2nd Transmission in 3 years : advice?

[96passatVR6]

Can anyone help out with transmission nightmare, or direct me to someone who might. I had the tranny replaced once before. It never quite shifted correctly, so it went bad and it was replaced again under warrantee after 8 months. That transmission lasted about 11 months and here I am again. I have had it replaced this time for $3200 with a warrantee at the best Transmission shop in town. It still does not shift correclty. It has even sprung a leak twice. I have had it back in to him 7 times and have not driven the car more than 5 days since October when we started this. My mechanic most recently pulled a torque converter code(intermittent stuck off), so he took that out and it looks good. Does anyone know these transmissions REALLY well? or know someone who does?

[janoboy]

I hear ya man!
I'm a mechanic and work a lot of VWs. The thing is that the first generation of VW trannys are a nightmare!
We tried to rebuild one cca a year ago and did the job at least 3 times still wasn't right. This is the reason that even tranny shops won't do it because (even for them) it's not worth it. There are too many come-backs and problems. The best (not least expensive) way to go to buy one from dealer.
I'm sorry I couldn't cheer you up but so far I haven't heard anybody rebuilding these trannys successfully.
Good luck.

[96passatVR6]

Thank you for confirming what I had supected. I just got my car back from the shop for the 7th time and it SEEMS to be shifting better, but with these trannys, who knows. I won't hold my breath. I might just ask my mechanic to put a manual in it again.

Originally Posted by janoboy

I hear ya man!
I'm a mechanic and work a lot of VWs. The thing is that the first generation of VW trannys are a nightmare!
We tried to rebuild one cca a year ago and did the job at least 3 times still wasn't right. This is the reason that even tranny shops won't do it because (even for them) it's not worth it. There are too many come-backs and problems. The best (not least expensive) way to go to buy one from dealer.
I'm sorry I couldn't cheer you up but so far I haven't heard anybody rebuilding these trannys successfully.
Good luck.

[boschmann]

I've seen alot of people having troubles like yours. It seems there are alot of electrical problems that rebuilders/trans. shops aren't catching. More common problems involve the wiring harness inside the trans and with the trans control module (TCM). You need a VAG scanner or simulator like a VAG-COM to check the VW proprietary electronics. Bentley has very good info on these repairs.