Fix it or scrap it? The age old question!

[Special T]

I have a 05 wagon iT seems the turbos and the Auto transmissions are weak points. There is a bunch of good info on this forum. There are LOTS of people putting TDI's with your kind of milage on them in all manner of rides. Cherokees, Samuri ect because of thier bad automatics. Im fortunate that mine is a stick.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/

[FC]

VW and AUDI are both junk, the only vw I would ever own is a TDI. However I don't want to discourage anyone from owning either of these cars! I do prefer to work on the VW over AUDI and work in a shop that specializes in European auto repair (BMW in particular). There are some very good reasons that these cars have such poor resale value, even Hyundai resale is better relatively speaking.

[yorketransport]

VW and AUDI are both junk, the only vw I would ever own is a TDI. However I don't want to discourage anyone from owning either of these cars! I do prefer to work on the VW over AUDI and work in a shop that specializes in European auto repair (BMW in particular). There are some very good reasons that these cars have such poor resale value, even Hyundai resale is better relatively speaking.

After digging around and talking to a few different shops, we figured out that the tranny is actually fine. It's just the transmission control module that's bad. The reverse gear in the transmission still works and the mechanic was able to put the car in "limp" mode and get the reverse to work. So, cheap and easy repair, kind of. The control module is supposed to be installed and programmed by a dealership. The problem is that the 3 dealerships I've talked to all said that the tranny is gone. None of them believe that running the car in limp mode would allow the reverse gear to work, but none of them will even try it!

I managed to find a transmission shop that's willing to track down a programmer and try installing and coding the part for me. He's never done it before but he said that the Matco tool guy was in a week earlier telling him that they now sell the programmers. Once the shop gets their hands on the tool I'll bring the car up there.

VW and AUDI are both junk, the only vw I would ever own is a TDI. However I don't want to discourage anyone from owning either of these cars! I do prefer to work on the VW over AUDI and work in a shop that specializes in European auto repair (BMW in particular). There are some very good reasons that these cars have such poor resale value, even Hyundai resale is better relatively speaking.

I have to say that for as often as I hear this, it hasn't been the case for me. My 2000 Durango ate 2 transmissions by the time it hit 100K; My 98 F150 lost the transfer case at about 125K and was burning 1 quart of oil a month by 140K; the little  06 Chevy Aveo I bought my wife new in 06 only made it 45K before it started burning oil. All of these vehicle were properly maintained and serviced (I have 5 trucks that I run for work, so I'm really big on proper preventative maintenance!). The only issue with the VW is availability of parts/technicians to work on them. Plus, the local resale market for VW is actually very good.Just try and find a used Mk4 Jetta with around 150K in good condition for less than $3500. You'll find some that have been absolutely trashed that people still want (and get!) $5000 for.

[Special T]

Up here in hippy country there are some pretty good independent shops that LOVE working on Euro Cars. They seem to fill a gap in service that is not available at dealerships.

[FC]

After digging around and talking to a few different shops, we figured out that the tranny is actually fine. It's just the transmission control module that's bad. The reverse gear in the transmission still works and the mechanic was able to put the car in "limp" mode and get the reverse to work.

I have to say that for as often as I hear this, it hasn't been the case for me. My 2000 Durango ate 2 transmissions by the time it hit 100K; My 98 F150 lost the transfer case at about 125K and was burning 1 quart of oil a month by 140K; the little  06 Chevy Aveo I bought my wife new in 06 only made it 45K before it started burning oil. All of these vehicle were properly maintained and serviced (I have 5 trucks that I run for work, so I'm really big on proper preventative maintenance!). The only issue with the VW is availability of parts/technicians to work on them. Plus, the local resale market for VW is actually very good.Just try and find a used Mk4 Jetta with around 150K in good condition for less than $3500. You'll find some that have been absolutely trashed that people still want (and get!) $5000 for.

Is the trans only working in reverse? If so that isn't limp mode, you should have forward gears as well, I would expect it to take off in 2nd or 3rd gear but it should go forward and backwards. You don't actually put the car in limp mode, it puts itself there when the trans controller flags a problem or the controller itself stops working.

From what I see of vehicle problems you have listed I would suspect hard use of the Durango which isn't built to take it (Chrysler transmissions suck though), the F150 is a bit of a surprise on the transfer case but not the motor assuming it was a 4.6 or 5.4l. With recurring oil burning in multiple vehicles though I would suggest you revisit your oil change schedule and oil that is being used as that isn't normal.

If you are going to buy a replacement I would suggest toyota/lexus, honda/acura or a manual trans TDI VW.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Im surprised yours has done so well. Most are junk along with the Audi counterparts.

But ya, Id dump it while your ahead.

[yorketransport]

Is the trans only working in reverse? If so that isn't limp mode, you should have forward gears as well, I would expect it to take off in 2nd or 3rd gear but it should go forward and backwards. You don't actually put the car in limp mode, it puts itself there when the trans controller flags a problem or the controller itself stops working.

All of the forward gears work correctly, it's the reverse that doesn't work. The tech is able to put the car in "limp" mode using the VCDS tool.  When in limp mode, all of the gears work correctly 100% of the time. That's how they were able to move the car around the shop.

It's kind of funny, I always told my wife that you never buy a European care, you always lease them. That way it's somebody else's problem when they break. I should have taken my own advice. It's just a shame that domestic car makers don't make a decent sport sedan!

[Bean Counter]

You should sell a car when the cost to repair it is more than its worth. If its a $4,000 repair and the car is worth $1,000, you're better off selling the car for $1,000 and buying a $5,000 car. 

[FC]

That isn't limp mode, your mechanic is just manually actuating reverse. I suspect that after you put a controller in this car you will find that the valve-body has problems.