Twitch de la Brat Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Friend just bought a Jetta, was driving, threw it into 3rd, and it got stuck. We've been working on getting it tore apart, but it has been stalled by a stupid wheel stud adapter (I broke it before we could get the second wheel off ) Anyway, do you guys have any idea what could have broke or be the problem? We were told by a VW shop that its possible that a shift collar broke inside and jammed, and if we ever get it back out of 3rd, it'll get stuck if it ever gets put in 3rd or 4th again. I'll be asking more questions as we go along, but I know some of you out there are VW nuts, so throw out your knowledge please! Twitch PS: Remember, this is a transversely mounted I4, not a flat four. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Usually it's reverse on those tranny's. Around here they go for about 700 used. When reverse fails it's only like 60.00 in parts but a whole lotta labor since VW German overengineer everything. I have a tranny shop do it. Only ones I've had get stuck in forward gears was the linkage being a problem. I happen to have a car with that tranny setting here that I haven't gotten to. A 97 Golf GTI 2.0 5 speed. It's a running/driving car that needs some work. I'm more likely to part it but shipping would be killer. Good luck with the internals of a VW trans. If you do go used try and verify reverse first. They all make a bit of a "whine" in reverse - it's a VW thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I saw a 96 VW for sale yesterday needing a trans. asking 600 for it. Looked mint. Wondered myself how much a trans goes for. Now I see its a common problem spot... good luck twitch, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Those tanny's are the issue. Hard to get past 200-250k with one. The 2.0 engines are pretty bullet proof. Reverse to that tranny is what HG's are to a Suby 2.5 DOHC. As an idea. That tranny used costs me 700. I can get that 2.0 engine delivered (minus distributor) for under 100.00 with a 6 month warranty. Under 150.00 with a distributor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted May 10, 2010 Author Share Posted May 10, 2010 Great... Ok, well, in reverse the car made a clunking sound when backing up. So I guess that was a clue huh? Ok, what's the likely-hood that we're gonna have to replace pretty much everything inside the transmission? Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I don't fix them. Sometimes I will pay a tranny shop to look things over and fix reverse. I believe a few special tools are needed that a tranny shop has. More tranny specific than VW specific I think. I think my average repair bill after I drop the tranny off is 350 or so. A couple of hours to tear it apart, 60 bucks in Reverse gear and assorted parts, reassemble. But I really don't do many. The 5 speeds make the auto's look cheap though. They are usually around 1,500 used. But I have had pretty good success getting htem fixed - but not cheaply. Good luck. I'll be surprised if you actually end up fixing the tranny. Tearing it down may be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted May 10, 2010 Author Share Posted May 10, 2010 Well Crap. Sounds like if we do fix it, its going to be a revolving door of transmissions. Hrmmmm... And a rebuilt one is going to run $600-$1000. Any other advice that can be given? Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 You can check vwvortex and see what you can find out. Full of a bunch of kids talking of stereo's, rims, mufflers and other things that have nothing to do with running/maintaining a car but some very worthwhile content if you dig. It can be hard to find though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugs Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 Junk the car. I VW is not worth the piss that leaves your body. (so says I....an ex 20+ vw enthusiest...unitll I went to work for a vw shop....never again I say...never again.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted May 12, 2010 Author Share Posted May 12, 2010 Well, it turns out that my buddy knew all of this before he bought the car. Not that the car had a problem, but the problems that exist with this model. I also found out that he's just expecting to pull the tranny apart, release it from 3rd, replace the occasional broken part, and drive it till it gets stuck again After all I have been told about these car with their tranny issues, I would junk it, or sell it to some unsuspecting bozo. But to each his own. Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Why people continue to buy VW's (especially those new beetles :-\) is beyond me. As far as I can tell, they are still riding the good vibes from the air-cooled days. By and large they are problematic - possibly only beaten in the "most unreliable import" catagory by Mitsubishi And on top of that - transverse...... no love - just no love at all for the vee-dub box. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 I've got a 2001 Golf TDI. 190k. Been super reliable. Other than regular maintenance I can count on one hand the repairs, and half of them were covered on recall (like the MAF). And one was the third brake light at 150k. 40 mpg (it's an auto) and I truely expect 300-400k. But I've also got an assortment of old air-cooled's. Now the 1.8 turbo's I avoid. Any tranny trouble is typically big $. But they sure ride and handle better than the jap stuff - even the Acura and Lexus's that I've driven. VW's are excellent traveling cars in my opinion. They do get kinda crazy with multiple engines and especially tranny's for the same model year in the late model cars though. Someday for kicks look up exactly what their collection of name plates is - you'll probably be surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LokeDawgg Posted May 29, 2010 Share Posted May 29, 2010 (edited) I had a question, then I read the rest of the thread. Blarg. Edited June 8, 2010 by LokeDawgg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 Well, he got his sights on a gti tranny, so hopefully he can buy it and get it installed soon. I'm getting kinda sick of playing chauffeur... Not to mention I was a clod and smoked the clutch in my BRAT But that's a whole 'nother topic. Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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