The time has come for me to part ways with my beloved B5. I very much suspect the torque converter is gradually going out, and the cost of replacing it is astronomical. I can't find the part anywhere online other than ECS Tuning, and even they are over $900. Add to that 12 hours of labor and it's up to 50% of the car's value.

I believe I'm leaving the Audi community, mostly due to budget. I found a sweet Mercedes Benz that is within my price range....unfortunately, there are no Audis around town that I like well enough to buy.

Thanks for everyone's help with the idiosyncrasies that are typical with B5s. Maybe I'll join the ranks again at some point.

But hey...if anyone knows where I can get a decently priced torque converter, PLEASE let me know...I'd love to fix my B5 and give it to my wife.

 

Dude that torque convertor can be rebuilt don't give up hope just yet

 

I'll look into rebuilding it before I sell the car...but I still don't know if I want to put $1K+ into a car that's only worth $4K.

 

1000 ? For what a rebuild is around 250

 

You raise a valid point. I didn't know a rebuild is $250-ish. But the book still calls for 12 hours labor. I'll do some more looking around. Like I said, I'd love to keep the car and let my wife drive it. Outside of the behavior it's giving, which makes me believe it's the torque converter going out, it is perfectly sound. The engine runs great.

 

dont know if this company could assist you

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Audi-...Q5fAccessories

 

Thanks. I searched ebay for rebuilt torque converters and came up with one. It's $435 after shipping, but I still have to get someone to install it. I have a tech who works on stuff that I don't have time or tools for, so I'll see how much his labor would cost me.

If I can do the whole thing for less than $1K, I'd probably do it.

Otherwise, it's gonna be sold.

Thanks for the help.

 

Here's a quick vid I did on the way home from work today.

While maintaining speed up a long hill on the interstate, you'll see as I slowly press the accelerator, the RPMs increase about 400-500 revolutions. Yet, when I shift to Tip, you'll notice that the tranny is still in 5th gear.

I pull it down to 4th, then shift back to 5th...then back to full automatic.

I repeat the process again, this time only shifting between full auto and Tip. Notice all the RPM fluctuations. I didn't move the accelerator at all.

Disregard the last second of the vid...that was me slowing down a bit after cresting the hill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ_PZyMMuhU

 

It is suppose tu have those fluctuation on my former audi with tiptronic u noticed the same thing but that its normal u should do first a full fluid change ,yeah that mean the torque convertor must be empty , when torque convertors are about to failure u will notice a very bad slipping while the car is in motion u should check allso the neutral safety switch .