Noise from changing gears

It may seem like a strange diagnosis, but, I suspect that the parking pawl — the ringed gear that engages engages when you put your car into Park and keeps it from rolling — may have slipped and engaged. It is very likely that the solenoid that engages the pawl misfired, probably due to an electrical fault, and engaged. That would account for the strange noise and the lack of movement since. If it were a gear then it is likely you would still be able to push your VW forward, though with a lot of help (you have a lot of transmission fluid and transaxle working against you). If it were the torque converter, again, you would be able to push your VW forward, again with lots of effort.

I wish it were as simple as just the fluid levels — your VW would either be in a limp-home mode or it would still roll, albeit with difficulty — or even a solenoid or valve body, but it is not. When the pawl engages and locks things up abruptly there’s sure to be damage to the output shaft, maybe the gears, like as not the clutches and bands and, even, the input shaft. It really tears up the tranny.

Your only choice here is a rebuilt transmission for about $3,400. You have to hope that there’s no damage to the half-shaft from the wheel. Please keep me in the loop on this.