2004 Volkswagen Jetta Logo
Posted on Dec 22, 2008
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Transmission won't shift fron 1st, 2nd or 3rd correctly!

I have a 2004 VW Jetta with a 4 cylander engine. I drove the car Friday, it has sat in the driveway for 2 days and the weather here has been -2. When I went to drive it this morning, the car had problems shifting from from 1-2 and from 2-3. It will accelerate slowly from a stop and then rev up to 4-5000 rpms then shift down VERY hard. It is an automatic transmission and it feels like if you had a manual transmission and missed the right shift time. Over 40 mph it runs fine. Does anyone know what this problem might be? Is it due to the cold in someway? Can I fix this myself or will I be subjected to a very costly trans. service call? PLEASE HELP as I need this car to see my family for Christmas!

  • 3 more comments 
  • kdephotograp Dec 22, 2008

    Thanks for the suggestion! Unfortunatly, my car has a closed Trans. System with NO DIPSTICK! No way to check it without having an authorized mechanic open it! $$$$$! Gotta love VW!

  • kdephotograp Mar 11, 2009

    So here is the update so far. Had the transmission rebuilt, picked up the car to find that there is a 2-3 sec. delay in power between all gears. The best way for me to describe it is that it's a automatic transmission that feels like it's shifting like a stick shift. It loses power between all gears as if you had to press the cluch in & shift. Lull in power. Returned it immediatly to the trans shop. They replaced the enitre trans. & it did not fix the problem. Then they replaced the computer, didin't fix the problem. They then said that it has to be an engine issue so I took it back to my mechanic. He had it for 3 days with 2 mechanics on it, ran a full diagnosic, replaced the mass airflow sensor (again) and said that they couldn't find the problem so I have to wait for it to get bigger or break down. I am NOT comfortable with that as I dirve a lot for work. Has NEVER had a check engine light on during the 3 months this has been going on. I even tried putting Heet in the gas tank on the off chance that maybe it was a water issue. Seems 5% better, but not fixed. Wondering if doing a tune-up might help. Car runs fine other than this issue. Has to be something really small. DON"T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!!!! So frustrated...Please Help!

  • Anonymous Mar 18, 2009

    I also have a 2004 Jetta with the same issue. You described it better than I could have. I have had my car in 3 times. First two times, they couldn't replicate the problem so said it didn't exist. Third time that replaced something (sorry, stereotypical female but I don't remember what) but nothing has fixed the problem. My shifting problem happens periodically and is much worse when cold.

  • Raquel Wells Apr 14, 2009

    I have the exact same problem. I have a 2004 VW Jetta. I put a gas treatment in because I thought it was a water issue. Everything was fine for a while. The problem is these cars have a closed transmission and need to go to a mechanic just to check the transmission fluid. I will write back when I discover the problem.

  • data_11 May 11, 2010

    is the ck eng ligth on

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2 Answers

Steve Allison

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  • Posted on Dec 22, 2008
Steve Allison
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I'm no expert but it sounds as if you might have some moisture (water) contaminating your tranny fluid. I'd first try having it drained, flushed and refilled with fresh fluid. Preferably after it has been warmed to room temperature - -2 brrr. 

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  • Posted on Oct 29, 2009
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WELL VW TRANSMISSION ARE VERY COMPLEX MADE ONLY PART MADE IN GERMANY WITH SELF COMPUTER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ETC,ETC,ETC,. DO NOT TRY TO REBUIL IT UR GOING FOR A LONG RIDE... BEST THING TO DO IS BUY A NEW ONE FROM VW AND PAY SOMEONE TO REPLACED IT AND THEN U LOOSE THE WARRANTY RIGHT? VERI COSTLY.. WHAT I DID IN MY CAR I WENT AND LOOK FOR A WERCK JETTA SAME MODEL YEAR ETC. MAKE SURE IS THE SAME THEN MAKE SURE HAVE VERY LOW MILES
UBDER -30K MILES PREFER THEN PAY SOMEONE THAT KNOWS ABOUT VW ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS PAY LOW PRICE TO INSTALLED IT AND THEN GET READY TO RESET THE HOLE CAR (REPROGRAM) WITH DEALER AFTER JOB IS DONE CAR WILL NOT START SO GET IT TOW TO DEALER AND THEN CAR WILL BE OK. MAKE SURE OF GETTING SERVICE EVERY 20K TO 30K MILES DEALER SAID IS SEALED AND IS NOT POSSIBLE BUT IT IS TRUST ME TALK TO SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTAND VW OIL FLUID IS WHITE AND ONLY FROM DEALER AT $ 15 DLS. AT QUART AND HAS TO BE DONE BY CHANGING FLUID MACHINE LEVEL MUST BE EXACT IF OVER WILL COST U PROBLEMS SERVICE RUNS IN ABOUT $250 TO $350 DLS.

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