TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:09 pm

i have a 96 jetta that keeps on overheating, i checked the radiatior fan, the t-stat, the water pump seems to work (its not making any weird noise) and the radiator passes water from the bottom inlet/outlet to the upper inlet/outlet. and one guy told me that it may be the engine head gasket, how would i know if thats the problem??, there is no water in the engine oil. since this happened, the transmission has started to act up on me, is that normal?

Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:04 pm

the transmission could be to blame, also check your plugs, see if they look too hot.

Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:59 pm

since it started to overheat i was just driving the car on short distances and just to check if it would still overheat. but the tranny started to take longer to shift, and now it just wont shift, do i need to get it rebuilt or get a new-used one, or would that have to do with the tranny computer?

Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:01 pm

would it hurt if i drive the car like that to the shop?

Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:11 pm

depends how far the shop is.

Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:10 am

it looks like it got stuck on 3rd. the shop its a little far, but i can divide it into two short trips. thanks for your help.

Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:23 pm

Is it automatic?

Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:43 am

yeah its got that automatic transmission with no dipstick. one transmission shop wanted 350 just to drop the tranny, but they did not know there was a computer to it. could it be that the computer is not working.??

Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:56 am

Is the coolant changing color and feels oily? ATF and coolant maybe mixing due to corroded transcooler. Take out the t-sat and look up at the water pump fins are any missing, is the impeller loose on shaft? Will the themostat is out check it with a thermometer in hot water to see if it opens all the way at the specified time, is the bleed hose plugged?
Starting in third gear indicates transmission is in fail safe mode.

Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:10 am

ah... i have taken the t-stat out and just been running the car with water, not driving it much. and when i was doing that the water pump looked fine. that thing you mentioned about the corroded transcooler, where is that? and what about fail safe mode witht the 3rd gear? is that something really bad?

Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:27 pm

Armando H wrote: that thing you mentioned about the corroded transcooler, where is that?
Check out this thread on the VW Vortex Golf/Jetta III forum for the location of the AT transmission cooler location:
AT oil cooler troubles - http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3066420

Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:49 pm

so that means i need a new trans?

Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:12 pm

Armando H wrote: ah... i have taken the t-stat out and just been running the car with water, not driving it much. and when i was doing that the water pump looked fine. that thing you mentioned about the corroded transcooler, where is that? and what about fail safe mode witht the 3rd gear? is that something really bad?
You can not run without a thermostat, it will by pass the radiator. If you remove the thermostat you must plug the by-pass hose some way.

Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:47 pm

i´ll put the thermostat back in the car, but how can i check if the radiator has an obstruction. my car sucks! I closed the truck today and the alarm just went off! can i just cut that out?and where is that located?

Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:39 pm

My suggestion is to post in the VW Vortex Golf III & Jetta III forum.
The VW Vortex (http://forums.vwvortex.com ) forums is dominated by watercooled VW enthusiasts.
Here is the link to get you there...
Golf III & Jetta III - http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=3

You'll get a better response there.