VW Bora Transmission Grinding & Emergency Mode Alert

Had a similar transmission fault on my 2005 VW Golf with the gasoline engine at around 90000km. The symptoms matched exactly, rough shifting, grinding noise, and the transmission went into limp mode. Initially suspected a sensor fault, but the diagnostic revealed the gearbox oil level was critically low, triggering the transmission fault warning. The oil pressure sensor was reporting correct values, but the actual issue was a slow leak from one of the transmission seals. The repair involved: Complete transmission oil flush, Replacement of transmission seals, New transmission oil filter, Recalibration of the transmission control unit This was definitely a serious issue that required immediate attention. Continuing to drive with low transmission oil could have caused permanent damage to the gearbox internals. After the repair, the transmission shifted smoothly again and the warning lights cleared. For your Bora, recommend getting the transmission oil level checked first before assuming a sensor fault. Low oil level is a common cause of these symptoms in VW transmissions from that era.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Golf transmission problems. The symptoms sound exactly like what I am dealing with on my Bora. Mine might also be related to low transmission oil since the issues started gradually. Would you mind sharing roughly how much you paid for the complete repair? Also curious if you have had any recurring transmission issues since getting it fixed? Want to know if I should budget for potential follow-up repairs. The oil pressure sensor diagnosis makes sense too, hopefully my issue is also just low fluid and not a major mechanical problem with the gearbox internals.

Just got the Bora back from the shop and wanted to update. The mechanic confirmed it was indeed a combination of low transmission oil level and a faulty transmission oil pressure sensor causing the issues. The total repair came to 365€ which covered fixing the sensor, topping up the transmission fluid, and performing a diagnostic scan. Since the repair was completed last week, the transmission has been shifting perfectly with no grinding or slipping. The warning lights are gone and the emergency mode hasnt returned. No recurring transmission issues so far. The mechanic mentioned catching these transmission issues early likely prevented more extensive damage to the gearbox. Regular checks of the transmission oil level are now part of my maintenance routine to avoid similar problems in the future.

Thanks everyone for the help and advice. Just wanted to share how my repair experience turned out. Took the car to a transmission specialist who diagnosed the problem quickly. The pressure switch was faulty and the transmission oil level was dangerously low. They found a small leak that was causing the oil loss over time. Final repairs included: New transmission oil pressure sensor, Transmission oil top-up, Fix of the leaking seal, System diagnostic scan Total bill came to 420€ which was better than expected. The transmission now shifts perfectly with no grinding or emergency mode issues. Really glad I caught this before any major damage occurred. The mechanic was honest and took time explaining the transmission issues. They showed me the faulty parts and even gave tips for preventing future problems. Much better experience than my previous shop. Will definitely keep an eye on the transmission oil level from now on during regular maintenance checks.