Author Topic: 1.6TD automatic (Read 5692 times)

dieselherb1 · « **on:** February 04, 2009, 04:25:44 pm »

Has anyone had any experience with a VW automatic in a diesel vehicle? I heard the VW autos are crap before 04. I thought I'd rebuild one(with upgrades if there are any) and try it in a caddy with a TD engine. Just for fun.

spencebm · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2009, 04:29:42 pm »

automatic: failure

ilikevwdiesel · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2009, 04:35:12 pm »

a guy from CT was selling one on the samba a while back search for auto-e transmission or diesel automatic something like that

Wayland · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2009, 05:46:28 pm »

I have one in my 84 Grumman Kubvan, and it's very low geared, ie 100km/h and the engine is really humming. Also having only 3 gears means the engine really winds up between shifts. As soon as the weather gets nicer I'm converting it to a 5 spd.

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2009, 05:49:30 pm »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9vy0pduMA

i think that car had a 3 speed, but could be wrong. it should bolt right up to a mk3, and mk1 with the right bracket or modification.

mattbondy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2009, 06:36:30 pm »

I have an automatic in my 86 Jetta. It is a 3 speed. The starter is different from the manual transmission and is located right under the exhaust. I have not had any problems but I hear the constant exposure to heat makes itself known.

It is poorly geared for highway driving. I have only taken my Jetta over 80 km/h twice. On the one and only long trip I took on the highway it was overheating something fierce. I had to run full heat inside on a midsummers day.

The one weak spot I hear of is the seal between the final drive and the planetary housing. Once gear oil and ATF mix it is game over.

I also hear these transmissions are suprisingly heavy.

zozie · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2009, 07:32:10 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9vy0pduMA

i think that car had a 3 speed, but could be wrong. it should bolt right up to a mk3, and mk1 with the right bracket or modification.

OMG I can't believe what I just saw in the video :shock:
How does NOS hurt your engine or reduce its life?

zukgod1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2009, 08:50:08 pm »

Chrysler made a "A404" internally its the same as the new ones in the dodge neons. So if you can find one (dodge omni, Shadow?) You could build it up to handle the pressure. Not to mention you would get a lock up converter.

That A404 was bolted to the engine VW made for them, a 1.7 I think it was.

truckinwagen · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2009, 09:05:25 pm »

having driven a neon automatic, if the omni ones are the same I would say not to go that route.

the neon autos make the car really anemic, I have a neon stick and it is so much quicker than my sisters auto, it is painful how long you have to wait with your foot on the floor fo rit to get to 35MPH.

manual is the way to go, better performance and much much lighter.

Clintwalker85 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2009, 09:39:14 pm »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy9vy0pduMA

i think that car had a 3 speed, but could be wrong. it should bolt right up to a mk3, and mk1 with the right bracket or modification.

What the HELL! i thought propane was safe on diesel's not NOS? thats sick
but then again......"Bottles are for babies.....REAL men get BLOWN!"

bvolks73 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:07:19 am »

Quote from: "zukgod1"

Chrysler made a "A404" internally its the same as the new ones in the dodge neons. So if you can find one (dodge omni, Shadow?) You could build it up to handle the pressure. Not to mention you would get a lock up converter.

That A404 was bolted to the engine VW made for them, a 1.7 I think it was.

They bolt up to the VW motor but the axles and mounts are different. I have a 5 speed from an old Omni that came as a "spare" with my Scirocco. I've kept it around in case I ever do the TD into a Caravan swap I've considered.

As far as the automatic VW transmissions are concerned, I'd never have another one. They work great when they work but they really hurt fuel economy and getting the starter off one is a real nightmare. I only put 10,000 kms on my 89 GLI before the seals between the transmission and differential parts failed. I had planned on replacing the seals but after the nightmare I had getting it out (should have pulled the motor and tranny together but didn't) I decided to switch it back to a standard. As soon as I got it out from under the car I came directly into the house and put it on the local Kijiji site for free so I wouldn't be tempted to try it again.

I suppose if you replaced the seals and rebuilt the starter first you'd be alright for a while. I just can't imagine how gutless a diesel automatic would be on takeoff.

Not being to start it by towing it on those really cold mornings would be a down side too if you live in a cold climate.

burn_your_money · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2009, 04:46:26 am »

I can't wait to try mine out...

For the record, there is no way that a 1.6 auto starter will bolt onto an AAZ motor. It's just too big. I tried a rebuilt gasser starter and it wouldn't spin the motor over.

I'd say it wieghs pretty close to the same as the manual tranny

zukgod1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2009, 08:05:27 am »

Quote from: "truckinwagen"

having driven a neon automatic, if the omni ones are the same I would say not to go that route.

the neon autos make the car really anemic, I have a neon stick and it is so much quicker than my sisters auto, it is painful how long you have to wait with your foot on the floor fo rit to get to 35MPH.

manual is the way to go, better performance and much much lighter.

The OP was asking about Auto transmissions.

Also you are comparing a Neon to a VW diesel? Come on man the Neon is a POS as soon as it rolls off the line. There are some good parts we can use off them though and whither or not we like it there are guys out there making big power out of their Neons.

The A404 is capable of holding anything your TD can throw at it if it's assembled with the correct parts.
Aftermarket parts are available for it. Heck you can get a stock rebuild kit for one for less than $100.00

arb · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2009, 08:50:00 am »

My wife refuses to drive automatics !!!

Anyway, the common problem with using almost any automatic trans from a gas engine on to a diesel is about controls. How are you going to control the mechanical computer in the automatic ? (Valve body assembly) There are 2 problems. First one is the throttle position sensor - in mechanical auto trans, this is not too hard - there is linkage you will need to connect to our throttle.

The second control problem is very hard to deal with. That is the engine load sensor. On a mechanical automatic, it is simply a vacuum line to the intake manifold. So, when it sees low vacuum, it means high load.

If you do not solve both of these, your engine will be lugged around or over revved. Not healthy for the trans nor the engine.

jtanguay · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:29:19 am »

i think if there was a way of modifying the ratio's on the automatic tranny, it might actually be a bit of a sleeper IMO...

take a 1.9TDI motor with gobs of torque on the bottom end, and make sure it has a VNT turbo... that thing would sure love tall gears :wink:

just driving mine around, it just loves low rpm and the higher gears.

surely it must be possible to get custom gears for these transmissions?? i had an '87 gas golf auto, and it was a load of crap. off the line it wasn't too bad, but 1st gear was horrible. it was soooo long, and then 2nd gear was sooo short, and 3rd gear was even longer. 4k rpm @ 120kph? :roll:

a torquy diesel would love a nice long 1st gear. in fact i would be a bit worried of snapping something in the transmission from all that load... :shock: :lol:

Author Topic: 1.6TD automatic (Read 5692 times)

arb