Hello everyone, I recently purchased a 04 TDI with the 5 speed automatic. whenever I come to a complete stop after the car has come to full running temperature the transmission will shift to neutral, but when its cold it runs and shifts perfectly, you can get it to go back into gear sometimes by moving the gear shift into manual mode. engine codes are P2196 for O2 stuck rich and p0501 Vehicle speed sensor A range/performance. thanks all, Hopefully I didnt just waste 1k bucks lol
The P0501 is most likely because it is neutralizing while the shifter is in gear. The speed sensor on the output compares the speed of the turbine in the converter. If the two don't jive based on the gear selected, it is telling you something ain't right. The light might illuminate when it detects slippage, or if it's in the wrong gear. For instance, if the ECM selects it to be in 2nd, but it's stuck in 3rd, the difference in sensor speeds between input and output won't jive. Or if (like your situation) they're both supposed to be stopped when the car is stopped. In this case, something is letting loose allowing the input to spin while the output doesn't.
How many miles on it? VW automatics aren't known for being really rugged or long-lived. That one should be the GPC transmission. "sealed for life" which just means you can't easily service it to make sure it has a nice long life. It just sits there basting in its own filth until it has had enough and it gives up. Having said that, check the dumb stuff first, like fluid level. My suspicion is that, because it only happens hot, my knee jerk guess is that the clutches have worn out and the hotter, thinner fluid can't apply enough pressure to keep them planted together. Also possible that the lower viscosity trouble is indicating that the pump is failing, but that is usually accompanied by a whining sound that comes and goes with neutral vs in gear.
The P2196 isn't really "stuck" rich, it's just sensing the richest it can. The code is saying, "dude, you're burning so rich I can't even measure any farther." Obvious thing on a TDI would be a leaking injector. Might be worth a look.
Really appreciate that, The trans is the 09A I believe. car has 189k on it, I'll check the fluid and see if that improves the condition
You'll need to log in to post.
