I have to warm up my 96 for at LEAST ten minutes before my tranny will engage. I have a Transgo shift kit put in this summer that cured the tranny's problem of slipping lockup, but now that winter has arrived, when I start it in the morning (temps range from teens to 40's), I have to wait at least 10 minutes for it to warm up and engage. The fluid is good, recently changed with new filter, and to the top of the crosshatches on the stick.

 

Do you put it in Neutral during warmup so the fluid will circulate?

 

do yo what while its in neutral or park? I would suggest neutral, since that when the pump runs..and fills up the torque converter..

-dkenny

 

I see you also have a NMS, are you on tdi club?
As for your Dodge, are you parking on a hill with the front facing uphill? I had issues like yours when parking on a steep hill and all the fluid drained out of the converter- idling in N is the best trick to pump it up quickest.

 

As others have said, probably the TC fluid draining back, the check valve fails and they start doing that.

Try immediately putting it in neutral after start, wait about 5 seconds and engage reverse, see if it doesn't snap right to attention.

If it does, just drainback, nothing to really worry about.

 

I always warm up in neutral. Even after ten minutes it won't engage. The engine has get warm. I'm going to try plugging it in all night and see if that helps. I'm wondering if they didn't use synthetic tranny fluid when they refilled me after the valve body kit install.

 

I'm on Vortex TDI site. To which site are you referring ?

 

I have never used synthetic in a 47RH or RE, wall mart cheap stuff works great for me
This is my favorite site for the Passat, Members here are a lot less abrasive than on the vortex- lots of turbo failures so keep a eye on it if your build date is pre 4/1/13. Hope a direct link is ok with admins
http://forums.tdiclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86

 

Am thinking there may be a seal in the forward clutch that is worn badly enough that it bypasses until it gets warm enough to expand a bit and start holding pressure. Checking pressures at the right ports might help verify or disprove this, but someone more knowledgeable will have to take it from here.

 

I'm thinking something along that line as well. Hoping to make three more 1500 mile trips towing heavy without major repair or rebuild.

 

Hope it goes well.

 

thanks; I really miss the 5 speed I had in my 94.