Questions and Answers

Volkswagen Jetta Transmission Control Q. Hi Vincent, I'm a little desperate for info right now, so please bear with me. Main reason is that the last service was in May this year, 20 000 miles, and this is also when my warranty expired. So I am trying to get an idea of what the problem might be so that I can get an idea of how much it is going to cost to fix and how big or small the problem could be. Car details as follows: 2001 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 liter 115 horsepower automatic transmission 22,400 miles Fuel Injection ABS brakes P/S, A/C, Cruise control Rack and pinion steering

Yesterday, while I was driving, upon slowing down and pulling off again, in Drive, the gears suddenly stopped changing/shifting like you would normally feel/hear them do, see the rpm change accordingly, etc.

The MIL lamp then came on and it stays on. I could drive the car back home, but it just didn't shift gears in Drive AT ALL. I can feel the gears shift when I put it into First, Second, and Third, but in Drive, the rpm just goes up to about 40/50 and stays, kind of like driving in Third all the way. I was driving about 50 mph as I was on a highway and panicky about getting the car home.

I hope I'm explaining this well enough? I'm a girl, so forgive me!! Now, some history. When I had just got the car, brand new, after two months, the entire automatic transmission had to be replaced. Volkswagen technicians said it was one of those "fluke" things and a manufacturing flaw.

Suddenly happened, I could hardly pull off in Drive, eventually obviously no gear was working. I don't have the technical details, but somehow I don't think this new problem is transmission related??? Maybe fuel system related?

When it gets to the certain rpm when it should be shifting gears, it doesn't, but it maintains power, if you will? Also, when in Drive, normally an automatic, automatically, rolls forward, but it doesn't do that now.

Other than the transmission replacement, I've never had any other problems with this car. If you can so much as offer an idea or more of what the problem could be, I would very much appreciate it! Please feel free to ask for more info, bearing in mind I am of the female gender, but I'm also not totally technically stupid so I will try my best!

Kind Regards,
Tanya

A. I have never talked down to a Lady. Like my Grandfather always told me,"Breasts do not a moron make".

Anyway, the answer here lies with the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL). The fact it came on indicates the Powertrain Control Module has detected a malfunction and has stored a Diagnostic trouble Code (DTC).

The next thing we have to do is access the DTC(s) stored in the PCM and find out what they are. This will tell us where to start looking for the problem. If you have an Auto Zone store near you, they will pull the DTCs for free.

But from what you described, it does sound like a transmission control problem and not a transmission mechanical problem. When there is a transmission control problem the transmission goes into "Emergency Running Mode".

Emergency Running Mode (ERM):

If critical malfunctions occur when driving, the transmission will continue to operate in an ERM. If the malfunction occurs in "D", "3" or "2", then 3rd gear emergency running mode is activated.

If the malfunction occurs in "1", "P", "N" or "R" then the ERM for that stage is activated.

If the engine is started again in the ERM and the malfunction occurs when the selector lever is in position "D", "3" or "2", then 3rd gear is activated hydraulically until the malfunction is corrected.

For all malfunctions which can lead to ERM, the transmission will remain in this mode; until the malfunction is no longer recognized by the TCM over a predetermined period.