Hey guys, I am new here and am having a problem with my Audi. As mentioned I have an '01 Audi A6 2.8L Quattro with over 100k miles on it. I bought the car about a month ago for my step mother but she decided to go towards the SUV route. Nonetheless I'm trying to re-sell the car to atleast get my money back.

I drive the car every now and then just so it wont sit around for too long in my drive way. When I do drive it on the highway everything seems to be fine. Once I hit the local traffic, it's fine for about 5-10 minutes then all of a sudden the car goes into limp mode. It will not go past 2nd gear and at times it wont even go past 1st gear I think. When the car isn't in limp mode it shifts extremely smooth, drives with no problem. FYI the tranny from what I know was replaced about 3 months ago, replaced tranny itself has less than 80k on it. There is a check engine light and the code is P0441 which has something to do with the Fuel purge valve or something of that sort. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I'm obviously going to have a problem re-selling this car knowing it may go into limp mode at any moment.

Another FYI, whenever it does goes into limp mode, I shift the car into the manual part (Tiptronic I guess?) and I can shift into 3rd, 4th, 5th gear with no problem. So when the car DOES go into limp mode, that is what I do to get around it. I've put less than 300 miles on the car since I bought it, I drive something else. Car has other issues but I doubt those have anything to do with the car going into limp mode (Slight oil leak, needs new ball joints etc, maintenance more than anything).

I know it's a stupid question because it can be anything that is causing it, but maybe with the symptoms I've mentioned someone may be familiar on what is exactly causing the vehicle to go into limp mode. I'm hoping to god it's not a bad tranny, but to be honest I doubt it because when it's not in limp mode it drives perfectly fine. Any help would be appreciated!!!

I'm located in Long Island, NY if that's relevant in anyway. Who knows, maybe one of you guys know a specialist.

 

If i remember correctly i don't think the tiptronic works when the tranny is in limp. When you look at your info screen are the PRND432 all lite up? If not then your car is not in limp. Try and disconnect the battery over night. Or scan the tranny for codes.

 

My car is an automatic, but you can also use it as manual, that is the part I am calling tiptronic, if it's called something else I'm sorry. I hate to be talking like this I know I sound like a total noob, I'm generally a lexus guy and don't know much about German cars. But for what it's worth when the car does in fact go into limp mode, I put it into manual mode and I shift into higher gears manually instead of automatically. I also noticed an oil leak so the engine sometimes is low on oil, I'd say about a quart or so (From what I know when dip stick shows no oil, it's ATLEAST 1 quart short on oil). Does that have anything to do with it? My question is, why is tranny going into limp but not the motor, or does that even make sense? I don't know. By PRND432 do you mean the speedometer screen? The only thing that lights up is the check engine light (P0441) and the windshield fluid light. I drove the car today and almost my entire day it did not go into limp mode (Drove about 55 miles) towards the end of my trip, I'd say around mile 52 it went into limp mode.

I saw this trick on another thread, I turned the key all the way, but right before turning the car on, pressed the gas pedal all the way down, turned the key back to the off position while holding the gas pedal down, and then let go of the pedal, then start the car, It said it should reset the transmission. Today I tried it for the first time in the morning and car was fine all the way up until mile 52 or so. At a red light I did it again, and the car was fine up until I got home. Sorry for the book of a response, but trying to solve this issue, thank you guys for any help! How do I scan the tranny codes?

 

the tiptronic is the Manual function. I was saying if your car was in LIMP mode the tiptronic would not work. by the PRND432 lite up i mean like this:
2004 Audi A4 (B6) 1.8T multitronic Problem - YouTube

If it is not lite up like this your car is not in limp. and i believe if a tranny gets into limp it does not go past 3rd or 4th gear and the tiptonic will not work.
the engine oil leak is from your valve covers and cam adjuster seals and that is not the cause of your tranny problem.

take it to a shop or audi have a full diagnostic done. tell them to scan the transmission for codes. simple code readers like autozone's dont pick up transmission codes.

the p0441 is a fault with your purge valve. dont think they are related.

some basic things people do if they encounter problems with the transmission is they check the fluid, (has to be professionally checked since there is no dipstick) underneath your passenger side carpet lies your cars transmission control module. if it is wet it can make your car act weird. and last scan for codes. without codes its impossible to find out what is the issue. its basically trial and error.

if you go to audi they will check your transmission fluid and scan codes for 100 and even top off your tranny if needed. also if you dont know when the fluid has been changed get it done while your there.

 

Hey, thanks for the response. Sorry for my noobness haha, but no the PDRN432 is not all lit up. I assume since the car doesn't go past 20mph and 1st gear that it is in limp mode. Is there a way I can scan the tranny codes myself? Or have someone to do it? I'm trying to avoid going to Audi and pay an arm/leg just for diagnostics. But if I have no choice then I have no choice. Also I'm assuming when the tranny was swapped out (3-4 months ago) the tranny fluid was flushed or is atleast relatively new. I know it's not safe to assume, but just saying.

 

You could can the tranny by yourself if u have a vagcom. Or Find someone close to you who has a vagcom and have them scan for codes.

I would start with dissconnecting the battery. Sometime the tcm goes crazy and needs to be reset. If you do this make sure u leave the to idle for 5 min for it to relearn it's idle.

If this doesn't work it has to be taken in for service.

 

I'll unhook the battery and see how that goes for me. Also do the idle, have you heard about the technique I explained? Turn the key 2/3, push the pedal all the way down, then turn the car off, then let it go. Then turn the car on, someone somewhere in these forums said that resets the tranny... Anyway, will keep you posted...

 

I was having all the same issues with my 07 A6 3.2l as mentioned above. ESP fault and limp mode (flashing PRNDS)... had dealership look at it and they replaced O2 sensor and a few other things like wires. Fixed it for a a while but always came back so I fired my dealership.

With 94k miles on it now I know it is time to start replacing and cleaning. Put new plugs and viola... PURRS like a kitten. Dealership cost over $3k wasted for the most part because I was always dropping the car off in an emergency. My cost less than $200 total for plugs and coils.

 

I did have a similar problem with my A6 Quattro, scan for codes, find out the MAF sensor bad and low signal from TCM. Bought used MAF sensor and TCM from E-bay, replaced MAF sensor ONLY, and all works fine now. I didn't even replace TCM and didn't restart TCM. Unbelievable, the MAF sensor can cause transmission go to limp mode and stuck in 3th gear. Now I have a extra used TCM, I bought for $100. Good luck! I thought this info can help someone here...

 

I'm having the same problems an I just literally followed all ur steps an still nothing I know we're the tcm is I did but I think I need a tm change also is ur tcm code 4BO927156BS IF SO WILL U SELL IT
Also I've tried driving around 40-55mph cutting the car off then back on while in neutral an all gears work but only for so long the the tranny hits an shift into 4th gear then all other gear are useless