i'm looking to purchase my first audi and went to look at one with 111,000 miles with 4 speed auto trans was rebuilt at 75,000. problem with the car owner says trans has a leak . it leaks on right side cat from what i can see . owner adds a pint every 5 to 6 months. smokes a little on long drives. owner also says he had a guy steam clean the trans and said leak was coming from top of trans. the price was good for the car but if it is going to be too much to fix i will change my mind . i do a lot of my own work so labor isn't a big deal but if i'm going to have to drop the trans i might look someplace else.

 

Just checking the oil in a 96 A6 trans is not easy.

The vehicle has to be level and with the engine running you remove a plug on the side of the trans. When it gets to a certain temp that you measure with a VagCom the fliud should just begin to drip from the hole. If it doesn't drip you don't have enough and if it runs out you have too much.

I would ask the guy how he checks the oil to see if he gives a believable answer.

As for fixing the leak -- Ibelieve you will have to remove the trans -- but someone else can probably give you a better answer on that.

PS FYI If the 96 Audi is Quattro and it didn't have the trans leak I'd think it was worth about $3000 to $3500.

 

thanks for the reply, yes he was asking 3500 with 2 sets of rims and tires

 

The price is a bit high -- but the guy seems to be honest about the trans leak.

I would find out when the timing belt was last done - normally at around 80K - because it is something that needs to be done before it breaks. Cost to do it runs between $400 if you do it yourself with parts and tool rental from Blauparts and $2000 if a dealer does it. Many of us find an indy shop that will allow you to supply the parts that will do the job for around $3-400.