Need advice REALLY URGENTLY!!

[emma2049]

Hi guys
I hope you can help me out with some advice.
I bought Dolly, a 2L '99 auto trans on 4th July. Since I've been driving her, I've noticed some jerky tranny movements, particularly worst between 2nd and 3rd. Sometimes you can feel a big lurch forward when she finally hits 3rd. It's most noticeable when driving around 25mph on my local roads. Just to check it wasn't my driving style, I got my husband and also another friend to drive it to confirm my findings. They both agreed with me it wasn't right...

I called the dealership where I bought her, (got only a few days left of the 30 day warranty) and she's been in the shop the last two days (but they are a Ford garage, they were going to take her up to the VW garage in Santa Rosa. They haven't got that far yet). Today I got a call saying they've test driven her and all is fine. They can find no problems and, basically said I wouldn't know what was normal having never driven a VW before. Well both my hubby and friend have both driven NBs and say it's NOT right. I know it's not right.

Where do I go with this argument? I told them I wasn't happy with them writing off the problem without VW at least having a look. It's not in their best interests to pay for VW to check her out, and I know I need to push them. It's a long journey up there, so I'll be headed back up there tomorrow to drive her myself with an engineer sitting in to tell him when I feel it happening. Such a waste of my time and effort. I know they are just delaying doing anything about this as the warranty expires next week. What more can I do? How do I force them to take Dolly to VW and get them to pay? I'm going to be kicking myself big time if something goes wrong after next week.....

[obxwrangler]

im sure they feel what you feel when they drive it , they are not dumb.
I would find the closest vw dealer and pay for them to check it out at a minimum so you have A CERTIFIED VW DEALERSHIP service diagnosis to give you the paperwork you would need if something is wrong (as I suspect you and two others who have driven it arent crazy) and that way you now have qaulified documentation to go after the dealership that sold you the car legally and hold them responsible for the repair bills.
I would ask them the same as they told you, as they are a ford dealership maybe they dont know what a VW should feel like.

[Fl_bug]

Originally Posted by emma2049

Hi guys
I hope you can help me out with some advice.
I bought Dolly, a 2L '99 auto trans on 4th July. Since I've been driving her, I've noticed some jerky tranny movements, particularly worst between 2nd and 3rd. Sometimes you can feel a big lurch forward when she finally hits 3rd. It's most noticeable when driving around 25mph on my local roads. Just to check it wasn't my driving style, I got my husband and also another friend to drive it to confirm my findings. They both agreed with me it wasn't right...

I called the dealership where I bought her, (got only a few days left of the 30 day warranty) and she's been in the shop the last two days (but they are a Ford garage, they were going to take her up to the VW garage in Santa Rosa. They haven't got that far yet). Today I got a call saying they've test driven her and all is fine. They can find no problems and, basically said I wouldn't know what was normal having never driven a VW before. Well both my hubby and friend have both driven NBs and say it's NOT right. I know it's not right.

Where do I go with this argument? I told them I wasn't happy with them writing off the problem without VW at least having a look. It's not in their best interests to pay for VW to check her out, and I know I need to push them. It's a long journey up there, so I'll be headed back up there tomorrow to drive her myself with an engineer sitting in to tell him when I feel it happening. Such a waste of my time and effort. I know they are just delaying doing anything about this as the warranty expires next week. What more can I do? How do I force them to take Dolly to VW and get them to pay? I'm going to be kicking myself big time if something goes wrong after next week.....

If its a problem with the shifting, have you tried resetting the transmission?

The automatics in these cars "learn" your driving pattern and shift for you. Perhaps it set up for the previous owner's shifting and it doesn't quite know how you drive yet. THat and i would try to see if you can get them to change the transmission fluid.

[murder-of-crows]

It sounds like the problem might be with the clutch if its lurching (I'm not incredibly knowledgeable on the subject, but if the clutch is worn it might do that; I think even automatics have this issue if the mileage is high enough). Maybe call CarTalk (NPR saturday mornings)? Really knowledgeable radio guys who answer car questions to callers, and who are also pretty entertaining.

Car Talk. Car tips, advice, and troubleshooting.

Hope it helps!

[Pizzaboy]

Dear Emma2049

Did you end up finding out the issue while still under warranty coverage? The only thing I would guess is that the gears are grounded and need to be replaced.

[The NEW Ringo]

You have gotten great advice already. First know that the transmission in the early NB is junk. They always go bad, they do need flush and filter changes although VW dealerships will say it’s a lifetime trans. DONT buy that. My wife and I went threw something like this. She bought an extended warranty, NEVER DO THIS... All the companies try not to pay for repairs. ALL of them. I know this is not your situation but it was ours. After many trips to VW dealer they finally replaced the transmission, which was doing what yours is doing. But, with a used remanufactured transmission. Guess what it to was shifting hard. The car never worked right. We sold it and moved on to newer beetles. It was the car we could afford at the time. You should take these steps to rectify your deal.

Document EVERYTHING, I mean everything calls to the dealer what they say what you say. Write it all down, times etc.

Get a written estimate from the VW Dealer on repairs for proof in court if it goes that far. Someone already said this. It’s worth the money if it helps you win.

Threaten the dealership with the power of the internet and media. Tell them you will report them to the local news stations, the better business bureau, Post a comment on Face book etc. ruin the reputation of the dealership you got the car from that wont honor the repair. I am sure you can think of more. Don’t just sit back and take this treatment. The car is under warranty and if you don’t fight for it, they will walk all over you and never pay. It’s sad this is what the world has come to. People screw ya if they can to save some cash. They think you will just go away. Show you wont and let them know your plans to ruin their business. I have threatened to stand out in front of the dealership with a lemon sign on my days off if that is what it takes. Just a couple of lost sales are all it takes to take you serious. Good luck and keep us updated.

[MichelleRoze]

Sorry to hear about your situtation. Sounds like you have an 01M transmission. They normally last a little longer in the 2.0L and 1.8T better than they do the TDI, but they are a death prone transmission. The common problem with these transmissions is the torque converter starts to slip and it'll "catch" which could be the lurching. How many miles are on the car? I'm assuming since this was posted at the end of July that something has been done, but just curious about an update....let us know.