Car hesitates in 1st and 2nd, input appreciated !

[HeavyTraffic]

The car is used daily and has been running well. Took it out on Sun and no problems getting to my destination. On the return journey the car was hesitating changing from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd, after getting through the gears it sat happily at 70. Part of the road has average speed cameras where I often use the cruise control but on this occasion it would not engage. I tried it another couple of times afterwards with no joy. On start up the DIS states OK but the start button now requires to be held down until engine fires where as before a light press would have the engine turn over until it started. All this in one afternoon ! Thanks in advance for your input. I"m not a frequent poster but always reading and learning.

[PetrolDave]

Faulty clutch switch - the start button requiring to be held down is the convincer.

[HeavyTraffic]

Thanks Dave, is the clutch switch responsible for all the symptoms listed ?

[adsgreen]

Yup.
However weirdly the cruise control and the starter button IIRC utilise two different switches. Very easy to replace and cheap

[HeavyTraffic]

Cheers Ads, will get it booked in and sorted..

[adsgreen]

It's a dead easy job to do - hardest part is arranging yourself to get behind the pedal box
just quarter turn old sensor, unplug, plug in now one and quarter turn back in place.

[BruceBanner]

@Heavytraffic - I think I am having a similar problem. Does it feel really notchy going into 1 st and 2 ? Almost like the clutch is on its way out?!

[scaghead]

HEAVY TRAFFIC...defo clutch pedal switch mine had same issues last year....bruce banner the thing i noticed when my clutch pedal switch went, was as you changed gear the revs held slightly before dropping ..if your cruise control does not work and your having to hold down the start button for car to start then clutch pedal switch..

[HeavyTraffic]

Bruce, when accelerating to change up the power feels like it drops off when i release the clutch before it picks up and goes. Repeats process from 2nd to 3rd. Could be interpreted as slipping i suppose.
Cheers scaghead and all posters, now confident its not a big job.

[spikeyboy101]

It could be the torque limiter in gears 1 - 3.

If your doing it under hard accelleration and changing quickly at high rpm it feels like the power is being pulled back.

Answer is to tame the change up in these gears

[adsgreen]

Not sure about the torque limiter as thats only below 5k rpm ish - a full throttle / big power change it should keep above that.

However if you've got the ESP / Traction control on and are a little brutal with the clutch and throttle its very easy (esp this time of year being cold and damp) to trip the traction control into cutting back power. It's a very odd feeling and I would agree that clutch slip is quite a similar sensation.
In higher gears the gearing means the chance of tripping the tc is much lower so isn't noticable. Try it with ESP off (or even part off) and see what happens.

[BruceBanner]

Mine has got worse today. Booked in for a road test with a technician at Halesowen Audi on Friday. If it is diagnosed as the clutch failing will they sort it out FOC as the parts are under the 1 year standard warranty? Had it fitted last July by an independent, but all parts were OEM from TPS.

[HeavyTraffic]

New clutch switch fitted this morning. All symptoms gone and back to her old self. Thanks again for all input. HT

[rs4blacked]

If it is diagnosed as the clutch failing will they sort it out FOC as the parts are under the 1 year standard warranty? Had it fitted last July by an independent, but all parts were OEM from TPS.

Am surprised at that as the part is NOT OEM as not supplied by Audi.

When I worked in the motor trade Car Dealers and manufacturers only covered the cost if the car was supplied by them and not from places like TPS or ECP as they are NOT OEM.

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The switch might have been bought from Audi dealer parts dept so should have a form of warranty.