Add me to the failed torque converter list

[JCviggen]

P0741 is coming back very soon after resetting now, and when logging it slips at even half throttle. Wish I had bought a vacgom before buying the car rather than assume the big audi dealer would find any faults



I also noticed that in tip mode 3rd gear 3500 rpm if I floor it without hitting the kickdown switch the box goes out of lock-up (well the TCU decides that) I thought it would want to keep it locked up at that kind of rpm but apparently not. Perhaps because it detects the slip?




I want to go for an upgraded one (no warranty possible so I want it to last) just having trouble finding a core

While at it I will have both EGTs replaced since bank1 keeps giving intermittent faults. Will also do lambdas, alternator, thermostat and timing belt with accessories. Already have a new 110 Ah Varta battery in.

Looking at the values I am leaning towards keeping the MAFs, if there's nothing wrong with what they are telling the ECU I dont want to spend more money than necessary.

[Shoppinit]

THe g/s values don't look too bad. Possibly a little low.

I'd expect the TC to open when you floor it with the standard TCU. They made it react much more like an auto than a manual. With my MTM TCU it behaves much more like a manual and doesn't do this.

[JCviggen]

THe g/s values don't look too bad. Possibly a little low.

Car boosts 0.6 bar which I believe should be .1 or so more. Still 360 g/s is around 450hp. But I assume at least some of it is escaping from the ICs. Am going to replace the N75 and pretty much all relevant sensors first, will see what it does then.
Performance tends to vary slightly. Every so often there seems to be 50hp extra which is gone again the next time. But the MAF values are consistent all the time so I'm guessing its the EGT or lambdas, possibly N75 has a part too.

May have to get the TCU modded then, still think i'll keep the rest stock.

Its going to be a few grand already fixing the mess so ICs and suspension will have to wait.

[GarethRS]

Are you just going to get the TC done and not a whole box exchange? If so, where are you looking to get this done? I get an occasional 17125 error and i'm making plans what to do in the future.

Thanks

[JCviggen]

Yes, plan A is order an upgrade from the US for the TC and hope the box itself is still in good nick. Only trouble is finding a core, or a company that does not require one in advance.

Plan B is getting a new OEM converter. Waiting to find out the price of that part still..

In the meantime I am toying with the idea of dropping the ATF and putting in fresh just to see if it does anything. My mechanic needs at least a month before he can start on my car anyway.

[Shoppinit]

In the meantime I am toying with the idea of dropping the ATF and putting in fresh just to see if it does anything.

Worth a try, and could expose any problems the box has. And it needs to be done at some point.

[paulcrake]

If the box is on its last legs then changing ATF fluid isn't necessarily a good idea. I had the oil changed and the box went pop. Speak to someone like Grizz before spending the money on the oil change

[JCviggen]

I know, but when changing the TC it will get new ATF anyway. I'd rather change it now and if the rest of the box goes tits up that saves me from tearing it down twice.
Will do the ATF flush myself with a buddy so the cost is limited to the oil itself. A small price to pay for the information.

I'd love to have some of the specialists in the UK work on it but sadly thats not an option.

[paulcrake]

I guess you haven't got much to lose and if you can do it yourself then it saves some money. Just note the temperatures for changing and make sure it is audi oil.
I did an oil change the first time and it changed nothing, but that was dropping what was in the pan. The box still had a problem of slipping in 2nd gear with WOT. 2nd time around had a full flush using the new equipment where they can pump it all out and then it went belly up.
Good luck

[Shoppinit]

A lot of the cost of changing the gearbox is labour to get it out. IMO it would be a good idea to buy an exchange box from ZF with TC and do the whole lot at once. It is extremely frequent that the TC is changed then a month or so later the box goes. Messing around changing just the TC is a good option if you're not paying for the work (warranty / DIY).

[JCviggen]

Mine doesnt really slip, full throttle from a stop 1-2-3rd gear it seems OK. No slipping of the box itself just the unlocked TC. At this point the problem is confined to the TC's lock-up clutch not holding more than 1/3rd of the car's max torque...so I am still hoping it would be fine after receiving a new TC.

After the g/f's new year shopping spree I dont think a whole box is in the budget

[Shoppinit]

Why don't you wait to see what colour the ATF is. If the ATF is black though, then you can be sure that your box is on its last legs.

If it's clear then you could have a weak solonoid or something. Or a partially blocked artery in the valve body.

What version of VCDS are you using? I'm wondering why the TC goes from open to closed with no transition phase. I get a "Torq.Conv.Reg" phase when my TC is working.

[JCviggen]

I am running VCDS lite, since that was the only one I could have with little leadtime. I have plenty of TC reg going on usually here is the entire log http://www.greenringer.net/various/translog.csv

What if the oil is dark brown rather than black? lol I dont expect it to be clear after 65k miles and 6 years.

In the meantime I am going to see if there are any auto trans rebuild companies in a 100 mile radius that have a very good reputation. There's a few companies in the US offering complete rebuild or rebuild w/upgrade kits for these units.

Also emailing ZF in the Netherlands who seem to have a workshop.

[bilko1]

PM. Tozom8 on rs6.com there's nothing he doesn't know about the rs6 gearbox.

[JCviggen]

Already did that last week, he didnt't give much info but he's too far away to send anything heavy to anyway