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OMG Tranny! Update: Picked up car, something must've been wrong since I bought it.

amdhunter

amdhunter

Lifer
About the vehicle:
- Year - 2007
- Make - Jetta GLi
- Model - Volkswagen
- Engine - 2.0T Turbo
- Mileage - ~2470 miles

Picked up the car and this is what was stated on the paperwork.

Hard to get into 1st and 3rd gears
ROAD TEST - DIO TEST/SHIFTER/CABLE OUT OF SPEC
ADJUSTED SHIFTER CABLE

After I picked the car up, I immediately noticed 2 things.

1. The car stinks of some kind of oil. I don't know if this was the mechanic or not, but I definitely need to clean the car out. I mentioned it, and they said it was just smell from the garage, and they didn't open anything.

2. The shifter is much stiffer than before. It doesn't wiggle at all, and it feels more "connected" to the transmission. I don't know how to explain it, but I like it. Switching in and out of gears is incredibly easy, and it drops right in.

I talked to the service guy, and he was wondering why I freaked out when he told me about having to take apart the transmission, and that warranty might not cover it. He said it was standard procedure. I simply stated to him that I've never had a dealer call me and mention the word "warranty" before, and it seemed sort of weird that they wouldn't just fix the problem, unless they intended to charge me from the start.

Needless to say, I'll never go to that dealer again. I found a great dealer a little further away that is highly recommended from the vwvortex forums. Hopefully I will never need them.

--------------------

Update: They found the problem when they were ready to pull the transmission. Some "clip" which connects the gearbox to a cable (linkage?) had broken loose and shifted to the side. They replaced the connector, took it out for a test drive and the car is ready to pick up.

It was fixed under warranty. Funny thing is, I called VWoA just 25 minutes before I got the call, and complained big time. They informed me that the call was just asking my permission for them to perform the work, which may not be covered under warranty.

I don't know if VWoA called them prior to them fixing it, or if it was just good timing, but all seems well right now.

Tomorrow I'll post what it says on the receipt. Damn I am frikken happy...lol 😀

-------------

Update: The damned service technician called me and claimed that adjusting the linkage, and whatever adjustments didn't fix the problem. Now I am being accused of abusing the car. I don't know what to say. They are pulling the transmission out of the car as I type this, and will hear from them later today.

This has gotten me so pissed off. Geico's mechanical breakdown insurance won't cover me either. I am screwed. I don't get how a transmssion can break down with less than 2500 miles on it, and not be covered under warranty.

I don't know what to do. I am at my desk at work and feel like just leaving. I can't even think straight.

--------------

Update: Took the car to VW this morning, using only 2nd and 4th gears. Surprisingly, my car really felt easy to take off in 2nd, not needing more than 12-1500RPMs to take off, even on uphills. I don't have any slippage at all so I am sure the clutch is ok.

I did lose 3rd gear this time around, probably from getting out of my parking space this morning, which is a 60 degree incline.

As it stands, R (pops out at > 2500RPM), 1 and 3 pop out when driving, but 2nd and 4th engage fine. 5th is fine, but I stayed out of it. All of these gears are on top, R-1-3-5, bottom gears engage perfect 2-4-6.

When I got to the VW dealer, first thing they asked me was if the car was involved in an accident? I said no. They also asked if I constantly push the car at limits? I said no, one look at my tires will show almost ZERO wear on it. I also said, after 7 months of ownership, I have less than 2500 miles.

They can't look at the car for a few days, but I am dreading hearing back from them. I am almost sure they will find any reason to get me.

On a side note. I looked at the engine bay while someone was shifting the gears. There were two "wires" (I am sure they were solid steel wires) that seemed to be connected to the transmission and disappeared under the car. One of the wires seemed limp, while the other looked "tight." I wish I could have recorded it, and I am not sure what the parts called, but it just didn't look "right."

What is funny is, this is where VW performed work when they fixed my o2 sensor where the rodents ate my wiring. They are literally inches from each other.

I wonder if it was them that knocked something loose, or fudged it up when they were working on the car?

Arrgh, I hate being so damned ignorant. 🙁

--------------

Update: Today while driving NORMALLY I cruised in 6th gear for a little bit ~55MPH or so, and the same thing happenned. Only, this time I lost 1st gear completely. I had to drive home using 2nd gear as my take off gear.

I cannot get into 1st gear at all anymore. Any attempt will grind, and the stick will pop out violently. 2nd - 6th all go fine. Reverse is also messed up, popping out at anything above 2500rpms. My reverse gear is next to 1st.

Dunno what the hell, I drove normally this time around, and the only thing that causes the problem is crusing in 5th and 6th gear. I'll be taking to VW on Monday, but I am almost positive they will blame me. I've never had any good luck with dealerships.

Arrgh, I am so bummed out right now.

-----------------

What the hell??? Today I gunned the car from 0 - 120 or so and I shifted perfectly all the way up before running out of road. At that point, I slowed down back to highway speeds, and cruised in 6th gear ~55MPH and stood there until I got out of the highway.

When I got to the off ramp, I needed to jump down to 2nd gear (not skipping gears at all) but the stick REALLY fought me.

Imagine the stick was in nuetral position. I couldn't move the stick left at all. It was almost impossible to force it there. It would move from 3-4 to 5-6, although it was still "sticky." Moving the stick from 1-2 was almost impossible, and I had to come to a complete stop before the stick became loose again.

It ran perfectly from then on, even after gunning it again.

WTF was that about? It was like there was a block fighting me from downshifting, even though I was at sub-20MPH speeds? Can the synchros fight you when the stick is between gears? I couldn't move the stick left and right, it was VERY hard and mushy.

Is this a sign of transmission problems to come? The car was running for ~1 hour before I started to even gun it.

Uggggh.
 
Do you want to know how to fix this?

Go back in time and don't "gun" the car all the way to 120 MPH in a 55MPH zone!!

With that in mind, the synchros should not prevent you from moving the stick shift left or right while in neutral. Check your transmission fluid though...

-Kevin
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Do you want to know how to fix this?

Go back in time and don't "gun" the car all the way to 120 MPH in a 55MPH zone!!

With that in mind, the synchros should not prevent you from moving the stick shift left or right while in neutral. Check your transmission fluid though...

-Kevin
Click to expand...

lol, I know. But I don't EVER get the chance to gun the car. It was my first time really going for it too. I was so proud of myself because the shifts felt perfect. I was like "lol wtf did I break" when I slowed down.

Once I came to a complete stop, the gear shift loosened right away.
 
Linkage issue. That's the only thing that can prevent you from moving the stick side-to-side. It's possible that a loose mount or bushing somewhere got bound up from the applied torque involved with "gunning" the car and then abruptly lifting the throttle.

Accelerating hard and then lifting the throttle abruptly with the clutch engaged puts a significant strain on engine and transmission mounts as they transition violently from acceleration to deceleration. You should lift slowly.

ZV
 
All cars do that.. you are too high a speed / rpm for that gear. It wont let you, you can force it but it wont let you. my car wont let you into 1st unless you are below <15 mph, and 2nd gear under 30

Its a way to protect teh engine.. next time engine brake in the higher gear with brake and then down shift.. or dont go that fast!
 
^ yep on the GLI/GTI mk5, 1st gear lock out happens like i think somewhere between 7-12mph. i dont remember exactly but i learning that rolling thru stop signs.

you have to be a moron to try to get into 2nd at 55mph, even at 40mph a shift into 2nd might as well bounce the rev limiter or pretty much close to it. at any type of highway speed its either 3rd or 4th.

its like trying to just put the shifter in reverse when rolling forward its locked out.
 
Originally posted by: T2urtle
^ yep on the GLI/GTI mk5, 1st gear lock out happens like i think somewhere between 7-12mph. i dont remember exactly but i learning that rolling thru stop signs.

you have to be a moron to try to get into 2nd at 55mph, even at 40mph a shift into 2nd might as well bounce the rev limiter or pretty much close to it. at any type of highway speed its either 3rd or 4th.

its like trying to just put the shifter in reverse when rolling forward its locked out.
Click to expand...

On my older (98) Jetta, 40 mph is about 4,000 rpm. I doubt it would let downshift into 2nd at 40 though.
 
Originally posted by: T2urtle
^ yep on the GLI/GTI mk5, 1st gear lock out happens like i think somewhere between 7-12mph. i dont remember exactly but i learning that rolling thru stop signs.

you have to be a moron to try to get into 2nd at 55mph, even at 40mph a shift into 2nd might as well bounce the rev limiter or pretty much close to it. at any type of highway speed its either 3rd or 4th.

its like trying to just put the shifter in reverse when rolling forward its locked out.
Click to expand...

It's not actually a lock-out. It's just that there's so much speed differential between the input and output shaft that the synchros bind. If you double-clutch the lever will slide into gear like butter assuming you're not going to be over redline.

In any case, that's not what the OP was talking about. The OP's shifter got bound up moving sideways through the neutral part of the gate, not moving fore/aft into gear. It's a linkage issue.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Linkage issue. That's the only thing that can prevent you from moving the stick side-to-side. It's possible that a loose mount or bushing somewhere got bound up from the applied torque involved with "gunning" the car and then abruptly lifting the throttle.

Accelerating hard and then lifting the throttle abruptly with the clutch engaged puts a significant strain on engine and transmission mounts as they transition violently from acceleration to deceleration. You should lift slowly.

ZV
Click to expand...

Something to worry about? Should I do something to follow up on it?
I haven't felt anything like that again, and I pushed it a lil bit (although not nearly as hard.)
 
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Linkage issue. That's the only thing that can prevent you from moving the stick side-to-side. It's possible that a loose mount or bushing somewhere got bound up from the applied torque involved with "gunning" the car and then abruptly lifting the throttle.

Accelerating hard and then lifting the throttle abruptly with the clutch engaged puts a significant strain on engine and transmission mounts as they transition violently from acceleration to deceleration. You should lift slowly.

ZV
Click to expand...

Something to worry about? Should I do something to follow up on it?
I haven't felt anything like that again, and I pushed it a lil bit (although not nearly as hard.)
Click to expand...

Put the car in first then get on and off the throttle a few times, hard enough that the car jerks around. If you hear any clunking or other sounds like something is moving then take it in and ask the dealer to check the engine and transmission mounts. Obviously, try this in a parking lot so you don't screw up traffic. 😛

With the low mileage that you have, I would say that if the above doesn't turn anything up, then wait a few thousand miles and see if it happens again. You have a lot of warranty left so no need to worry immediately. It doesn't seem urgent to me, but I cannot say for certain.

ZV
 
This guy has a Jetta and starts posts with "lol." Obviously, the problem is he's gay. OP: Stop working so much penis, and you'll have plenty of strength left over to work other levers.

KIDDING! Jesus Christ you people have no sense of humor. OK! I'm SORRY! OK? WHAT? I said I was SORRY!

Once I came to a complete stop, the gear shift loosened right away.
Click to expand...

*snicker*

Seriously though, Zenmervolt seems to be on the right track with this one, as usual.
 
Originally posted by: amdhunter
lol, I know. But I don't EVER get the chance to gun the car. It was my first time really going for it too. I was so proud of myself because the shifts felt perfect. I was like "lol wtf did I break" when I slowed down.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try and be as calm as I can while replying to this.

If you want to get the chance to enjoy your car, then do it at a track where it's safe (for the rest of us).

It was a dumb ass like you that put my father in a coma for SIX MONTHS and left him disabled for life when his car got smashed by some fool that couldn't be bothered by the speed limit on a side road.

You effect more than your gas millage when you hit that gas pedal, remember that next time you feel like having a "LOL".

Ass.
 
Originally posted by: SketchMaster
Originally posted by: amdhunter
lol, I know. But I don't EVER get the chance to gun the car. It was my first time really going for it too. I was so proud of myself because the shifts felt perfect. I was like "lol wtf did I break" when I slowed down.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try and be as calm as I can while replying to this.

If you want to get the chance to enjoy your car, then do it at a track where it's safe (for the rest of us).

It was a dumb ass like you that put my father in a coma for SIX MONTHS and left him disabled for life when his car got smashed by some fool that couldn't be bothered by the speed limit on a side road.

You effect more than your gas millage when you hit that gas pedal, remember that next time you feel like having a "LOL".

Ass.
Click to expand...

I 100% agree with you.

I had a once in a lifetime moment of no traffic, and decided to take advantage of it. If you look at my OP, you'd see that I mention that I don't EVER get the chance to gun my car. That is because I am very aware of my surroundings all of the time when I drive.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Linkage issue. That's the only thing that can prevent you from moving the stick side-to-side. It's possible that a loose mount or bushing somewhere got bound up from the applied torque involved with "gunning" the car and then abruptly lifting the throttle.

Accelerating hard and then lifting the throttle abruptly with the clutch engaged puts a significant strain on engine and transmission mounts as they transition violently from acceleration to deceleration. You should lift slowly.

ZV
Click to expand...

Something to worry about? Should I do something to follow up on it?
I haven't felt anything like that again, and I pushed it a lil bit (although not nearly as hard.)
Click to expand...

Put the car in first then get on and off the throttle a few times, hard enough that the car jerks around. If you hear any clunking or other sounds like something is moving then take it in and ask the dealer to check the engine and transmission mounts. Obviously, try this in a parking lot so you don't screw up traffic. 😛

With the low mileage that you have, I would say that if the above doesn't turn anything up, then wait a few thousand miles and see if it happens again. You have a lot of warranty left so no need to worry immediately. It doesn't seem urgent to me, but I cannot say for certain.

ZV
Click to expand...

I've gunned it hard from 1st a few times with no issues. A friend of mines said that he had that problem when he had high-torque situations in his car (at least thats what I understood it to be.)

I'll keep an eye on it for the time being. I haven't had any knocking or "broken-mount" type feeling in the car at all. Could have just been a fluke moment... I hope. 🙂 I have loads of warranty on the car. I thought I had 2600 miles, I just hit 2400 this morning...lol. :heart:
 
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
This guy has a Jetta and starts posts with "lol." Obviously, the problem is he's gay. OP: Stop working so much penis, and you'll have plenty of strength left over to work other levers.

KIDDING! Jesus Christ you people have no sense of humor. OK! I'm SORRY! OK? WHAT? I said I was SORRY!

Once I came to a complete stop, the gear shift loosened right away.
Click to expand...

*snicker*

Seriously though, Zenmervolt seems to be on the right track with this one, as usual.
Click to expand...

Yeah, frikking ZV. He is too smart. lol

I bought a car repair for dummies book. Now I'll be able to mess with him 1 on 1. Soon, he'll be asking ME for advice. 😀 (lol)
 
Is this related to how an automatic sometimes will not shift properly if you accelerate too fast (not necessarily reaching high speed like the OP's 120)?
 
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
This guy has a Jetta and starts posts with "lol." Obviously, the problem is he's gay. OP: Stop working so much penis, and you'll have plenty of strength left over to work other levers.

KIDDING! Jesus Christ you people have no sense of humor. OK! I'm SORRY! OK? WHAT? I said I was SORRY!

Once I came to a complete stop, the gear shift loosened right away.
Click to expand...

*snicker*

Seriously though, Zenmervolt seems to be on the right track with this one, as usual.
Click to expand...

Yeah, frikking ZV. He is too smart. lol

I bought a car repair for dummies book. Now I'll be able to mess with him 1 on 1. Soon, he'll be asking ME for advice. 😀 (lol)
Click to expand...

The secret is never replying to any thread where you don't know what's wrong. It's easy for me to look smart when I cherry-pick questions. 😉 😛

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

The secret is never replying to any thread where you don't know what's wrong. It's easy for me to look smart when I cherry-pick questions. 😉 😛

ZV
Click to expand...

I should try that sometime. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Is this related to how an automatic sometimes will not shift properly if you accelerate too fast (not necessarily reaching high speed like the OP's 120)?
Click to expand...

Very different situation...but most automatics shift just fine under hard acceleration. It's jerkier than normal, but that's a good thing, it means that it's shifting quickly and properly. Those ultra-smooth shifts where you can't even tell when it changes gears are the result of slipping the clutch packs enough to take up the shock, which the purist in me objects to.

Then again, I object to automatics in general, so...😉
 
Originally posted by: jagec
Very different situation...but most automatics shift just fine under hard acceleration. It's jerkier than normal, but that's a good thing, it means that it's shifting quickly and properly. Those ultra-smooth shifts where you can't even tell when it changes gears are the result of slipping the clutch packs enough to take up the shock, which the purist in me objects to.

Then again, I object to automatics in general, so...😉
Click to expand...

Well, I guess I should rephrase. I find that most automatics have a hard time changing after you've stopped accelerating hard. It's kind of like the 'puta forgot to change the "zomg-race" flag to 0 so the transmission will shift normally rather than let you use most of your RPM band. I've had it happen in my Altima where when I started accelerating (at a normal pace, no pedal to the metal), the car just shot up in RPMs instead of adjusting the CVT's ratios. I think I put it into manual mode to fix this.

Also, I noticed yesterday that for some reason, my car was not shifting properly at one point (no fast acceleration occurred prior to this either). I've grown accustomed to the typical "RPM level" that the car sits at for specific speeds and usually it's around 1.8k RPMs at 60 MPH but the car was around 2.2k RPMs (which is typical for 70 MPH). I shifted into manual mode, shifted up from 5th to 6th and then back into automatic (drive). The car sunk down to its usual 1.8k RPMs.

Anything to be alarmed about? 😱
 
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