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1999 Jetta, 2.0, automatic, "Shifting issues"

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idle shifting
4K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  C_elliott83 
#1 ·
99' Jetta
automatic
2.0 liter
160,000 miles

Problems:

(1) while the car is in idle after starting it, you can hear it misses a "heart beat" and is not consistent with running sound. seems to happen every 20 secs or so maybe. I changed the starter coil last year, but not the spark plugs or wires. Also, sometimes the car shakes for a second on idle.

(2) I try to let the car warm up for 5 mins before I put it into drive. i drive down the road and when I turn on the main road, as I turn, I let my foot off the pedal and let it coast, however... it downshifts and slows way down on its own. If I decide to accelerate a little bit then it gives a annoying jerk. Sometimes it goes away after a long drive, but its getting more and more apparent.

(3) Accelerating into gear is sometimes not as quick or responsive as I think it should be. Going from 2nd to 3rd, the car can rev higher and it seems like "it may not have enough push" to send it to 3rd from the top of 2nd gear. Every once in a while it may have trouble making up its mind and shift up then down again pretty immediately. The best zone I have found the car does the worst in is the gear change between 30mph to 40mph.

If anyone could point me in a direction of a similar post or give outright advice I would be eternally grateful. Thanks in advance and please respond with any questions or concerns and I will return them promptly.
 
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#2 ·
have tranny fluid checked or if u have vag com do it yourself read one of my previous post on how to. 01M tranny which ur car has had one foot on a banna peel when it was new so 160,xxx miles is a good life. Also if the engine is misfiring it will cause weird shifting problems as well. So repair engine problem first then check fluid
 
#4 ·
The all mighty jetta bible guide (chilton manual from autozone lol) says to try new spark plugs and wires. im going to try to find plugs online that are quality (NGK or bosch) that are on sale or a bit cheaper. autozone and orielys wants $95 for bosch or NGK wires where I live. I'm checking amazon for same part number to see if its cheaper there.

I found the trans area, but all signs tell me don't touch it until last becaue its semisealed(?).

thanks for all the input guys
 
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