First gear difficult to engage when cold

[wellzieRS4]

Mine is spot on now, slides in smooth in any gear, it was the input shaft it needed greasing, it was sticking to the bearing. wot a difference sometimes i had to use a lot of force to select first gear now i can push it in with my finger

Isnt that a gearbox off job ? Did u have clutch work done at the same time?

Yeah my gearbox was taken off to check the clutch and was done then, turned out to be clutch pipe did have support bracket and compressed but they still checked the clutch and it was fine

[wolfgang]

Mine will be going in next month for a cold-start check and i'll have to leave it for a couple of days with the dealership.

[dominic1]

I had to leave it 11 mins once before I could get it into gear having left it outside in Switzerland for a week whilst snowboarding...

were you in champery ??

blue car

[pisquano]

bringing my Audi in this coming Saturday to finally fix the window regulator.

while I am at it, I was wondering if I should ask them to check my clutch as well but I'm afraid they'll charge me an arm and a leg? I keep having this "stiff 1st gear" that takes a while to disappear. not the end of the world though

also: not sure I have the latest software - worth upgrading it? (they should make it for free right?)

[Timster]

also: not sure I have the latest software - worth upgrading it? (they should make it for free right?)

They "should" update the firmware IF you mention the right symptoms.
ie. When starting from cold: Smokey exhaust, kangaroo jumpiness in low gears.
Expect the garage to require the car for anywhere between 15 mins and an hour or so, to do the update.
They actually download the data from a server abroad.... and garages don't tend to be great at computers
Good luck.
It made good improvements when I got ver 0090.

Ps. If you just say "you want the upgrade".... they may try to charge you.
Complain of the above symptoms first !

[PetrolDave]

It made good improvements when I got ver 0090.

+1

[eightfoot]

same as them two ^ ^ ^

[pisquano]

while I am at it, I was wondering if I should ask them to check my clutch as well but I'm afraid they'll charge me an arm and a leg? I keep having this "stiff 1st gear" that takes a while to disappear. not the end of the world though

actually my car doesn't really show any of those symptoms, so maybe the sw had been updated already (i know they had replaced the coils so they also did that?)

how about having the clutch checked for the stiffness? what would you do? I have to say it's something annoying but just for the first few minutes and then goes, but I am still wondering if it should be "tuned"....

if found defective or in need of repair I could have warrantydirect pay for it

[eightfoot]

while I am at it, I was wondering if I should ask them to check my clutch as well but I'm afraid they'll charge me an arm and a leg? I keep having this "stiff 1st gear" that takes a while to disappear. not the end of the world though

actually my car doesn't really show any of those symptoms, so maybe the sw had been updated already (i know they had replaced the coils so they also did that?)

how about having the clutch checked for the stiffness? what would you do? I have to say it's something annoying but just for the first few minutes and then goes, but I am still wondering if it should be "tuned"....

if found defective or in need of repair I could have warrantydirect pay for it

mine does this but after 5-10 gear changes in the morning its as slick as a slick thing can be and mine has 7000mls on the clock,can't imagine there is much wrong as the gearbox it quite agriculteral because of the work it has to do, TRY NOT TO LET IT BOTHER YOU AND JUST ENJOY THE CAR BECAUSE IF YOU HAD A BOX THAT WAS SUPER SLICK/LIGHT IT WOULD <beep> IT SELF SOON AS YOU LIGHT UP THE TYRES

[PetrolDave]

IF YOU HAD A BOX THAT WAS SUPER SLICK/LIGHT IT WOULD <beep> IT SELF SOON AS YOU LIGHT UP THE TYRES

I've been saying the same thing (in more "delicate" language) for years - the 'box has to have a high torque capacity which means it needs physically big gears.

Those big gears in cold gearbox oil (remember gearbox oil is rated something like 75W/90 so when cold it's more like treacle) WILL be stiff and difficult to engage.

Provided the gears are easy to engage when the gearbox oil is warm there isn't a problem with the linkage or the 'box.

[pisquano]

thanks Dave
I guess I was checking as there are a few members of the forum who say they have they linkage "tuned" and the problem disappeared

[lugars4]

Just had my clutch replaced under warranty, the fricition plate had broken up.

Now first gear is perfectly smooth, it was very notchy / stiff before. Assume the clutch was dragging and not dis-engaging properly.

It is also possible that the removal of the box meant the linkage got adjusted, but Audi adjusted it before when i complained about the stiff 1st and it made no difference, so i am sure it was a faulty clutch causing the stiff engagment.

[watts6087]

mine does that to, well u have made me abit better nw that yours does it, think its quite normal.

[RS4VR]

I seem to have a similar issue.. when the vehicle is cold, (i.e. running less than 5-10 minutes) it takes significantly more effort to go from 1st to 2nd or vice versa.

Also has a bad habit of almost popping out of gear when I go to change gears..

I've had the dealer look at it, they said it was normal.

I'm wondering if it needs a bit of adjustment...