200 Tranny Question

[Al Powell]

"Shawn" <skolu at cts.com> asked:
Subject: '89 200 2WD 3 spd Auto Trans Intermittently poor Shifting

>The two issues that have arisen:  Left home, car cold, wouldn't shift from
2nd to 3rd would have run up to (and beyond?) redline.
This morning put the car in reverse and it took a couple seconds to "catch".
The issues seem to spontaneously resolve after the transmission warms up.
The fluid when measured warm, not hot, was half way between add and full.

>Is there any easy way to diagnose my problem or an "AT Tune-up in a can"
>that I can add to the fluid?

Shawn, the only news I can give you is not encouraging.  If your tranny has
never been rebuilt, it is almost certainly announcing that it's failing and
a rebuild is due.  If you must leave on Sunday, go for it, but understand
that you may or may not make it to Boise before you lose third gear.

Here's the story:

The 5K-100-200 (10-valve) series used a three-speed tranny which is known to
have breakdown issues.  It doesn't break as often in the non-turbo models,
but the turbos tend to push the tranny harder and rebuilds in the 80K-120K
mileage range are not unusual.  What usually happens is wear on the seals of
the hydraulic pump, which is the heart of the transmission.  The pump looks
a bit like a 5-pound weightlifter's weight laying flat with a six-inch
broomstock stuck into it.  The "seals" are actually rings like piston rings
which fit onto the shaft sticking out of the pump.  (This description is
getting too kinky, so I'll stop now....)

Once the rings/seals start to wear, hydraulic pressure starts to leak past
them and the car will shift into reverse slowly (that's a PRIMARY symptom!!)
and will experience shifting problems on the road.  Normally I've seen the
failure to engage third when the tranny is hot - at which time it won't
engage third gear, but will only drive in second.  Makes sense, as the
hotter the ATF gets, the more easily it will leak past the seals.  The wait
for Reverse to engage is, I think, waiting for the tranny to build up
pressure.

My best guess is that the tranny is about to go.  A rebuild will cost you
about $1800-$2000, and can be done by any shop that knows Audis or VWs, as
the tranny is a (very) slightly beefed up VW tranny.  Considering the value
of the car, you may want to get trade it if you don't have the $$ for the
rebuild.

Leaving for a 1,000 mile trip is a crapshoot.  My opinion (based on two 1990
200 model tranny rebuilds) is that you'll make it to Boise, but you may be
in second gear and limited speed for part or much of the trip, especially if
it's already dropping out of third when hot.  I would suggest you take the
car out for an hours drive NOW to see if it still engages third reliably.

Could you use a tranny additive?  Frankly, yes.  I don't like them, but if
the tranny is going out anyway, using an additive which would thicken the
ATF would probably buy you time and mileage before the tranny won't engage
third anymore.  That's probably the only thing you could do in the day
remaining.  I don't THINK it would trash the tranny on the way, but no
promises.  My opinion is that these trannies are easily tough enough to take
1,000 miles plus of additive-added driving.  If you drive it, park overnight
so you do NOT have to back up in the morning, in case Reverse gives you real
problems.

Want advice?  Trade TODAY, or use an additive and plan on a rebuild when you
get to Boise.  Wish I could be more encouraging.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Al Powell
Fort Collins, CO
'58 Fiat 1200 Spyder
'83 Datsun 280 ZXT
'90 Audi 200
'90 Ford F-150
powellae at home.com
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