Her91-TSI-FWD
Hi Everyone. I am a newbie that has almost had it with my 91 TSI FWD non turbo AT. 
After dumping tons of money into this thing, it is starting again. Had a valve job done last year due to the famous timing belt which was originally done in '94. Recently did Throttle sensor, exhaust manifold, $300 in breaks and ball joints (left front wheel just fell off going 60!)ect. ect. ect. It was finally running right when my mechanic said to flush the trany. Well, now it is stuck in 3rd!!! It will not shift up or down or into overdrive. Took it to the trany shop and they said they couldn't read the trany part of the computer. It was either a short or the ECU (actually said TCU). Welp, drove it awhile. When you hit a bump, it works a little then quits. RPMS would stay 3000-3500 on the highway. Didn't want to drive it much winding it out. Mechanic barely worked on it this time, said he found a wire that was partly connected. However, it went back to him for a seal leak that turned out to be a rod thru the engine. AGAIN!! It also seems to need a front axel. The main question is if I redo the engine and get an axel, what are the chances of the trany being ok and it being an easy fix. I have searched and found nothing regarding shorts or the overdrive button. I wish they would quit putting in OD buttons!!! :thumbdown I also keep reading about all the problems. Should I get out now? Please help. I need a car that will run not be in the shop 10 months a year.
After dumping tons of money into this thing, it is starting again. Had a valve job done last year due to the famous timing belt which was originally done in '94. Recently did Throttle sensor, exhaust manifold, $300 in breaks and ball joints (left front wheel just fell off going 60!)ect. ect. ect. It was finally running right when my mechanic said to flush the trany. Well, now it is stuck in 3rd!!! It will not shift up or down or into overdrive. Took it to the trany shop and they said they couldn't read the trany part of the computer. It was either a short or the ECU (actually said TCU). Welp, drove it awhile. When you hit a bump, it works a little then quits. RPMS would stay 3000-3500 on the highway. Didn't want to drive it much winding it out. Mechanic barely worked on it this time, said he found a wire that was partly connected. However, it went back to him for a seal leak that turned out to be a rod thru the engine. AGAIN!! It also seems to need a front axel. The main question is if I redo the engine and get an axel, what are the chances of the trany being ok and it being an easy fix. I have searched and found nothing regarding shorts or the overdrive button. I wish they would quit putting in OD buttons!!! :thumbdown I also keep reading about all the problems. Should I get out now? Please help. I need a car that will run not be in the shop 10 months a year.
It was finally running right when my mechanic said to flush the trany. Well, now it is stuck in 3rd!!! It will not shift up or down or into overdrive. Took it to the trany shop and they said they couldn't read the trany part of the computer. It was either a short or the ECU (actually said TCU). Welp, drove it awhile. When you hit a bump, it works a little then quits. Didn't want to drive it much winding it out on the highway. Mechanic said he found a wire that was partly connected left? front by the transmission. However, I don't know if that was it, being the engine is shot. 
The main question is could it be the TCU or the end clutches? The dealer doesn't even know if they can hook up to it to read the codes, so who can? Can the TCU be scanned if the car is out of commission? Should I do the engine not knowing the trany problem or start over? Is the TCU seperate or part of the ECU? I was thinking it was a short because the dome light and aftermarket CD player were acting funny here and there. It seems like the shifting out of 3rd is a new problem. The OD button problem came and went. Before you would have to jerk forward or backward to make it work before going. Please help!! I need a running car that will not be in the shop all the time. I don't make enough money. Are any of you all close to Athens Ohio to help?? I have only seen a couple DSMs arround. I have seen what this car will do when it runs right (twice) and want to see it again. It's either that or part it out to lovers. What could it be worth? I just want the thing to run. 
