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Had that problem on our 2000 Toyota 4-Runner. We had the tranny filter and oil changed and a complete brake rebuild and rear wheel bearings/seals changed. One of those fixed the shifting problems. The bill was $1800.
Had that problem on our 2000 Toyota 4-Runner. We had the tranny filter and oil changed and a complete brake rebuild and rear wheel bearings/seals changed. One of those fixed the shifting problems. The bill was $1800.
Your car did very well with that major service!
I wonder if I should put in any Marvel Mystery Oil, or a double shot of SeaFoam TransTune. I have been reading about transmission pressures, how everything in an automatic transmission is based on pressure, and how if something is sticking in there, like a valve body or a piston of some kind actuated by maybe a solenoid or some other some such thing, Internet Mechanic 101, that maybe one of these two things willl promote cleaning the gunk. I have either a drain bolt, or have to do the messy pan remove. I think German cars actually make it easy to drain and fill, not like stupid American cars where you earn yourself a hot ATF shower by having to drop the pan, 20 or so bolts, after moving stuff out the way, re-seal... right?
I'll check the fluid level before I go fussin with it, I've alsp heard the words maybe and praying helps.
For a transmission problem I'd first try replacing the fluid and filter. Sometimes the simplest solution works. If it doesn't, you're out about $30.
New fluid can make a big difference sometimes. I would put in the suggested amount of transtune, drive it for a couple of days, then drain and fill. This changed my shifts from laggy to quick, but I don't have a VW. Also, in my car low fluid caused similar symptoms, although I would describe them as "delay-big thunk." BANG I have not experienced.
As a long time VW owner myself, I would caution you to make sure you use VW-approved fluid. I'd say that to any car owner though regardless of brand. I did something similar to your suggestion 16 years ago to my 2001 Nissan Maxima. Big mistake. Slipped, lurched, a mess. Car was a lease, and I did it towards the end of the lease so just returned it. Nobody noticed.
Bought a 1995 Lexus LS400 with 80k miles. Learned the "drain and fill" approach, which would replace about 2quarts at a time. Did that every oil change at 3k miles and each time noticed a much smoother operation. Absolutely used Toyota T IV fluid (didn't cost all that much more). Replaced that car with 140k miles, and all was silky smooth.
Banging/thumping can be a strong sign of a worn out transmission/motor mount. Do you feel increased vibrations in the car in general? It bangs/thumps because once you're in gear, the torque is pushing against the drive axles (making the car to want to move). That alone makes the engine shift in it's mounts. Once they're worn out, that shifting becomes a "bang/thump" as the engine is hitting the frame.
Before I'd go hunting around in the transmission, I'd make sure your mounts are ok first. Might be a very easy fix. Transmissions are no joke to mess around with if you're not 100% comfortable with them. I consider myself a pretty handy DIY type of guy. I've replaced suspension component, do my own brake jobs, lots of fluid flushes, internal parts, etc. myself. But when it comes to the transmission....I cough up the dough for the dealership to handle. If they get it wrong, I have recourse back to the dealership to fix. If I get it wrong, I'm looking at several hundred (if not thousand) of dollars to repair.
I'd strongly stick with OEM fluids in general. They make a difference, in my opinion. Flashpoints, viscosity ratings, etc... Your transmission is designed to operate within those set parameters that it's specific fluid is designed to provide.
But, in full disclosure, my transmissions in my VW's are the dual-clutch arrangement.
New fluid can make a big difference sometimes. I would put in the suggested amount of transtune, drive it for a couple of days, then drain and fill. This changed my shifts from laggy to quick, but I don't have a VW. Also, in my car low fluid caused similar symptoms, although I would describe them as "delay-big thunk." BANG I have not experienced.
I had an old Chrysler mini-van with a transmission doing that clunk and it would not even move forward in sub-zero weather until I let it warm up.
I changed the fluid and that fixed it. I was able to get another 40K miles out of the beast.
Get the transmission pressure flushed and new fluid put in. Next, try some transmission fluid conditioner. Two of the cheapest things to try first.
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