High 3-4 Shift (4,000) 2001 2.0 Auto

[PV9685]

Hello, I'm new around here so please bear with me

2001 Beetle with the 2.0 SOHC motor and auto transmission. The car had a head gasket failure due to a worn water-pump, so a rebuilt "eBay" head was put on, new water pump, timing belt, and some hoses were done. Coolant temp sensor also failed shortly thereafter and was replaced.

Anyhow, after the head gasket job, the transmission started shifting later and later into 4th gear. Started more or less over 3,000RPMs and is now nearer to 4,000RPMs. Sometimes when coming to a stop the car feels like it has been shifted into first gear (like the engine pulls the car down and such).

This is my girlfriend's sister's car and a transmission replacement would put this car 6ft under. (As the head job just cost quite a bit) I have driven the car on several occasions and have witnessed the high shift. However the transmission appears to have proper application and line pressure - as there is no noticeable slip or soft/hard shifting. Car has roughly 110K miles. Any help is GREATLY appreciated - my guess is perhaps intake/vacuum leak? Throttle Position Sensor? Or (I don't know the VW transmission) but possible transmission pressure sensor or shift solenoids?

Everything was fine until it went to the mechanic - though we know how that can go sometimes. Bringing it back to the mechanic.... at least the same one... isn't a viable option at the time.

THANKS!

[ben_thurmond]

My 2002 1.8T automatic, has been doing that for a while now, did a fluid and filter change and still doing it. Reset the fuzzy logic, still doing it. Is slow going into drive, and when you slow down, and then press the gas again quickly it will slam into gear. I do not know where to go from here on this.

[PV9685]

What about - I don't have the owners manual or a repair manual for the car in question - is there a way to enable/disable a performance shifting mode, or something similar? I saw some other threads regarding a performance shift mode that could be forcibly enabled full-time (?).

When did your problem begin? Just randomly out of the blue or was there some sort of service done to the car at or around the time?

I'm just trying to solve the riddle. As far as I can tell the trans seems fine, though the valve body could be bad. Unfortunately you know how that can turn out.... $$$

If the trans is computer controlled (which I have yet to look in to and determine) it would be nice to know at what point the computer is signaling the shift in regard to when the shift is occurring.

[PUNCHBAX]

Curious if you ever found a solution. I am going through the same problems. Thanks