95 Passat with a racy auto tranny

On Jul 14, 9:04 pm, "Lost In Space/Woodchuck"
> wrote:
> "It may need to reprogram itself" wrong answer. The TCM(trans computer)
> isn't that smart! We replace batteries in the shop and never have to do a
> reprogram or drive it 500miles. If the fluid level is ok then get it scanned
> for fault codes. But most likely you have internal transmission problems.

With respect, that TCM has a short-term memory that will allow for a
momentary battery failure, easily long enough for a replacement. Were
it to be without power for 24-48 hours, the story is completely
different. We have a '99 Eurovan VR6 Auto-4 that went through this
when we first got it. It had a bad fuel-pump relay that entirely
drained the battery for the better part of a weekend.

For a period after that (and later our shop gave us the approximate
number of stops and miles when we asked), it ran as if it were in
'sport' mode, winding up the gears until a fairly high RPM that
gradually got much better over and a trip that involved multiple stops
and about 500 miles R/T.

It is quite unlikely that (unless there is a fluid leak) you have
internal problems if it is actually getting into all the gears, not
slipping while in gear and not dropping out of gear without warning.
If there is a fluid leak, all bets are off, of course.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

On Jul 15, 5:48 pm, "Matt B." > wrote:
> "TechnoThug" > wrote in message
>
> ups.com...
>
> > Thanks for all the answers. Not the ones I wanted to read, but honest
> > ones are the best ones. I guess I better limp over to my guy and
> > prepare for the worst news. Damn!
>
> No no no - first reset it yourself. Seeing as it does shift and get all the
> gears, this probably isn't a big problem and it's just a confused ECU and
> nothing wrong w/the trans.
>
> Find the recent thread on this board that has something like "beetle
> transmisson"...it was just discussed in there how to reset the automatic
> trans' ECU.

Thanks for the info! I couldn't find the exact article. I googled
'beetle transmission', vr6 ECU reset, and as many keywords as i can
think of. If you have a reference link, that would be great. I did
find other articles around the net that allude to the same thing so I
will give them a try as well. As much as I love and respect Kraut Kar
gurus, they are so expensive! Damn German engineering! So good yet
so specialized.

TT

It would help if you could plug into the system and see if the trans is
throwing out any DTCs.
It could be a problem with the Vehicle Speed Sensor for the trans.

Read here
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Volkswage...tic-Sealed.htm


"TechnoThug" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Jul 15, 5:48 pm, "Matt B." > wrote:
>> "TechnoThug" > wrote in message
>>
>> ups.com...
>>
>> > Thanks for all the answers. Not the ones I wanted to read, but honest
>> > ones are the best ones. I guess I better limp over to my guy and
>> > prepare for the worst news. Damn!
>>
>> No no no - first reset it yourself. Seeing as it does shift and get all
>> the
>> gears, this probably isn't a big problem and it's just a confused ECU and
>> nothing wrong w/the trans.
>>
>> Find the recent thread on this board that has something like "beetle
>> transmisson"...it was just discussed in there how to reset the automatic
>> trans' ECU.
>
> Thanks for the info! I couldn't find the exact article. I googled
> 'beetle transmission', vr6 ECU reset, and as many keywords as i can
> think of. If you have a reference link, that would be great. I did
> find other articles around the net that allude to the same thing so I
> will give them a try as well. As much as I love and respect Kraut Kar
> gurus, they are so expensive! Damn German engineering! So good yet
> so specialized.
>
> TT
>

"TechnoThug" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> On Jul 15, 5:48 pm, "Matt B." > wrote:
> Thanks for the info! I couldn't find the exact article. I googled
> 'beetle transmission', vr6 ECU reset, and as many keywords as i can
> think of.

Found it. The thread was "98 VW BUg Transmission".

This is from one of the posts in the thread:
************************************************** ***************
In the meantime I'd try to manually set the basic settings for the
transmission shift points. With the car parked and off, turn the key
on (engine off) and slowly press the accelerator pedal down until you
reach the bottom, then hold it there for 15 seconds. After that, turn
the key back off. You can repeat as necessary if you feel you need to.

With respect, that TCM has a short-term memory that will allow for a
> momentary battery failure.


True, the shift points may get a little out of wack, but the trans should
still have all the gears and not slip.

OK
Lost In Space, or any other VW guru....................what happens to all
of these VW automatic transmissions?
Water gets into the sealed transmission?
Fluid leaking out?
Electrical troubles?
Mechanical problems like leaky valves in the valve body?
What?

Please enlighten me/us, I wanna know! <g>

thanks
--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

"Lost In Space/Woodchuck" > wrote in message
news
> With respect, that TCM has a short-term memory that will allow for a
>> momentary battery failure.
>
>
> True, the shift points may get a little out of wack, but the trans should
> still have all the gears and not slip.
>

On Jul 17, 12:37 am, "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote:
> OK
> Lost In Space, or any other VW guru....................what happens to all
> of these VW automatic transmissions?
> Water gets into the sealed transmission?
> Fluid leaking out?
> Electrical troubles?
> Mechanical problems like leaky valves in the valve body?
> What?
>
> Please enlighten me/us, I wanna know! <g>
>
> thanks
> --
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)
>
> "Lost In Space/Woodchuck" > wrote in messagenews >
> > With respect, that TCM has a short-term memory that will allow for a
> >> momentary battery failure.
>
> > True, the shift points may get a little out of wack, but the trans should
> > still have all the gears and not slip.


Thanks for all the advice everyone. It looks like the tranny is on
its way out. The car is going to my local specialist who will price
out a "new" or "reman" one.

I hate this crap but that is downside to buying used vehicles. The
previous owners always seem to "forget" to mention all the quirks in
the car.

TT