When to say goodbye?

[MoonPies_Mommy]

I am a VERY proud, but yet VERY broke owner of a 2001 Beetle that has been giving my some transmission issues.

Last month I took my car in at a very well known VW shop and had my filter changed, pan dropped and cleaned, and new fluid put in. I could tell a big difference the next day because it was not doing the hard shift when I accelerated. Now its starting to do the hard shift again. It usually only happens when I am going around a curve going uphill. It jerks the lunges when it finally down shifts into the correct gear.

I have never had any lights come on, and other than that my car runs smoothly. It changes gear like a dream while sitting in the drive way or going along the highway.

So my question is this, Is this a warning sign that my transmission is going out? I only have 72,000 miles on it. But if it is I cant afford to put anymore money into it and Ill need to get rid of her while I still can. : (

Any comments will be very helpful!

[scarabY2k]

I'd hate to see you get rid of your beetle. But if you can't afford to keep her up financially (Swap for a manual trans), or afford to keep her around as a project car, it might be best to sell.

All the best with your decision.

[70autostick]

Dang,I'm sorry for your troubles,@ only 72k too

I too had the same troubles going up or even downhill,and letting off the gas right before it changes gears caused a rough shift.

If you've already cleaned out the fluid+filter,try disabling the "Fuzzy Logic" with VAG software,may not fix her completely,but I guarantee results. It disables the "learning" process,it makes the gear changes more solid and less awkward.

Before you rid yourself of that beetle,try a different setting,sport mode worked great for me,@ 115k,its shifting has actually gotten better the past 5k



C0,Automatic Transmission (01M) Coding
C1,000?x - DSP Mode (Dynamic Shift Points)
C2,0 - DSP active
C3,1 - DSP inactive
C4,
C5,000x? - Transmission Mode
C6,0 - Factory Mode (Adaptive Transmission Mode)
C7,1 - Force Economy Mode (lower Shift Points)
C8,2 - Force Sport Mode (higher Shift Points)
C9,
C10,Common Settings:
C11,00000 - Factory Mode
C12,00011 - Econonmy/Touring Mode
C13,00012 - Sport Mode

[70autostick]

Oh,before you change your setting,try the factory 01M reset.

1)Keys in the ON position,warning lamps illuminate,do not start.

2)Depress the accelerator all the way to the floor until it clicks,you'll feel it.

3)With the pedal still depressed past the "click",hold it there for 10 seconds,its actually 5,but to be safe...

4)From that point,continue to start the car and take it easy,no drag racing for the next 100 miles

You should notice a differ within 5 miles.

[70autostick]

Just one more thing!!!

Between steps 3 & 4,after you hold the accelerator to the floor for 10 seconds,make sure you allow the pedal to return to its idle position.

Forgot to mention that.

[kaiser]

you could also try to flush the fuild again.

the problem with auto tranny fluid changes is that the new fluid knocks loose alot of sludge so the symtoms can return quickly.

[MichelleRoze]

I'd say set the tranny to "economy" mode. Shifts sooner and better fuel economy. If it wasn't for "eco" mode on my tranny, my automatic would have died a LOT sooner. Putting a dieing tranny in "sport" mode will only kill it faster. I know someone who can prove this. best to err on the safe side. Take it out of the learning mode and set to "economy" mode. I rode mine for a good...20k-30k like that without any problems until just recently. I now have a 5 spd!