02 Jetta 1.8 turbo: leaking transmission cooler --> needs new tranny?

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junkmail115@gmail.com - 09 Jan 2007 20:15 GMT

Took my car to the VW dealership (75K miled) and turns out tranny fluid
and radiator fluid are mixing . NOT GOOD! They claimed it needed new
hoses, tranny, and radiator tank. Estimate $5900. No explanation as to
the cause of the problem or if the $5900 would actually solve whatever
caused to co-mingling. The tranny is showing slight signs of slipping
like rough shifting and sporadic lurches.

Took to my local garage for a 2nd opinion. They concurred the fluids
are mixing but determined the problem to be a leak in the transmission
cooler. He claims this is a component that rests atop the transmission
and would not be at all effected by any characteristic of how the car
was driven. In other words the component was faulty to begin with. My
mechanic suggested I write a complaint to VW corporate and to the
Consumer Protection Agency in Wisconsin with the intent of getting a
good will tranny replacement.

Question:

Has anyone else heard of this fault in the tranny cooler? What are
people's thought's on a good will service repair; do I have a leg to
stand on?

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Bert Hyman - 09 Jan 2007 20:33 GMT

In news:1168373754.957470.121670@i56g2000hsf.googlegroups.com
junkmail115@gmail.com wrote:

> My
> mechanic suggested I write a complaint to VW corporate and to the
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> people's thought's on a good will service repair; do I have a leg to
> stand on?

I can't answer your question directly, but you have nothing to lose by
asking VW for help. I'd wait a bit before going to the government
because doing so might start some sort of legal wheels in motion that
prevent VW from helping you if it might want to.

I've had good luck with unusual out-of-warranty repairs with other cars,
including a major transmission repair on a '77 BMW and re-painting a '94
Saab.

Signature

Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert@iphouse.com

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Joseph Meehan - 10 Jan 2007 00:29 GMT

> Took my car to the VW dealership (75K miled) and turns out tranny
> fluid and radiator fluid are mixing . NOT GOOD! They claimed it
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> people's thought's on a good will service repair; do I have a leg to
> stand on?

It is wise to get a second opinion. The dealer will almost always
charge more and be more aggressive about replacing parts (expensive or
cheap) that may or may not be damaged.

I suspect the car is out of warranty, so I don't see, from your
description, why it would be covered by VW unless they or the dealer wants
to do it for good will. Somehow I doubt it. Things happen but after the
warranty they are your things and your money.

Did the mechanic also say the transmission needs to be replaced?

Good Luck

Signature

Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

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none2u - 11 Jan 2007 03:27 GMT

There may be oil in the antifreeze ,and antifreeze in the transmission. And
they decided to change the radiator for that and that alone. Wherever it is
located, The coolers. They are usually cooled by the antifreeze . If it
leaks , this is what you get. You are getting side tracked with your idea
the cooler is faulty. If it made it through the warranty , Its not faulty.
There is a lot of money involved here and your transmission slippage and
rough shifting may be cured by draining all the contaminated trany fluid.
And getting new fluid put in. After the leak is fixed. Tranny fluid is way
cheaper then the transmission, and its not a lot more to see if you can save
the transmission. Here's my suggestion. Fix the leaking item. If its the
cooler , fine. If the cooler is in the radiator, fix it. Change the
transmission fluid completely and refill it with new. Then see what you
have. See how the transmission drives and shifts then. It may be ok. You
should know right away , If its not, then its up to you to decide if you
wish to change the transmission or not. You haven't lost anything but the
money for the oil and time. Because the cooler was bad anyway.

>> Took my car to the VW dealership (75K miled) and turns out tranny
>> fluid and radiator fluid are mixing . NOT GOOD! They claimed it
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> Good Luck

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junkmail115@gmail.com - 11 Jan 2007 18:31 GMT

the tech said the transmission needed to be changed (the tech at the
dealership). But from driving the car one can't discern much tranny
damage. no slipping however sometimes the shifting is a bit rough;
nothing too serious.

> > Took my car to the VW dealership (75K miled) and turns out tranny
> > fluid and radiator fluid are mixing . NOT GOOD! They claimed it
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> Good Luck

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