Doesn't seem to change into 4th gear and loss of power!

[kapowww]

My sister's 2003 VW Golf started having problems recently. It seems that her AUTOMATIC transmission doesn't change from 3rd into 4th gear and just keeps revving higher and higher. At around 80km/h the car sits at around 4000rpm and just continues to climb when on the freeway.

The car also has loss of power and when reversing it seems like the car jolts/shakes (similar to when a mate of mine had a coilpack go in his Audi).

Can anyone help pinpoint the problem or would it be a combination of problems?

Cheers!

[Manaz]

Any idea what the service history on the car is? In particular how recently the transmission fluid has been changed?

Someone with VAGCOM would likely be able to pull error codes from the ECU to help diagnose the fault/s.

[Tao]

Any idea what the service history on the car is? In particular how recently the transmission fluid has been changed?

Someone with VAGCOM would likely be able to pull error codes from the ECU to help diagnose the fault/s.

Actually I just asked the same Q to Barlow VW dealer two wks ago, the answer is MKIV does not need to change TRANS oil as which permanent sealed in gear box.

Is this true?
Thanks.

[Golf88]

Actually I just asked the same Q to Barlow VW dealer two wks ago, the answer is MKIV does not need to change TRANS oil as which permanent sealed in gear box.

Is this true?
Thanks.

i have a 2.0L and thats true never change the fluid in the gear box, sounds like your sis has the 1.6L engine with the soft gear box could be stuffed... its well documented in this forum that 1.6 mk4 go thru gear boxes like nothing else

[qsilverza]

1.6 manual gearboxes get chewed not so much the auto's from what I am aware.

Sounds like it could be the trans cooler if its anything like the car I have worked on. I would get it scanned for codes.

i have a 2.0L and thats true never change the fluid in the gear box, sounds like your sis has the 1.6L engine with the soft gear box could be stuffed... its well documented in this forum that 1.6 mk4 go thru gear boxes like nothing else

[Manaz]

Actually I just asked the same Q to Barlow VW dealer two wks ago, the answer is MKIV does not need to change TRANS oil as which permanent sealed in gear box.

Is this true?
Thanks.

An auto that doesn't require transmission fluid change? That's a new one to me...