GEAR BOX ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH

[skidrs4]

Having never driven a B8 before buying mine, I took a gamble based on it coming with 12 month's Audi warranty. I've had S3, S4's and B7 RS4 without any issues...
Seems it was a bit naïve as the gearbox is definitely playing silly b**gers, or is it my imagination...?
a] 1st to 2nd to 3rd feels like the car is being nudged along with each change.
b] reverse takes over a second to engage.
c] random downshifts when in sports mode.
d] sometimes you get an uneven power delivery through the transmission when accelerating e.g. joining motorway slip road.
It's booked in for an inspection @ Audi but I've got a feeling they will turn round and say "that's normal..."
Any good ideas?
Thanks.

[innercry666]

Contaminated clutches from Glycol in the oil would be my guess. Mine played up loads but was eventually sorted following a test for Glycol in the oil. Turns out the ATF radiator fails leaking coolant into the gearbox which then goes on to damage the clutch pack and probably the valve pack and electronics as well. Ask Audi to perform a glycol test straight away without even trying to do an adaptive drive on the gearbox as this will likely be a waste of time.

I had nearly a year of back and forth with the dealership until I informed them there was a TPI on this and that a glycol test was needed. They then replaced the clutch packs and ATF radiator, but in some instances there may be damage to the mechatronic unit that contains the valves and the electronics for controlling the shifts. In some instances folk have had new gearboxes.

Unfortunately it's a common problem with this gearbox that stretches back 10 years!

The car was transformed after the warranty work...

[chunky79]

Contaminated clutches from Glycol in the oil would be my guess. Mine played up loads but was eventually sorted following a test for Glycol in the oil. Turns out the ATF radiator fails leaking coolant into the gearbox which then goes on to damage the clutch pack and probably the valve pack and electronics as well. Ask Audi to perform a glycol test straight away without even trying to do an adaptive drive on the gearbox as this will likely be a waste of time.

I had nearly a year of back and forth with the dealership until I informed them there was a TPI on this and that a glycol test was needed. They then replaced the clutch packs and ATF radiator, but in some instances there may be damage to the mechatronic unit that contains the valves and the electronics for controlling the shifts. In some instances folk have had new gearboxes.

Unfortunately it's a common problem with this gearbox that stretches back 10 years!

The car was transformed after the warranty work...

So you were having to top the coolant up then? How did it take them a year to find the leak??

[skidrs4]

Thanks guys, that's very helpful. I'll give the audi techs the info you've provided
it's definitely the worst auto box I've had in it's current state...
Cheers.

[innercry666]

Contaminated clutches from Glycol in the oil would be my guess. Mine played up loads but was eventually sorted following a test for Glycol in the oil. Turns out the ATF radiator fails leaking coolant into the gearbox which then goes on to damage the clutch pack and probably the valve pack and electronics as well. Ask Audi to perform a glycol test straight away without even trying to do an adaptive drive on the gearbox as this will likely be a waste of time.

I had nearly a year of back and forth with the dealership until I informed them there was a TPI on this and that a glycol test was needed. They then replaced the clutch packs and ATF radiator, but in some instances there may be damage to the mechatronic unit that contains the valves and the electronics for controlling the shifts. In some instances folk have had new gearboxes.

Unfortunately it's a common problem with this gearbox that stretches back 10 years!

The car was transformed after the warranty work...

So you were having to top the coolant up then? How did it take them a year to find the leak??

The coolant will have leaked into the gearbox from the ATF radiator. The TPI states that you have to take a sample of gearbox oil and test for glycol. They do a little chemistry experiment whereby the oil goes purple if it's contaminated. The Mastertech stated it may take a while for the results to show, but with mine it was instant! The system is sealed so the leak isn't apparent on the outside of the car. I don't specifically know how the ATF radiator fails for the gearbox oil to become contaminated however it may well be a material failure internally. It was apparent in the way the car drove and how the gear box responded. It took a lot of digging on various forums to find out there was a TPI for the glycol test and from there it was a case of getting Audi to do the test.