tranny slipping out of 5th

Re: tranny slipping out of 5th (pastpargolf)

I second the bad adjustment theory !
The clamp at the end of the long rod
(look in The Book !) is probably the
problem.
Thing is, my friend, your are describing
a symptom of the good ol' self machining
close-ration gear box !!! VW tried to save
money and used rivets to hold a gear onto
the shaft instead of a circlip . Well, that rivet
doesn't last when driven hard and the gear
just slides along the shaft grinding through
the casing of the transmission (hence the
trans oil leak).
Hope that's not your problem but check your
transmission code anyways to be sure you know
what transmission you have on your particuliar car.
That way, when it pops out of fifth, again, you'll
know what's wrong

Re: tranny slipping out of 5th (Frankulie)

Frankulie, I suppose the rivet problem could cause what you describe to happen but its not likely that the first symptom would be the car popping out of gear. You'd probably hear loud grinding noises and feel massive vibration as your tranny eats itself! I have yet to see a rivet simply exit the case and cause no other damage.
The fifth gear thing usually happens due to the tranny being under filled. If the shop changed the gear oil then this could be the problem, if not then its just out of adjustment. I believe there is a fifth gear detent spring adjustment on top of the tranny. Its a bolt with a plastic cover, you lift up on the plastic cover while tightening. This gives you more positive engagement (also a little harder to get into fifth). Not sure if VW still used that when your car was made.