docta96
Member
As my 2004 TDI approached 200,000 miles last summer, second gear on the five-speed manual transmission began graunching/grinding on both the 1/2 and 3/2 shifts unless I carefully double clutched. The problem was progressive. I had always used VW fluids on the schedule in the owners manual, previously replacing the tranaxle fluid at the 100K mile service and this seemed to be the perfect excuse to finally buy a new two liter TDI.
However, at the 200K mile service, I changed the transaxle fluid to GM Synchromesh Fluid (actually supplied to GM by Pennzoil and available under the later label...has the GM part number on the bottle).
The improvement was immediate and the transmission has shifted "as new" since then. I am now approaching 225K miles and performance of the transmission continues to be perfect in all gears with absolutely no trace of the 2nd gear problem regardless of temperature. Operating conditions have ranged from August heat to the current, persistent sub-freezing temperatures. The car is driven quite a bit, regardless of conditions.
I plan to keep it and do nothing more until I replace it with a fresh two quart dose of the same stuff at the 300K mile service. I will, of course, continue to change the oil and filter every 10-15K miles, whether it needs it or not.
2004 Jetta TDI-PD, 5-speed manual transmission
Bellaire, Ohio
However, at the 200K mile service, I changed the transaxle fluid to GM Synchromesh Fluid (actually supplied to GM by Pennzoil and available under the later label...has the GM part number on the bottle).
The improvement was immediate and the transmission has shifted "as new" since then. I am now approaching 225K miles and performance of the transmission continues to be perfect in all gears with absolutely no trace of the 2nd gear problem regardless of temperature. Operating conditions have ranged from August heat to the current, persistent sub-freezing temperatures. The car is driven quite a bit, regardless of conditions.
I plan to keep it and do nothing more until I replace it with a fresh two quart dose of the same stuff at the 300K mile service. I will, of course, continue to change the oil and filter every 10-15K miles, whether it needs it or not.
2004 Jetta TDI-PD, 5-speed manual transmission
Bellaire, Ohio
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