Transmission Problem

[ILoveBugsy]

I have an automatic 2001 Beetle and just recently (right after the battery went dead actually) it started hesitatingly switching from 3rd to 4th gear. Its like it starts to change then it drops back then roughly jumps into gear. Ive heard its hell to check/add fluid. Can anyone tell me how to do this, or know of a website with pictures? Does one of those haynes books show you how to do this? Thanks

[veedubmechanic]

you problably need the throttle body adapted, if its not adapted you can have shifting issues

[ILoveBugsy]

Originally Posted by veedubmechanic

you problably need the throttle body adapted, if its not adapted you can have shifting issues

How do I do that? Do I have to take it in somewhere or can my very mechanically inclined dad do that? It just started when the battery was soooo low. Would that affect it? I also ran out of gas a few days before it started. Could that affect it?

[Blackbeetle]

Originally Posted by ILoveBugsy

I have an automatic 2001 Beetle and just recently (right after the battery went dead actually) it started hesitatingly switching from 3rd to 4th gear. Its like it starts to change then it drops back then roughly jumps into gear. Ive heard its hell to check/add fluid. Can anyone tell me how to do this, or know of a website with pictures? Does one of those haynes books show you how to do this? Thanks

Howdy Bugsy

Try the trick that one of the guys (veedubmechanic)in this forum suggested
press the throtlle all the way to the floor very slowly , hold for five seconds and release slowly.I assume you do this with the ignition in the on position .

Also ,I have a Haynes manual and the instructions (and pictures) are
enough to figure out how to add fluid, The plug in the tranny pan is the level check and there is only one plug.(you will need a set of metric allen key wrenches). Warm the car so the tranny is at 95-113 deg fahrenheit and remove the plug(car must be level and the car should be in park (first move the shifter thru all positions)with the engine running) If any fluid comes out she is overfilled. If nothing comes out
you need to add fluid. The easiest way is to remove one of the banjo bolts in the top of the cooler (7mm Allen key)and add fluid with a turkey baster thru the opening until it just starts to drip out of the level check hole.I suggest buying new o-rings for the banjo bolt before you start. Also make sure you buy VW tranny fluid.
Take a look under the car and see if you can spot signs of leakage
I have a 2001 GLS and I had no leakage even though it has 175000
km on it. It sounds like a throttle issue to me (mine is starting to do the same thing)
I bought a scantool on e-bay to figure out what codes are involved.
The tps(throttle pos. sensor) was one of them.
The post cat sensor was another. She was also throwing a lean code and a misfire code because (I think) the throttle is not responding properly.
Have fun.
PS Check the function of your kickdown/downshift on the highway
mine has started to act up lately.
I am going to start with cleaning the throttle control module and TPS with electrical contact cleaner for starters ,if no luck I start buying parts.