Hey I just bought a 1.8T fwd and the transmission is not at its best. Its an automatic of course, I have a clunk from N to D but only when I stop at N. So if I take it directly from P to D its normal. I have also noticed a minor clunk or slip going from 2 to 3rd gear only for the first 5 minutes of driving once it heats up its as smooth as the other gears.

It has 91k miles on it and the previous owner changed the fluid and filter on the transmission.

Heard it could be something for the transmission under the passenger seat/floor mats where it would get flooded with liquid from the AC.

Uhm can anybody tell me where the TCM is located so I can get the parts number off it? Could that cause the problems?

Also, The cars vibrates a lot when idling but they completely disappear when rev it past 1.000 revs.

The car is not throwing any codes as far as I know.

- Alex


Hey! I´m starting to think it has something to do with the 3rd gear. It also slips/knocks when slowing down going from 4th to 3rd gear.I also noticed that it hesitates a bit when shifting from 2-3rd it it take extra 4-500 revs or 2-3 seconds for it to shift.

I don´t think its the tranny range switch cause I have none of the other problems which come with it like reserve not working and indicator's flashing.

 

Hmh.. the tiptronic has stopped working but it still drives well in Drive.

anyone?

Sorry for the double post

 

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Sweet i´ll look into it.

 

I found this in an older post. Can anyone relate to this or even better give me a DIY/instructions on how to get to it.

"Hmmm. Is the check engine light coming on? Not real familiar with other year A4's but to share some experience...I have a '98 A4 1.8 with Auto. The transmission is electronically controlled by a computer located in the passenger floorboard. If you have ever gotten water in the car, it will flood this transmission controller. The banging into gear, non-gears and only getting 3rd gear while in DRIVE are all indicative of the transmission controller having problems and/or codes being set.


It may seem like a "transmission" problem but consider an electrical/computer related problem."

another

"I know that this may sound odd, but in todays world of electronic cars maybe not. I had the same problem about a year ago and after checking everything under the sun the dealer found that it was caused by the ignition switch. They replaced it and I haven't had a problem since (knock on wood)"

"Workshop reported that fault was due to a worn gasket in gearbox valve body(looked like a thin sheet of metalwith lots of holes in it). apparently this gasket acts like a strainer betweent he two parts and as some of the holes were worn, the flow of ATF was not as it used be causing jerky tranny shifts."

I guess I have alot to do next couple of days

 

Thanks! That was the problem with the Tiptronic. Lucky me the magnet somehow stuck to some metal and I could get it out I just glued it with some superglue and it works now. Still trying to get instructions on how to get to the transmission computer under the floormats.

 

So a bit more information, It does not clunk when shifting from N to D while moving only when stationary. The clunk from 2 to 3rd only happens two or three times then it disappears. ( I´m guess that it heats up enough for it become smooth?)

Could it be that filter and fluid change was not done right and there is not enough fluid in the transmission?

 

For the TCU, just pull up the passenger carpet. It's inside the black box under there. Open the box, disconnect the TCU, and pull it out.

 

So the TCU is under the carpet under the front passanger seat? I have rubber and normal floor mats after I pick them up do I need lift the carpet up without taking anything apart or loosening? The seats are heated up and there is a unit under the seat itself and some piping and wires go from the floor to the seat.