Gearbox Reliability

4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 450 bhp
4.2 V8 40v biturbo - 480 bhp (plus)
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SteveCuz
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Post by SteveCuz » Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:52 am

Might just need a gearbox service. Find out if one has been done.

Steve
2011 Audi RS3 Daytona Grey | 2003 Audi RS6 Avant Ebony Black

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Shoppinit
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Post by Shoppinit » Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:31 am

Or it might just have had one. I just remember that when I had mine serviced, it clunked going from 5th to 4th once. I think it was because maybe the ATF hadn't been circulated in the valve body yet. Hasn't done it since.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

batty
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Post by batty » Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:29 am

my car had a gearbox service with the previous owner, and it failed completely shortly afterwards. the old auto trans fluid was full of particles and somehow kept the transmission functioning. when the 'box saw some nice new fluid, it packed up completey....
full replacement required...thanks to the audi warranty.
c5 RS6 plus in silver

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Shoppinit
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Post by Shoppinit » Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:47 am

I heard, and this could be completely just rumour, that there was a manufacturing problem with the original TC which would cause it to fail and send shrapnel into the box which would then kill that. There were many cases of the TC being changed only to have to replace the box shortly afterwards.

Batty, I have heard of your story from a gearbox specialist. Basically, the contamination by the particles of burnt / worn stuff in the ATF acts like a friction agent, keeping the clutch packs on the gearbox functioning. As soon as you replace the fluid, this artificially increased friction disappears and the clutchs start slipping. Your box would have died anyway. Changing the ATF just speeded up the process. For better or for worse!

My gearbox is certainly going strong at 75k miles (touch wood). I think there were plenty of good ones made.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."

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SteveCuz
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Post by SteveCuz » Sun Jan 24, 2010 6:59 pm

Mine clunked a few times. From reading the forum I was convinced the gearbox was away.

Got a gearbox service over a year ago (and one more since) and they found no schrapnel.

The box has run like a dream since.

I know everyones story is different but a slip doesn't mean shagged.

If you see swarf etc in the oil then it is fair to say the issue is more serious.

Steve
2011 Audi RS3 Daytona Grey | 2003 Audi RS6 Avant Ebony Black

AudiPartner
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Post by AudiPartner » Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:07 pm

The car is at a dealer. Should I ask him to take to Audi for a healthcheck?

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iaingbrown
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Post by iaingbrown » Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:48 am

Just had warranty service on gearbox in Glasgow(Mackies Engineering) and they remembered the car vividly from when gearbox replaced last August. Said mechanics started putting in for holidays and going off sick....Took 30-40 hours labour to fit new box.
He said they also get plenty S line Audis as well so it doesn't seem to be just the RS6. He also recommends annual service of box. Took a couple of hours and £168 including VAT. Neighbouring greasy spoon serve a mean tuna melt panini while you wait.

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