Help with automatic 1994 TSI?

[Talon M]

Hey guys, so I recently bought a 1994 Talon TSI, and the transmission is automatic and acting really funky. Going into park, it revs up and down strangely and doesn't really catch idle, unless I turn the car on in park, and the transmission is screwed up. The fluid is nice and red and full, but it jerks pretty bad going into reverse or neutral, and in drive it clearly slips and revs steangely, the engagement is good and it won't fall out of a gear, but i fear the trans may be failing or something and I do not know how to fix it, I noticed this when I gave it a lot of throttle and it threw a code but the light is off now. Any ideas?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Is it going through all of the gears or is it starting out in 3rd? If it IS, then it is in LIMP mode and the TCU isn't working for one reason or another. That is what my '92 Auto is doing.

 

[Talon M]

It is cycling through all the gears, just erratically, it also whines in neutral and park and jerks downshifting

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Front pump will make a whine, is it up to level on fluid? Any drop or lower pressure on the clutch packs will make it slip. I am getting ready to put a Translab 175 shift kit in for firmer shifts and going with a Shift box from @ForcedFour so I am not relying on the old TCU. I don't know how to check the fluid PRESSURE on the transmission, but it sounds like it has a varying pressure problem. I am new to DSM automatics so maybe @Dstarperformance01 can chime in with any auto experience he has or any other member.

 

[Talon M]

It is up to level, it's at the higher point of the 'hot' mark, after it's been running. It's red and doesn't smell. However. It has a leak, right between the gasket at the front passenger side of the vehicle. Maybe wrong pressure? It leaks a few drops after I park it. Kinda like an oil leak

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I wouldn't expect a small leak to effect its shifting.

 

[Dstarperformance01]

The bucking and jerking sounds like a bad torque converter. When in any of the forward gear and at a stop does it lunge forward? If so, sounds like torque converter trying to lock up to early. Is this happening when engine is up to temp? I know you stars trans was up to temp when checking fluid? Any trans codes or cel on? Transmission shifting and smoothness also is dependent on how well the engine is running. Do you have any vacuum leaks or have you done a BLT?

 

[Talon M]

So, the vehicle will whine in any gear, but can be heard most prominently in park or neutral. It tripped a check engine light today on the way home, I have to drive it to get to work. It will slip and rev up when trying to shift, and jerk when trying to downshift. It also shifts quite early. doesnt lunge at a stop but if I try to accelerate when it's about to shift it will like bang. Yes this happens when it's up to temp. It does it but a lot less when it's cold.

Also, not sure if its a vacuum leak, but if i take it out of gear it will rev erratically in neutral and park. if that helps. once put in drive or reverse idle goes down to around 800 when the engine is warm

 

[Dstarperformance01]

Okay the slipping issue is an internal mechanical issue(clutches, bad or damaged seal in the drum, valve body valve sticking)What kind of shape are your engine and transmission mounts in? Sounds like a vacuum leak if it's all over the place when in park or neutral.

 

[Talon M]

the engine is quite good and runs really well, as for the trans mounts i have absolutely no idea what shape they are in

 

[Dstarperformance01]

So, no misfires or stumbles? Just erratic idle?

 

[Talon M]

Yes it doesn't miss or stumble it just idles up and down and has a hard time catching idld

 

[Dstarperformance01]

I'd check for vacuum/boost leaks first. Engine dictates how trans shifts,engagement and performance. Need to address engine issue FIRST!!

 

[Talon M]

There is a noise that sounds distinctly like turbo flutter sometimes the turbo just sounds quite leaky at times and other times it is okay