any worn parts but, as a competent DIYer, you knew that, right?

Actually, he's more than a DIYer, packardbell is a former professional mechanic......



I am a retired professional mechanic now but still do repairs for myself and immediate family members on my free weekends

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/can-i-say-pretty-productive-day-me-1055609/#post13103614

[conix67]

Manual

are you sure it's not the clutch problem? Manual trannies rarely give up like that and doesn't require fluid changes like automatics do.

[packardbell]

Not at all.
A "service" is considerably more than a mere fluid check. It can be as little as topping up fluid to as much as filter replacements or linkage adjustment or replacement of any worn parts but, as a competent DIYer, you knew that, right?

the transmission whether auto or manual is a sealed system and should not require topping up fluid unless there was a failure of some sort, (seals, gasket, accident, impact, etc...). So the OP should find the cause and rectify that first. But you a former professional mechanic you knew that his 2002 jetta has a cable driven shifting mechanism and not rod shift mechanism that does not require adjustments. :) right? I didn't see you mentioning cable adjustment in your post

Get it serviced for sure. you may easily get a lot more life out of it.
If you are having trouble in all gears, it could be as simple as low fluid (or dirty fluid or air in the fluid) in the brake reservoir. The clutch pedal uses the same fluid.

but now you do mention it after my post

did you verify to make sure your shifter cables are adjusted correctly?

[Pete_Coach]

Actually, he's more than a DIYer, packardbell is a former professional mechanic......




http://forums.redflagdeals.com/can-i-say-pretty-productive-day-me-1055609/#post13103614
Yes, and let him have the opportunity to experess that. My comment was with a hint of sarcasm.


the transmission whether auto or manual is a sealed system and should not require topping up fluid unless there was a failure of some sort, (seals, gasket, accident, impact, etc...). So the OP should find the cause and rectify that first. But you a former professional mechanic you knew that his 2002 jetta has a cable driven shifting mechanism and not rod shift mechanism that does not require adjustments. :) right? I didn't see you mentioning cable adjustment in your post

but now you do mention it after my post

Why? Why? Why? We are trying to thelp the OP here and not prove that you still have a bigger one than everyone else.
My original comment was to get it service and fluid may be low. No talk about anything else.
My second comment was in response to you where I indicated a service may be more than just fluid. Please do not think that you are any type of inpiration. A linkage can be anything from cables, to rods to bellcranks.
It was quite civilized here when you were banned.

[packardbell]

Yes, and let him have the opportunity to experess that. My comment was with a hint of sarcasm.



Why? Why? Why? We are trying to thelp the OP here and not prove that you still have a bigger one than everyone else.
My original comment was to get it service and fluid may be low. No talk about anything else.
My second comment was in response to you where I indicated a service may be more than just fluid. Please do not think that you are any type of inpiration. A linkage can be anything from cables, to rods to bellcranks.
It was quite civilized here when you were banned.
oh really? a bit of sarcasm too. :)
i know you got the bigger one.

[calgaryforsale]

Kind of contradicting yourself since VW is using lifetime fluid? no? :)

On the other hand VW North America are often straight up liars and/or have no idea what the service intervals should be on their own cars, so there's that.

[packardbell]

since some members think it is a synchro issue, who is going to do a DIY ?