Slipping or Cold?

Just got the call from my regular tune up and they asked me if I noticed any slipping when the car was cold. I had to think for a minute and realized it's been like that since i've owned it, about 2, almost 3 years now. It's gonna get a timing belt in about another month.

Is this normal? Is it because the trans fluid is just too viscous or vice versa in extreme cold?

When warm there are absolutely no problems.

98 Jetta, v4, about 80k in miles.

Not that it will make you feel any better, but my '96 vr6 has done this as long as I have owned it as well. At first I was very conserned. You could be taking off from a traffic light and the slip into gear was VERY pronounced. Reminded me of high school when the guys with automatics would rav up the engine and drop it into drive. BAD. Had it checked out and they could find nothing wrong cept the fluid was a bit "burnt" so they flushed and replaced. Didn't change a thing. I have just gotten in the habbit of running out there and starting it up about 10 min before I leave. I am always saying that the trans. is gonna drop out of that car one of these days, but <knocks one wood> still going strong.

Yeah, that's not exactly my problem as it never really drops or "Clunks" into gear. It stays there and it's kind of 50/50 slip of power/gear hookup. It reminds me of the old school radio control cars when the first came out with gas engines, it had the bearing slip differential. It was intended to almost roll on the power as opposed to pounding it and loosing traction.

I spoke to the guys there again, fluid ran pretty clear when they pulled it out and no bits/pieces, didn't smell burnt at all and no clutch pack.

My research online seems that it's a common "issue" if you will.

Thanks for the help, good luck :)

I'd start with fluid level & quality. Has it ever been changed? Your car should have the 01M transaxle which can be difficult to properly check the fluid level. Officially you need to have a VAG scanner to monitor the trans fluid temp is at the proper temp for checking. The fill level plug actually looks like a drain plig in the bottom of the pan. Actually there is a tube that extends up from it to drain off excess (overfilled) fluid and to set it to the proper fluid level. This has to be done at operating temp and a little fluid thats sloshed around into the tube will come out at first, but should stop quickly. Then you would have to try adding some fluid to see of it's full. I'd just change it if it's not been done yet. To change the fluid you either have to use a flushing machine or remove the pan (best, since you will change the filter too). The fill plug is a short pipe at the front side. It has a red safety cap that splits apart & comes off to expose the plastic fill plug. It also uses a very special fluid (pentosin) which is available aftermarket about $12/litre, it takes three.

9 out of 10 times when someone comes into the shop describing your problem it is because of hard seals in the transmission. Mostly this happens if they have left the vehicle sitting for an extended period of time, but their are other causes. When they start the vehicle cold it will slip noticeably, once the fluid heats up it softens the seals and expands them just enough so they seal properly. Maybe during initial manufacturing of the seals the compound in the rubber was adjusted or changed that made them somewhat harder, maybe it was by accident, maybe to extend their life. Just a thought, best I can think of without having the vehicle to diagnose firsthand.