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Author
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Topic: 2003 GTI 1.8T Transmission Problem
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Mario
Junior Member
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posted 11-11-2004 01:55 PM
   
I have a 2003 GTI 1.8T with 45K miles on it that I absolutely love, it's a pleasure to drive, or at least it was for the first 20K miles. Then I started to notice a problem with my automatic transmission. It's subtle at times and comes and goes, but occasionally the car doesn't kick into gear, and I'll have my foot on the accelerator and the engine starts to rev and before I realize what's happening the transmission kicks into gear and I'm thrown forward. This usually happens two or three times a day, when I'm in stop and go traffic, or shifting (automatically) from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 3rd, but is not consistent. I took the car to the place where I got it (still under warranty) and they said I needed a fuel injector service (didn't work) then I needed a new transmission (didn't fix the problem) and when I complained about that they said the car had an adaptive transmission that was learning my driving style. That was 5K miles ago and I'm beginning to think this car is a bit of a slow learner. Now that I've got 45K miles on it and am comming to the end of the warranty they say that it's running up to "specifications" and that there's nothing that can be done to fix the problem. Well actually they say there is no problem, that there really isn't anything to fix. Basically they refuse to discuss the matter any further. I tried contacting VW of America but they just told me to try another dealership. While I'm waiting to get an appointment (why does it take 6 weeks to get an appointment at these places?) is there anyone out there who has any idea what might be going on?IP: Logged |
powershot20
Junior Member
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posted 11-29-2004 09:55 PM
Dude! I have this same problem but I have a 04 GTI 1.8T. I went in to VW to get a check engine light fixed. Turned out I have a faulty valve body, bad temperature sensor, and a faulty battery. The problem you described happened after their repairs. I just left my GTI with them today. Hopefully they fix the problem. Its scary because normally my problem begins at 4000 rpm, shoots me to redline and throws me forward when changing into gears.IP: Logged |
Mario
Junior Member
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posted 03-01-2005 04:07 PM
Thank you to those of you who have e-mailed me with similar problems. I understand that some of you are involved with legal action and cannot discuss the specifics of your problems in public any more so I will post this and see if anyone has any further comments. Since my last post I have had my GTI in the shop on 3 occasions and have been told that it is operating up to "factory specifications". They will not tell me what that means or explain why the problem cannot be fixed. They deny that a problem exists so I suppose it's possible that the GTI occasionally jerks forward unexpectedly and that's alright if that's the way the car was designed but two dealerships and the nise folks at VW of America just keep saying the car is operating according to "specs" and nothing can be done.
That being said. I asked if I could have the car evaluated by a private mechanic and I was told that having such an evaluation done would void the warranty on the car. I asked them to put that in writing but they said it was standard VW policy and that they were not allowed to put anything in writing. They have an annoying habit of calling me whenever I write them a letter about this. Does any one know if they are legally allowed to refuse to honor the warranty if they don't fix the problem themselves? Can having someone look at the transmission and say that a problem exists void the warranty? I suppose it doesn't really matter if they're not going to fix the problem anyway and all I really want is my car fixed.
Anyone know a good transmission specialist? anyone have any idea what else it could be?
I took my 1992 Toyota to Aamco 120,000 miles ago and they told me I needed a new transmission for $1200. The Toyota is STILL running fine (juffy lube must have spilled a little transmission fluid when they topped it off and what I thought was a leak wasn't. I didn't have the money to fix the car at the time and I'm glad I didn't because that must have been the only problem. Either Aamco didn't actually look at the car or was trying to rip me off). Anyway... IP: Logged |
novws
Member
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posted 03-01-2005 06:01 PM
Oh no, not the KID issue again! IP: Logged |
nuni
Junior Member
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posted 07-28-2006 06:36 PM
I am experiencing a very similar transmission problem with my 2002 GTI 1.8T (automatic). Just 2 days ago, while driving in normal city traffic, I noticed that when my car was shifting from 1st gear to 2nd gear, it would lurch forward. At first, it was very subtle and it didn't happen every time. However, within a few miles (10-12 miles), the lurching was happening consistency each time I stopped (or slowed down) and accelerated again. Anyway, I made it to work, parked the car and called my VW dealer who suggested I bring it in for a look-see. On my drive home, the same problem was happening and after I made it less than a mile, the engine warning light came up. To make a long story short, I took my car to the dealer today and they told me I needed a completely new transmission. Mind you, my car only has about 31,000 miles on it and I am no daredevil driver! I am still in shock and after reading your posts, I am hoping a new transmission will fix this problem. Fortunately, I am still under the powertrain warranty, but my dealer refuses to give me a loaner or rental because I am no longer covered bumper to bumper. Guess its the subway for me for a while. I'll keep you posted on the outcome. I'm curious how your problem ended up. Thanks.IP: Logged |
shaunmic
Member
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posted 07-29-2006 10:04 AM
Sounds like a ECU problem or possibly a sensor or wiring problem like a dirty or corroded connector
If you have access to a hoist or ramps get under there with a can of elctrical conact cleaner and some dielctric grease and do every connector you can find
I had a similar problem with my jeep which also uses an electronically controlled trans. and found the plugs were dirty and corroded underneath the vehicle(think that one or more of the plugs secured to the frame was getting wet from the condensate from the A/C) cleaned and used the grease to keep them waterproof and the problem hasn't been back since.
Of course it was at the dealer 7 times for the same problem before and they couldnt find it.
Not saying this is the problem but it might help------------------
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ycanela
Junior Member
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posted 07-19-2007 09:14 PM
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM JUST AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNING MY FIRST VW (TIPTRONIC, 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T) AND MINE ACTUALLY STICKED ON SECOND GEAR THAN JERKED INTO THIRD OCCASIONALLY IT HAS DONE IT FOR A WHILE, iT TOOK VW IDIOTS SPECIALIST FOUR TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, TO TELL ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANS!, DONT LET THEM FOOL YOU MAN, YOU NEED A NEW TRANS BEFORE WARANTY RUNS OUT!, I BROUGHT IT IN WITH 79, 865 MILES AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE LAST TIME I HAD 81,600 MILES ON IT AND THATS WHEN THEY DECIDED TO TELL ME MY TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT!,....GUESS HOW MUCH!,,.$4,800 FOR A REBUILT!....I WAS LIKE WTF...thats crazy!...SO YEAH BROTHER SWITCH YOUR CAR AND GET TOYOTA OR HONDA MUCH MORE RELIABLE!, OR JUST GO HYUNDAI THEY GOT 100,000 MILE WARRANTY...LOL NEVER WILL I BUY ANOTHER VW UNLESS IM RICH!.....LOL IP: Logged |
pm26
Member
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posted 07-20-2007 01:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ycanela:
...LOL NEVER WILL I BUY ANOTHER VW UNLESS IM RICH!.....LOL
You also need to be a devout masochist.  IP: Logged |
Up-The-River
Member
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posted 07-20-2007 06:31 PM
Wow. ANOTHER "VW" Automatic that doesn't make it to 100k miles. (No big surprise, here)GTI + Automatic Trans. =  IP: Logged |
ChrisCo
Member
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posted 10-10-2007 09:11 AM
quote:
Originally posted by nuni:
Mind you, my car only has about 31,000 miles on it and I am no daredevil driver!
Maybe you should try driving you VW hard. These cars are meant to be pushed to 5000+ rpm. It's a good way to keep it healthy. The automatics they put in the GTIs are quite horrid. The manual tranny is a great transmission... Why did you get a GTI in auto anyway? Kinda defeats the purpose, especially since you are no "daredevil"... IP: Logged |
Up-The-River
Member
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posted 10-10-2007 03:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisCo:
Maybe you should try driving you VW hard. These cars are meant to be pushed to 5000+ rpm. It's a good way to keep it healthy.The automatics they put in the GTIs are quite horrid. The manual tranny is a great transmission... Why did you get a GTI in auto anyway? Kinda defeats the purpose, especially since you are no "daredevil"...
Obviously you have never bought/serviced a new VW from a dealer. If you have problems under warranty, the dealer will claim you drive too easy. After driving it hard, more problems show up. The dealer says you drive too hard. Later the dealer will claim you don't drive enough....'short tripping' is thier term. Etc.... It is like trying to find a shadow in the shade. IP: Logged |
pm26
Member
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posted 10-11-2007 02:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Up-The-River:
Obviously you have never bought/serviced a new VW from a dealer. If you have problems under warranty, the dealer will claim you drive too easy. After driving it hard, more problems show up. The dealer says you drive too hard. Later the dealer will claim you don't drive enough....'short tripping' is thier term. Etc.... It is like trying to find a shadow in the shade.
It's a no-win situation, just like trading in a car on a new one. Your trade is always wrong color, wrong transmission, wrong model, too many miles, not popular with most people in that area,etc. Anything imaginable to "steal" your trade so they can make a nice chunk of change on it. IP: Logged |
YupOldBull
Member
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posted 10-11-2007 09:45 PM
Oil burning in my 2.0 Jetta. My fault. Premature rear brake wear. My fault. Sunroof broke. My fault. CEL's and MAF's. My fault. Glove box hinge broke 3 times. My fault.
Purchased the darn thing. My fault. (won't happen again)
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aspenjared
Junior Member
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posted 10-15-2007 05:17 PM
I'm so happy to find other people that are experiencing the same problem as I am. Issue sounds the same, between gears the RPMs surge, the only thing I would add is that it's worse when I drive hard, and when the car is cold or in the winter.I have a 2002 GTI with a auto tranny, it started showing up around at 20K miles and has been getting worse and worse, the dealer of course could find nothing wrong with it. I'm now at 100K miles and winter coming it's getting to be almost undrivable. My warranty is obviously done so nothing there, but I would appreciate any advice on an economical repair, dealing with VW or etc. IP: Logged |
GolfSucker77
Junior Member
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posted 09-28-2008 07:43 PM
I have the same damn problem with a 2001 Golf, after I get a highway, it stays stuck in 1st and revs to high RPM. The problem goes away whe the car cools, but comes back when I drive fast for some time then come to a stop.Has anyone been able to know what to do about this? please help IP: Logged |
Up-The-River
Member
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posted 09-28-2008 08:06 PM
Here is a link to one fix for a bung'd-up GTI:
http://www.volvocars.com/us/models/C30/gallery/exterior/Pages/default.aspx IP: Logged |
marga
Member
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posted 09-29-2008 09:51 AM
volvo's are great, my sister has one.that particular one is disgusting. IP: Logged |
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