2003 VW Passat 1.8 turbo automatic transmission. Removed and repaired engine now transmission won't engage? (Transmission Automatic Volkswagen Passat)

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Question Details Asked:Feb 06, 2013 - 07:22 PMStatus:Closed

bsmittle	2003 VW Passat 1.8 turbo automatic transmission. Removed and repaired engine now transmission won't engage? Removed engine to clean clogged oil pick up screen and replace cam chain tensioner witch was damaged from low oil pressure. Repair went well, engine runs again. Only components I touched on transmission was bell housing bolts and cooler lines never removed converter from engine. Engine came right out. During reinstall engine and bell housing lined right up and slid right together on dowel pins and I bolted back together and reinstalled cooler lines. Now transmission won't engage. I warmed engine to check transmission fluid level but it wants to pour out. Car is at dealer. Their scan says pump is not working. What am I missing or what could I have done wrong? transmission worked fine before. Car only has 80,000 miles.
	In Maintenance & Repair > Transmission > Automatic In Makes & Models > Volkswagen > Passat 2 answers - 100 days ago
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Voted Best Answer

jwlehrke 02/06/13 10:35 pm PST

bsmittle, Not only do the dowel pins have to line up but the center shaft of the torque converter has two notches cut into it to drive the pump. Usually you line up TC shaft with trans shaft then slide carefully together till the shaft on the torque converter makes contact with the cogs of the pump. Then you turn TC till it slides together more then you engage dowel pins last. It almost sounds like the pump inside the trans had those drive cogs knocked off or the seal for the inside of trans shaft that seals TC is damaged. either way the trans and engine have to come apart. Allthewayjumper!

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Answers

jwlehrke 02/06/13 10:35 pm PST

bsmittle, Not only do the dowel pins have to line up but the center shaft of the torque converter has two notches cut into it to drive the pump. Usually you line up TC shaft with trans shaft then slide carefully together till the shaft on the torque converter makes contact with the cogs of the pump. Then you turn TC till it slides together more then you engage dowel pins last. It almost sounds like the pump inside the trans had those drive cogs knocked off or the seal for the inside of trans shaft that seals TC is damaged. either way the trans and engine have to come apart. Allthewayjumper!

Source:

mr_shiftright 02/07/13 10:44 pm PST

It would be hard to bolt up the trans and engine if the pump blades weren't engaged---I suppose you could force it by bending the flex plate.

in any event, replacing the pump is no small job, if that's the problem.

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