96 jetta gl buddy put in a 95 transmission....won't start in park

Look towards the front of the engine down LOW...

Assuming it is an automatic. With engine idling, put transmission thru all gears, put back in park, keep engine running, check dipstick for tranny. If it is a manual then you have to crawl under car and remove upper "fill" plug on gearbox, fluid will be up to that level. NOTE: unless your tranny leaks it should never be low!

Yes. You'll need to swap your old speedo cable and the back up light switch is different. Also the 96 transmission uses the same clutch disc as the MK2 16v, which is different from the 8v disc, it's the number of splines on the input shaft. I'm putting a 95 Jetta 5 speed into my 1986 Scirocco. Make sure you replace the throw out bearing and the clutch rod seal and bushing in the end of the input shaft.

You have to make sure that you are using the correct transmission. If you have a SOHC then you need the SOHC transmission. A DOHC transmission will bolt up but it has the wrong gear ratios for your SOHC and its computer. You will get all kinds of funky shifting if you use a SOHC car with a DOHC transmission or vise versa. Check the stamping on the bell housing of the transmission you put in and see if it has an MP7 or MP6. MP6 trannys are the SOHC transmission, the MP7 is the DOHC transmission.

OK. First, find your reciept and find out what type of fluid was used and how many quarts. Next find out what type of fluid you should use (because the wrong ATF or wrong amount can cause your symptoms). The fluid can vary from transmission to transmission even though you have the same year car model. There are at least 3 transmissions for VWs for the same year (turbo, 2WD, AWD)

To make sure you know what fluid goes with YOUR transmission, you need to know the transmission number. Next, look up on ALLDATA (or ask the dealer to print this for you) the tech sheet on what fluid goes to what transmission.

Also, ALLDATA will have a page detailing the correct amount of fluid to be used. For example, a complete tranny rebuild may take up to 11 quarts, but a tranny service may only take 5 quarts.

To fill VWs with ATF (tranny fluid), you usually have to pump it in with the engine off from the bottom of the car. This means you have a hand pump that sucks the (correct) ATF and then pumps it upwards into the pan thru the drain plug. Once, you put in at least 3-4 quarts, you lower the car and turn it on and re-raise it.

While the car is on, the ATf you just pumped into it gets sucked upwards inside the tranny.
Now you start pumping more ATF upward until it starts to puor out at a steady, but solid stream. Then you quickly close the drain/fill plug and you're done. It is really easy to not put enough ATF into the system since some techs and mechs only add to the car when off, not off then on.

Also, if you have the wrong ATF in you car, you can sue the dealer for putting in the wrong ATF, thus causing damage to your tranny. This holds up in court and you get a new tranny free of charge.

Please remember that the WRONG ATF is very, very easy to use. And the wrong amount is very very easy to achieve. These (2) points are your starting points. Good luck.

On the manual transmission you go through the vehicle speed sensor (VSS). Its suppose to go 1/2 way up the teeth marks. Does it not say in the Chiltons manual? I can check when I get home.

Jack up the car on the driver side. Then you need to take off the Driver side Tire. You will see a 17 hex Allen socket on the transmission; this is where the gear oil goes. On the bottom of the transmission is another 17 hex socket: this is how you drain the transmission fluid. The car takes (75w90 GL-4). I believe the capacity is about 2.0 quarts. But put in about 1.5 quarts first, to see how the car feels, and then add more later.

That would be your neutral park switch is bad or broken. If the shifter linkage is not aligned with the neutral park switch it will not work properly. Located on drivers side on top of Trans.

No it will not. I have a 95 and am on tranny number 5. I had always put in used ones because I didn't know how long I was going to keep the truck. Now I have so much in it I have to keep it.
Anyway, back to your problem. 94 & 95 are all by themselves. Dodge had alot of problems with trannies in those 2 years and in 96 they attempted to remidy that problem, but didn't quite get the job done. The trannies will look alike until you take a closer look. In 96 they changed the wireing that goes to the computer so these transmissions could not be interchanged. One thing I would reccommend if you do find a used tranny to put in. Buy a brand spanking new torque converter.
BTW I did find one site for used parts that has come in handy several times. Car-Part.com Give it a try and good luck with your project.
I hope this helps you out, if so let us know and don't forget to rate me.
Thanks!

the same thing happend to my 1996 jetta trek. when u put it in reverse to start off anywhere its perfectly fine. but when u put it into drive it stalls for a few seconds than jumps.
The transmission is going to go out on you anyday.
mine blew on me about a month when this started happening to me.
i was driving and the car just randomly went into neutral, tried all the gears and all i had was reverse.
BLOWN!

took it to 2 different places to get it fixed, 1st place asked $3500, 2nd place asked $2500.
too much money so we had a family friend put a rebuilt tranny in for $1600.