Volkswagen: VW Golf automatic transmission, deteriation, bullet proof

Question
Hi John,
I own a 1991 VW Golf. vin # 3WWBA21GOMMO33612. It has an automatic 3 speed transmission.
It runs perfectly. The other day, as I left a gas station, in drive, I accelerated normally and suddenly the transmission disengaged. I pulled off of the roadway and stopped. I moved the shift lever to neutral and then back into drive and got zero response. I then shifted to reverse and the transmission engaged as if normal but when it was shifted back into drive it was as if the thing was in neutral. I had it towed home and started trying to diagnose the problem. Trans oil level was normal, and clean, all linkage was connected and moved freely. There are no leaks or other indications of any type of failure. I am at a loss as to what may be the cause of this problem and have been told that these transmissions are bullet proof. A friend told me to pull the pan and remove the fiter screen and clean it but I don't think reverse would work as perfectly as it does if that was the problem. Additionaly I don't think drive would have stopped working so instantainiously as it did if something was plugged up.
I'm at a loss as to what may be the problem as I have never worked on this type of vehicle before.
HELP !
Curtis Gibson


Answer
it sounds like something has gone badly wrong in the transmission. my advice would be to try and track down a second hand transmission or get the old one overhauled (second hand would be cheaper). to me it sounds like the gear or shaft have failed completely, otherwise it would have been a gradual deteriation of gear changing and drivability.