VW Fox Transmission & Torque Converter Repair Help

Had the same transmission issues on my 2005 VW Polo TDI. The symptoms matched exactly, automatic transmission acting up with rough shifts and grinding noises, plus warning lights. The lock-up clutch in the torque converter was failing, causing engine surge between gear changes. The transmission repair turned out to be significant. The entire torque converter needed replacement since individual parts cannot be serviced. The mechanic found metal particles in the transmission fluid, indicating internal wear. The auto transmission also required a full flush and filter change to prevent future damage. The work took 3 full days at the shop. This is not a DIY job since it requires lifting the transmission and specialized tools. A transmission specialist confirmed this is a known weak point on these transmissions, often failing around 80-100k km. Would strongly suggest getting it checked soon, continuing to drive with these symptoms can cause complete transmission failure. The grinding sounds indicate internal damage is already occurring. When the torque converter fails completely, the car becomes undriveable and requires towing. The repair resolved all issues, no more warning lights, smooth gear changes, and proper lock-up clutch engagement. Going on 40k km since the fix without any transmission problems.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the VW Polo automatic transmission repair. Pretty much identical to my Fox issue. Just curious, do you recall roughly what you paid for the whole torque converter replacement and transmission work? Also wondering if youve had any clutch problems or other transmission gremlins pop up since the repair? My Fox is still at the shop but Im trying to budget for the worst case. The converter fault seems serious and Im worried about the total cost with labor included.

Glad to provide an update since my original post about the VW Polo automatic gearbox repair. The transmission repair was completed successfully and cost 2120€ total, including labor and parts. The faulty lock-up clutch in the torque converter was the main culprit, just as the mechanic suspected. After fixing the automatic transmission torque converter issues, the car has performed flawlessly for over 50000km now. No more warning lights, grinding noises, or transmission problems of any kind. The gearbox shifts smoothly between all gears and the converter fault codes never returned. The investment was worth it since replacing the complete unit prevented more extensive damage. A failing torque converter can send metal debris throughout the transmission system if left unfixed. While the repair cost was significant, it solved all the symptoms and prevented a potential full transmission replacement. Based on my experience, the quote you might receive should be in a similar range, considering it sounds like the exact same converter fault. The repair eliminated all clutch problems and restored proper automatic transmission function.

Thanks for the feedback. Just wanted to share how my repair experience turned out. Finally got my Fox back from the transmission shop today. The mechanic confirmed it was indeed a failing torque converter causing the issues. They found metal particles in the fluid, just like others mentioned. The lock-up clutch was completely shot. Total bill came to 2350€ for parts and labor. They replaced the entire torque converter assembly, did a transmission flush, and installed a new filter. The auto transmission specialist took 4 days to complete everything since they had to remove the whole gearbox. First drive after the repair was like having a different car, no more grinding or rough shifting between gears. The converter fault codes are gone and all warning lights cleared. The mechanic said fixing it when I did likely prevented complete transmission failure. Will update after putting some more kilometers on it, but so far the transmission repair seems solid. The specialist mentioned this repair should last another 80000km if maintained properly.