Should I replace my 2002 Jetta transmission fluid at 127K, or just top it off?

My wife's 2002 Jetta GLS has had some shifting problems where the transmission will suddenly 'catch' when the driver accelerates from lower speeds and the road grade changes, as well as a delayed shift from R to D when backing out of a driveway with the hood pointing uphill. These aren't recent problems, probably going on for 15K or more. The Jetta now has 127,000 miles on it and the transmission has never been serviced because I bought the VW line about it having a 'closed system' with transmission fluid that never needs to be replaced. It made it easy to not think about the shifting problems as anything other than symptoms of an older car. (Live and learn)



We took it to our local mechanic yesterday. We've gone to him for years and completely trust him. He drove it while it was hooked up to the sensor and he is telling us that it took a little while to recreate the shift problem but he noticed the same thing after decelerating off of a highway and then needing to accelerate into traffic. His sensor read that the fluid was a little less than a 1/2 quart low on fluid. He also checked the fluid color and said that it is very dark.



His recommendation is to completely change the fluid, the filter, and clean the magnets in the system. I trust that he would do a thorough job and I know he's going to use VW tranny fluid. I trust him, but I've also read that changing the fluid at this age can cause the transmission to start slipping because it'll remove 'grit' that the system how depends on. Therefore I called around and found a local VW shop. Their owner said that the fluid and it didn't look bad, then he would change the fluid and filter. If it was dark, he only recommended topping it off. Both mechanics have seen a lot of transmissions.



Basically, I have two trusted mechanics who are telling me different things. I'm not against spending the money on the transmission fluid replacement, but I don't want to turn the car into an instant lemon. Any advice?Should I replace my 2002 Jetta transmission fluid at 127K, or just top it off?
Do what the VW shop says not us dumb asses on yahooShould I replace my 2002 Jetta transmission fluid at 127K, or just top it off?
change it and add some stop slip to it, it wont hurt it
It is a precision machine. It does NOT depend on grit. A flush, not fluid and filter change, can force some of this grit into places it should not be. That is a problem/ Your mechanic who wants to drain it, change the filter and clean off the magnets is right on.
That is because there is no rule of thumb, but in my experience I have always changed the tranmission fluids and filters in my cars on a every other year kind of thing.



There are two schools of thought on the subject, the first is to Leave it alone and top the fluid off. This is commonly followed.



The other school of thought is that trannys as they get older the oil gets ';scorched'; and black looking.

Regular filter maintenance 2-3 years isn't out of the question, and a fluid change at that time is warranted.



The shifting funny is probably the low fluid, vw's and most other transmissions don't care for a low fluid condition, as it ';whips'; or froths the fluid and makes shifting funky. But the funny thing is that too much fluid will give you the same indication.



Either way you go would be fine.
drain replace fluid filter

dont flush

thick hair

java