Help needed with VW Golf automatic gear box

[casawi]

Hi All,
I am new to this web site I hope I am posting in the right place.

I have a VW golf year 2000 Avant Cabriolet, last year I asked the mechanic to do a full service which included checking/changing geabox oil.
a few months after the service, the gear started missing on 4th (whilst driving/having on "D"), sometimes a noise was heard and the car revs but no acceleration.
I carried on driving as normal, but a couple of weeks ago the gear box failed and would't engage anymore, I had to get it towed away.
I rang a mechanic and he directly suggested getting a reconditioned gear box which would according to him cost around £500 plus labour. I am not sure if the gear box has completely gone tho'. The reason for saying this is that I leave the car engine running for a while until it's warmed up, and then
put the gear in reverse and the car drives for a bit then stops, same when putting it on "D". The only way to get the gear to engage again is by switching the engine off and leaving for a bit and then satrt it up. but as I said it would only drive for less than a minute and then stps.

Any idea if the gear box has completely gone? one of my friends yesterday suggested I'd check the oild level, but don't how to?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[producedapples]

With the auto boxes, you have to connect VAG 1551 (to check g/box oil temp) as the gearbox oil needs to be checked up in the air, there are two plugs under the g/box, one is for draining, the other is fill/check it, once gbox oil is at 70c, the fill/check plug is removed and you let it pour out till it stops - as oil expands when its hot, only the excess will be drained...and unless he has VAG 1551, its unlikely he's done it or even knows how to do it

[casawi]

Hi, Thank you for the info I guess I need to get me a VAG 1551.
But from the diagnostics described above, if this is not due to oil level, what do you think the problem would be? As I described in my post, when the engine is hot after being ran for a while, the gear seems to engage but the car could only drive for a bit and then stops. To get the gear to re-engage again, I have to switch the engine on and retry after a few minutes.

Thank you, your help is very much appreciated.

casawi.

[producedapples]

Too much oil possibly when oil change was done?? Creating too high a pressure and causing loss of drive?? Thats why u run car with plug in till it reaches (IIRC) 70c undo the plug and let it pour out till it stops. Cuz when you do it, you pour the whole amount i think its 5/6 litres into the box then just let it warm..

[casawi]

Thanks producedapples,
I am not sure if mechanic put too much oil, how do I check the oil level? is there a way of doing so before?

BTW, I can't remember him using any tool for measuring the oil temperature, I do remeber him however having problems finding out where to pur it.

when the car stopped a couple of weeks ago and called the AA, I remember the AA guy trying to refill the gear box with oil and spilt it all over (I think he tried to force it through one of the inlet on top of gear box which he failed and then had to tow it away).

Please, if you can think of anything to help me get this fixed I would be very greatfull.


Thank you very much.

casawi.