checking transmission fluid level

[AaronW]

All:

Newbie here, just joined. Was just given a 2003 Jetta TDI, 4 speed automatic. It is throwing a code, that says the clutch is slipping. (I guess that means the torque converter, in the case of an automatic, right?). I figured I'd check the transmission fluid, can't find a dipstick. A little internet searching says this is a sealed transmission. It does seem to be shifting fine, though sometimes where I'm pulled up to a stop, the car feels like it wants to surge a bit, it will want to rock, instead of coming out of gear at stop.

Ok, so is there a way for me to change the transmission fluid myself? Every thing I see on the web says you're supposed to change it every 75000 miles, and I have no idea how long it's been, in the case of this particular car. I live two hours from the nearest VW dealer, and if anyone here lives in MT, you'll know what I mean when I say I'd rather amputate one of my legs than go to Bozeman.

Thanks for the help, I've never owned one of these cars before, so I expect I'll have a few other questions, too.

Aaron

 

[Prairieview]

There are a lot of previous (over the years) threads on automatic trans. Employ the search function.

 

[AaronW]

There are a lot of previous (over the years) threads on automatic trans. Employ the search function.

Wasn't previously able to find what I was looking for. Employ the "shoveit" function.

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

Prairie Poo is at it again

 

[Prairieview]

Helplessness has become SOOOO fashionable for so many of you.

 

[Zak99b5]

KansasCityTDI has all the info you need to change out the fluid. It's not that hard (did it on two of my kids' auto MkIVs).

The issue with the code may well mean you have to replace a solenoid in the tranny. My daughter's car had the torque converter lockup solenoid go bad. Again KansasCityTDI has what you need, including info. You would do these jobs at the same time, as the solenoids are internal and easily accessible with the tranny pan dropped.

 

[BobnOH]

And use this search engine VW TDI Search Engine
There are hundreds if not thousands of threads on this very subject.
You may even want to visit KansasCityTDI.com

 

[csstevej]

If that doesn’t fix your issue then you may have to start looking for parts to do an auto to manual swap…. There is a huge thread on that here.
Many of us went that route as the auto isn’t the best on the MK IV platform….. I did the swap at 120,xxx miles in my driveway…. Car now has 447,xxx miles in it now.

 

[oilhammer]

Heh, just in another thread I was wondering if any 01M transmissions were still left alive. Not many, for sure.

I love the "sealed transmission" nonsense. What does that even mean? They're ALL sealed.... otherwise they'd all just leak everything out right away, LOL.

Just because a transmission doesn't have a dipstick doesn't mean anything. Most modern transmissions don't. Doesn't mean they cannot have the fluid changed/filled/checked.

 

[Prairieview]

Ya, I've still got one. But, at the moment, in storage with 235,000 miles. Changed atf and filter. Have to be careful with 2nd to 3rd shifts. Other than that, very enjoyable.

 

[Zak99b5]

My daughter's 05 Golf has an 01M that's working perfectly fine. I did drop the pan to change the fluid and change the TC solenoid. But I think the lower torque of the 2.0 gasser is in its favor.

 

[oilhammer]

Never heard "01M" and "enjoyable" used in the same sentence. They are about as enjoyable to me as a bee sting on the lip.

 

[Prairieview]

Understood. I wanted to add that when I first got the car the trans was horrible. I replaced the G38 and G68 and reset to "grand dad" mode on shifting. That "adaptive mode" is destructive to older trans. it seems.

If the original poster, and billyjoebob stopped and thought a moment, and applied a little logic (good luck on THAT), he could simply carefully drain and catch every drop of trans fluid, measure it, add approx. 3/5 more of a quart to saturate the new filter....and probably go their merry way.

After all, he said it was shifting just fine. But.....you KNOW.....logic in modern society is GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

I believe logic is determined by specifications when checking fluid levels. If you checked your oil the way you described checking your transmission fluid you may have a major problem on your hands. If the tranny leaked or was improperly serviced you would only be speculating on how much fluid was needed for it to function properly. I believe the most logical thing to do is check the service manual first to see how much fluid is required instead of how much fluid is in the transmission . Just saying. Sincerely and Logically yours John Wesley.

 

[markdave]

All:

Newbie here, just joined. Was just given a 2003 Jetta TDI, 4 speed automatic. It is throwing a code, that says the clutch is slipping. (I guess that means the torque converter, in the case of an automatic, right?). I figured I'd check the transmission fluid, can't find a dipstick. A little internet searching says this is a sealed transmission. It does seem to be shifting fine, though sometimes where I'm pulled up to a stop, the car feels like it wants to surge a bit, it will want to rock, instead of coming out of gear at stop.
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Ok, so is there a way for me to change the transmission fluid myself? Every thing I see on the web says you're supposed to change it every 75000 miles, and I have no idea how long it's been, in the case of this particular car. I live two hours from the nearest VW dealer, and if anyone here lives in MT, you'll know what I mean when I say I'd rather amputate one of my legs than go to Bozeman.

Thanks for the help, I've never owned one of these cars before, so I expect I'll have a few other questions, too.

Aaron

Helplessness has become SOOOO fashionable for so many of you.