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2003 EV MV Transmission

drhovis
 

The requirement to replace transmission fluid every 40K miles is in
the owners manual. For my 2003, it's in Booklet 1.1, Maintenance om
page 12. Part of the 40K service.





--- In ev_update@..., "Ariel Calonne" <acalonne@...>
wrote:

Don't let VW or its dealers turn you off of their cars! Shocking
statement isn't it. In my case, the ONLY, and I mean only, issues
I
have ever had with my EV have been the direct result of dealer
damage
or neglect, as in the did it to my EV.

We have three options: Stand over their shoulder (not worth the
anxiety), Find a quality independent (not too hard since VW seems
to
go the extra mile to keep them in business), or Do It Yourself. I
choose the last option.

Ariel Calonne
'99 GLS 97k
Santa Barbara, CA

--- In ev_update@..., "dave_king_ev" <dave_king_ev@>
wrote:

You are on the phone with a VW dealer, right? They are not VW.

Didn't Bob W post a paqe from the owner's manual that
states "change
ATF every 40k miles"?

WHY would a dealer chose NOT to do easy work that's money in
their
pocket?

Ask them if they will sell you Scotchgard for your seats, and a
new
set of custom floor mats (and any other of that really really
complicated stuff that only a highly trained factory certified
mechanic can handle), and then find another dealer that actually
wants
to help you take care of your van and won't flat out lie to your
face.



--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@> wrote:

Get a Bentley and show them the official maintenance
schedule.
You
definitely should have a Bentley regardless.

Or, ask them to show you what schedule they use that
says "sealed for
life" (or whatever it is they are claiming it says).
I am on the phone with VW right now. They insist three things:

(1) Bentley is not the factory manual;
(2) The Transmission is sealed and does not require
maintenance;
and
(3) 125,000 is a lot of miles for a transmission.

So, where do I go to prove that the fluid should have been
changed?
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this reality and trusted the
service
managers in the Volkswagen Dealer Network -- obviously a
mistake.

It is hard to believe that I've had two CustomerCare
representatives
tell me that 125,000 miles is a lot for a vehicle. That's
seems
an
odd position to take.

In the meantime, the dealer wants $150 for checking the ATF
level
and
condition. I understand there is not a dipstick -- but really.

I am exasperated. I will have the vehicle towed to a
transmission
shop
tomorrow. And I doubt I will buy a VW again.

-Erich
gti_matt
 

Question: could that violent shaking have caused damage to
the innards of the transmission?
I doubt it. The drive axles have CV joints at both ends which pivot in pretty much in every direction. The vibration you had probably isn't much different from driving over a bumpy road as far as the transmissions is concerned.
efickel
 

After two weeks of kicking it up the food chain, I finally got VW to
admit the fluid should be
changed. I told them they need to make a service bulletin, as their
dealers are clueless.-
Did that mean they assisted with the repair of your vehicle?

-Erich
efickel
 

First, thank you to everyone for your help. I have now handed this off
to the owner of the dealer where we purchased the van and had most of
the service work done.

I do have an additional question.

A few months ago a different dealer aligned our van and rotated the
tires. They forgot to tighten the lugnuts on the left front tire. My
wife went shaking violently down the interstate. When she stopped, the
van was missing all but one barely attached lugnut on that wheel.

Question: could that violent shaking have caused damage to the innards
of the transmission?

-Erich
Ariel Calonne
 

Don't let VW or its dealers turn you off of their cars! Shocking
statement isn't it. In my case, the ONLY, and I mean only, issues I
have ever had with my EV have been the direct result of dealer damage
or neglect, as in the did it to my EV.

We have three options: Stand over their shoulder (not worth the
anxiety), Find a quality independent (not too hard since VW seems to
go the extra mile to keep them in business), or Do It Yourself. I
choose the last option.

Ariel Calonne
'99 GLS 97k
Santa Barbara, CA

--- In ev_update@..., "dave_king_ev" <dave_king_ev@...>
wrote:

You are on the phone with a VW dealer, right? They are not VW.

Didn't Bob W post a paqe from the owner's manual that states "change
ATF every 40k miles"?

WHY would a dealer chose NOT to do easy work that's money in their
pocket?

Ask them if they will sell you Scotchgard for your seats, and a new
set of custom floor mats (and any other of that really really
complicated stuff that only a highly trained factory certified
mechanic can handle), and then find another dealer that actually
wants
to help you take care of your van and won't flat out lie to your
face.



--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@> wrote:

Get a Bentley and show them the official maintenance schedule.
You
definitely should have a Bentley regardless.

Or, ask them to show you what schedule they use that
says "sealed for
life" (or whatever it is they are claiming it says).
I am on the phone with VW right now. They insist three things:

(1) Bentley is not the factory manual;
(2) The Transmission is sealed and does not require maintenance;
and
(3) 125,000 is a lot of miles for a transmission.

So, where do I go to prove that the fluid should have been
changed?
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this reality and trusted the
service
managers in the Volkswagen Dealer Network -- obviously a mistake.

It is hard to believe that I've had two CustomerCare
representatives
tell me that 125,000 miles is a lot for a vehicle. That's seems
an
odd position to take.

In the meantime, the dealer wants $150 for checking the ATF level
and
condition. I understand there is not a dipstick -- but really.

I am exasperated. I will have the vehicle towed to a transmission
shop
tomorrow. And I doubt I will buy a VW again.

-Erich
 

--- In ev_update@..., Sea2river@... wrote:

I did post it and it is still in our Files section.

I fail to understand why VW representatives are saying that an ATF change is
unnecessary.

Bob W.

I went thru this same game with my dealer and corporate VW a few weeks ago.

After two weeks of kicking it up the food chain, I finally got VW to admit the fluid should be
changed. I told them they need to make a service bulletin, as their dealers are clueless.-
dave_king_ev
 

First of all, this entire thread is intrinsically insane. NO FLUID
lasts forever -- not ATF, not differential oil, not windshield wiper
soap. "Sealed for life" is pure nonsense.

Second, what does your owner's manual say? Is yours one of the
versions that specifies the 40K fluid change interval? If VOA is
going to deny that Bentley is official, surely they can't deny the
manual they supplied with the vehicle.

Finally, why not just take it somewhere else? Very few dealers have
any experience, and besides they charge more anyway. Find a good full
service independent specializing in European cars and forget the
dealer. Unless it's a warranty claim, or service that requires
certain VW-specific diagnostics, I'd never go to a dealer to begin with.

--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@...> wrote:

--- In ev_update@..., "dave_king_ev" <dave_king_ev@> wrote:

You are on the phone with a VW dealer, right? They are not VW.
No, I was in fact on the phone with Volkswagen of America, Customer
Care. It is the only avenue into VW that I can find. Ford used to have
District Managers or Reps that you contact. VW does not seem to have
any such animal.

WHY would a dealer chose NOT to do easy work that's money in their
pocket?

I don't know. I do know that when I have asked in the past about ATF
changes, I have been told not needed. I wasn't told -- no way, can't
do it -- I was told not recommended by VW. I didn't know any better
and listened to the dealers.

I do not believe it to the dealer's advantage in those instances to
recommend against service, if indeed they believed it was recommended.
I always walked away with the feeling that keeping the system closed
was intended to keep it clean. Again, now I know better. It is an easy
enough service that would generate revenue. Instead, I believe that
VWofA was negligent in adequately communicating the recommended
service for this vehicle to its dealer network.

While I am not beyond recognizing that I might have done research on
the internet to get to the bottom of this before my transmission
failed, I was let VWofA and its dealer network be the source of my
information. In retrospect, that appears to have been a mistake.

-Erich
Boone
 

There are two examples of this ATF change maintenance requirement
from owner's manuals in our files section.

Go here:

and look for:
"201-HP ATF Change Requirement every 40K miles"
and
"EuroVan_2003_40kMiles_MaintenanceBook_Excerpt.pdf"

BD
'01 MV WK



--- In ev_update@..., gti_matt <gti_matt@...> wrote:

Didn't Bob W post a paqe from the owner's manual that
states "change
ATF every 40k miles"?

Not sure if Bob did but I did at one time. If I can find it again
I'll repost it. It's right out of the maintenance manual from a '00.
gti_matt
 

Didn't Bob W post a paqe from the owner's manual that states "change
ATF every 40k miles"?

Not sure if Bob did but I did at one time. If I can find it again I'll repost it. It's right out of the maintenance manual from a '00.
efickel
 

--- In ev_update@..., "dave_king_ev" <dave_king_ev@...> wrote:

You are on the phone with a VW dealer, right? They are not VW.
No, I was in fact on the phone with Volkswagen of America, Customer
Care. It is the only avenue into VW that I can find. Ford used to have
District Managers or Reps that you contact. VW does not seem to have
any such animal.

WHY would a dealer chose NOT to do easy work that's money in their
pocket?

I don't know. I do know that when I have asked in the past about ATF
changes, I have been told not needed. I wasn't told -- no way, can't
do it -- I was told not recommended by VW. I didn't know any better
and listened to the dealers.

I do not believe it to the dealer's advantage in those instances to
recommend against service, if indeed they believed it was recommended.
I always walked away with the feeling that keeping the system closed
was intended to keep it clean. Again, now I know better. It is an easy
enough service that would generate revenue. Instead, I believe that
VWofA was negligent in adequately communicating the recommended
service for this vehicle to its dealer network.

While I am not beyond recognizing that I might have done research on
the internet to get to the bottom of this before my transmission
failed, I was let VWofA and its dealer network be the source of my
information. In retrospect, that appears to have been a mistake.

-Erich
dave_king_ev
 

You are on the phone with a VW dealer, right? They are not VW.

Didn't Bob W post a paqe from the owner's manual that states "change
ATF every 40k miles"?

WHY would a dealer chose NOT to do easy work that's money in their pocket?

Ask them if they will sell you Scotchgard for your seats, and a new
set of custom floor mats (and any other of that really really
complicated stuff that only a highly trained factory certified
mechanic can handle), and then find another dealer that actually wants
to help you take care of your van and won't flat out lie to your face.

--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@...> wrote:

Get a Bentley and show them the official maintenance schedule. You
definitely should have a Bentley regardless.

Or, ask them to show you what schedule they use that says "sealed for
life" (or whatever it is they are claiming it says).
I am on the phone with VW right now. They insist three things:

(1) Bentley is not the factory manual;
(2) The Transmission is sealed and does not require maintenance; and
(3) 125,000 is a lot of miles for a transmission.

So, where do I go to prove that the fluid should have been changed?
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this reality and trusted the service
managers in the Volkswagen Dealer Network -- obviously a mistake.

It is hard to believe that I've had two CustomerCare representatives
tell me that 125,000 miles is a lot for a vehicle. That's seems an
odd position to take.

In the meantime, the dealer wants $150 for checking the ATF level and
condition. I understand there is not a dipstick -- but really.

I am exasperated. I will have the vehicle towed to a transmission shop
tomorrow. And I doubt I will buy a VW again.

-Erich
 

I beg to differ with the knucklehead at VW with whom
you have been speaking. I am holding a Bentley manual in my hand
right now and it says, right at the top of the back cover.......

Ebahn Volkswagen Eurovan 1992->2003 Repair Manual
"Official Publishing Partner of Volkswagen of America"

Additionally, it has the blue and silver VW crest on the front of
the package, aw well. Using this logo without express permission
from VWoA is called trademark infringement, so he is dead wrong.
It is the official VW repair manual.

Steve Schock
EUROPARTS-San Diego
The Eurovan, Rialta & Sprinter parts source
Website: europarts-sd.com
Phone: 858-451-0020

Secure online ordering at:





efickel wrote:


Get a Bentley and show them the official maintenance schedule. You
definitely should have a Bentley regardless.

Or, ask them to show you what schedule they use that says "sealed for
life" (or whatever it is they are claiming it says).
I am on the phone with VW right now. They insist three things:

(1) Bentley is not the factory manual;
(2) The Transmission is sealed and does not require maintenance; and
(3) 125,000 is a lot of miles for a transmission.

So, where do I go to prove that the fluid should have been changed?
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this reality and trusted the service
managers in the Volkswagen Dealer Network -- obviously a mistake.

It is hard to believe that I've had two CustomerCare representatives
tell me that 125,000 miles is a lot for a vehicle. That's seems an
odd position to take.

In the meantime, the dealer wants $150 for checking the ATF level and
condition. I understand there is not a dipstick -- but really.

I am exasperated. I will have the vehicle towed to a transmission shop
tomorrow. And I doubt I will buy a VW again.

-Erich
efickel
 

Get a Bentley and show them the official maintenance schedule. You
definitely should have a Bentley regardless.

Or, ask them to show you what schedule they use that says "sealed for
life" (or whatever it is they are claiming it says).
I am on the phone with VW right now. They insist three things:

(1) Bentley is not the factory manual;
(2) The Transmission is sealed and does not require maintenance; and
(3) 125,000 is a lot of miles for a transmission.

So, where do I go to prove that the fluid should have been changed?
Unfortunately, I was unaware of this reality and trusted the service
managers in the Volkswagen Dealer Network -- obviously a mistake.

It is hard to believe that I've had two CustomerCare representatives
tell me that 125,000 miles is a lot for a vehicle. That's seems an
odd position to take.

In the meantime, the dealer wants $150 for checking the ATF level and
condition. I understand there is not a dipstick -- but really.

I am exasperated. I will have the vehicle towed to a transmission shop
tomorrow. And I doubt I will buy a VW again.

-Erich
 

I did post it and it is still in our Files section.

I fail to understand why VW representatives are saying that an ATF change is
unnecessary.

Bob W.



In a message dated 6/26/2008 4:07:18 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
gti_matt@... writes:

Didn't Bob W post a paqe from the owner's manual that states "change
ATF every 40k miles"?

Not sure if Bob did but I did at one time. If I can find it again I'll
repost it. It's right out of the maintenance manual from a '00.





****Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for
fuel-efficient used cars. ()
dave_king_ev
 

Get a Bentley and show them the official maintenance schedule. You
definitely should have a Bentley regardless.

Or, ask them to show you what schedule they use that says "sealed for
life" (or whatever it is they are claiming it says).

Dealers looking to avoid working on Eurovans is the rule, not the
exception. Get used to it, and be prepared to return their lame volleys.

--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@...> wrote:

Can you cite a source for your "sealed for life" statement, or is that
just another internet rumor?
I can tell you, in my case, three dealers have refused to change the
ATF because according to them, VW does not recommend changing it.

-Erich
efickel
 

Can you cite a source for your "sealed for life" statement, or is that
just another internet rumor?
I can tell you, in my case, three dealers have refused to change the
ATF because according to them, VW does not recommend changing it.

-Erich
dave_king_ev
 

Can you cite a source for your "sealed for life" statement, or is that
just another internet rumor?

(I hope that misinformation is not based on the glovebox owner's
manual, which doesn't cover everything. For example, my owner's
manual shows only a handful of items at the 15,000 mile service
interval, while the factory service manual shows almost two dozen
items. Of course dealers know this, and know to reference the
complete schedule. They don't check the glovebox -- LOL. But, even
if they did check the glovebox manual, it doesn't say "sealed for
life" either.)

The "Official Factory Service Manual" Bentley states "replace ATF" on
the 40K miles schedule (page A 16) and then refers the technician to
page A 63 ("ATF, replacing") which spells out the fluid change
procedure for both the 098 trans (used on the inline-5) and the 01P
trans (used on the VR6).

--- In ev_update@..., "Dan Cross" <dan.cross@...> wrote:

The reasons nobody will flush a VW automatic are threefold:
1) Most of the 098-01X series of transmissions are stated by VW as
being "Sealed for life". This is not true for the later EVs but VW
has a lot of trouble keeping this fact strait and the dealers are
even more clueless. The independents are no better. Anyone who
knows jack about ATF knows you should change it according to usage
conditions and the entire 098 series is harsh on fluid and the 01P in
the EV is downright brutal on ATF. Bottom line change it every 40K
of less.
1) Because you need custom fittings to connect to the tranny cooler
outlet/inlet and unless you make your own there is currently only one
place to buy readymade fittings.

2) In order to install the connections to do the flush on a VW AT you
first need to get the OEM cooler off the tranny and out of the way.
Depending on the vehicle and certainly true for the 6 cylinder EV it
is a PITA.
Most EVrs after discovering the importance of proper AT care opt to
drain the fluid, drop and clean the pan, change the filter and refill
the fluid as described in the files. If it has been a long time and
or the fluid is toast then they will button it up turn it over and
repeat the drain and fill a couple times. This will get most of the
old stuff out. Proper fill level is critical and temperature
dependent.
The fluid you want is Pentosin ATF1 Equivalent to Audi Vw G 052 162
A2 you can get it at Europarts and elsewhere.
IVAN
Therefore:
I am,
Dan


--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@> wrote:

Wow -- this is an incredibly frustrating process.

I've called a dozen transmission shops. No one will flush my
transmission fluid and replace the filter. "We don't work on
Volkswagens," is the standard response.

I have found one person that will actually work on the transmission.
Now I have to get the car from the dealer to this shop, a distance
of
115 miles. I suppose I need to have it towed -- could I drive it? He
says that if it needs work, he will rebuild the transmission rather
than purchasing a rebuilt unit. Is that OK? Or should I encourage
him
to use a rebuilt transmission from one of the websites on this list?

Volkswagen has offered to help. They'll give me a $1500 cash back
coupon redeemable for six months. Isn't that rich? I have to spend
$6000 for repairs, and they expect I'll want to replace it in six
months?

I'll keep plugging away. Thanks for your help throughout the
process.
BTW -- is there an agreed upon source for the the transmission fluid
that will be less expensive than the dealer network?

-Erich
Dan Cross
 

The reasons nobody will flush a VW automatic are threefold:
1) Most of the 098-01X series of transmissions are stated by VW as
being "Sealed for life". This is not true for the later EVs but VW
has a lot of trouble keeping this fact strait and the dealers are
even more clueless. The independents are no better. Anyone who
knows jack about ATF knows you should change it according to usage
conditions and the entire 098 series is harsh on fluid and the 01P in
the EV is downright brutal on ATF. Bottom line change it every 40K
of less.
1) Because you need custom fittings to connect to the tranny cooler
outlet/inlet and unless you make your own there is currently only one
place to buy readymade fittings.

2) In order to install the connections to do the flush on a VW AT you
first need to get the OEM cooler off the tranny and out of the way.
Depending on the vehicle and certainly true for the 6 cylinder EV it
is a PITA.
Most EVrs after discovering the importance of proper AT care opt to
drain the fluid, drop and clean the pan, change the filter and refill
the fluid as described in the files. If it has been a long time and
or the fluid is toast then they will button it up turn it over and
repeat the drain and fill a couple times. This will get most of the
old stuff out. Proper fill level is critical and temperature
dependent.
The fluid you want is Pentosin ATF1 Equivalent to Audi Vw G 052 162
A2 you can get it at Europarts and elsewhere.
IVAN
Therefore:
I am,
Dan


--- In ev_update@..., "efickel" <EFickel@...> wrote:

Wow -- this is an incredibly frustrating process.

I've called a dozen transmission shops. No one will flush my
transmission fluid and replace the filter. "We don't work on
Volkswagens," is the standard response.

I have found one person that will actually work on the transmission.
Now I have to get the car from the dealer to this shop, a distance
of
115 miles. I suppose I need to have it towed -- could I drive it? He
says that if it needs work, he will rebuild the transmission rather
than purchasing a rebuilt unit. Is that OK? Or should I encourage
him
to use a rebuilt transmission from one of the websites on this list?

Volkswagen has offered to help. They'll give me a $1500 cash back
coupon redeemable for six months. Isn't that rich? I have to spend
$6000 for repairs, and they expect I'll want to replace it in six
months?

I'll keep plugging away. Thanks for your help throughout the
process.
BTW -- is there an agreed upon source for the the transmission fluid
that will be less expensive than the dealer network?

-Erich
gti_matt
 

I've called a dozen transmission shops. No one will flush my
transmission fluid and replace the filter. "We don't work on
Volkswagens, " is the standard response.

How strange. They'd turn away a gazillion Golfs and Jettas too? The EV 4-speed auto is nearly the same transmission as a 4-speed auto golf or Jetta.

I have found one person that will actually work on the transmission.
Now I have to get the car from the dealer to this shop, a distance of
115 miles. I suppose I need to have it towed -- could I drive it?

Is it driveable? If so, I'd just drive it.

He says that if it needs work, he will rebuild the transmission rather
than purchasing a rebuilt unit. Is that OK? Or should I encourage him
to use a rebuilt transmission from one of the websites on this list?

Probably depends on what he actually does in the rebuild and what his warranty is vs. the others.

BTW -- is there an agreed upon source for the the transmission fluid
that will be less expensive than the dealer network?

is a great alternative to anything dealer.
efickel
 

Wow -- this is an incredibly frustrating process.

I've called a dozen transmission shops. No one will flush my
transmission fluid and replace the filter. "We don't work on
Volkswagens," is the standard response.

I have found one person that will actually work on the transmission.
Now I have to get the car from the dealer to this shop, a distance of
115 miles. I suppose I need to have it towed -- could I drive it? He
says that if it needs work, he will rebuild the transmission rather
than purchasing a rebuilt unit. Is that OK? Or should I encourage him
to use a rebuilt transmission from one of the websites on this list?

Volkswagen has offered to help. They'll give me a $1500 cash back
coupon redeemable for six months. Isn't that rich? I have to spend
$6000 for repairs, and they expect I'll want to replace it in six months?

I'll keep plugging away. Thanks for your help throughout the process.
BTW -- is there an agreed upon source for the the transmission fluid
that will be less expensive than the dealer network?

-Erich

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