Hey Guys,

2nd time audi owner, but its been a while, I picked up a '99 aeb quattro with tiptronic tranny in it. I spent the last couple of months doing work to the car, did the timing belt-waterpump, new cat/downpipe, fuel filter.. anyways.. I picked it up for a great price and it had some nice bells and whistle (eibach-bilstein suspension, LED tails and projector headlights (to name a few). I even got it into the body shop for a paint job. Car looks, feels, smells great, I even fixed the drivers side heated seat.

anyways, about a month I ago i decided to do the tranny flush and filter change, I pulled the pan, filter and let it drip for a few days. replaced the filter and pan, refilled with Amsoil synthetic ATF and sent it off to the body shop (they had it about a month). Now, I got the car back, was running fine for the first 200km's, get up for work one morning, and it was pissing rain. When I pulled out of the driveway, I could feel it kind of high revving, and the tranny went into limp mode, I turned off the car, re-started and drove it home. I did a Vag-COM scan and got this..

Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5
Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,17,25,35,45,55,56

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Address 01: Engine
Controller: 8D0 907 557 P
Component: 1.8L R4/5VT MOTR AT D04
Coding: 06251
Shop #: WSC 06335
2 Faults Found:
18010 - Power Supply Terminal 30: Voltage too Low
P1602 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
18032 - MIL Request Signal Active (Check TCM for errors too!)
P1624 - 35-00 - -
Readiness: 0000 0000

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Address 02: Auto Trans
Controller: 8D0 927 156 BN
Component: AG5 01V 1.8l5VT USA 8508
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 00000
2 Faults Found:
00652 - Gear Monitoring
27-10 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent
00526 - Brake Light Switch-F
27-00 - Implausible Signal

Did some searching on the forums, jacked up the car that night and added some more ATF (I probably added about another quart, but had the tranny temp hit 57°. I know thats too hot, but I waited a few hours and couldn't get it below 38°. Took the car out for a test drive, and all seemed well, next day I took it for a long drive, as soon as I got off the highway the car started to kind of chug in 1st gear, switched it over to TIP mode and all was well.

I have noticed this happening more, especially after the transmission really heats up. It seems to drive fine cold, but its when it heats up, I have to put it in tip mode. I want to check and add more tranny fluid. Until today, I was driving and the car just shuts down while i'm driving (this happened a couple of times today) did a scan tonight and heres what I got..

Address 02: Auto Trans
Controller: 8D0 927 156 BN
Component: AG5 01V 1.8l5VT USA 8508
Coding: 00000
Shop #: WSC 00000
1 Faults Found:
'
00526 - Brake Light Switch-F
27-00 - Implausible Signal

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Address 08: Auto HVAC
Controller: 8L0 820 043 D
Component: A4 KLIMAVOLLAUTOMAT_D75
Coding: 04140
Shop #: WSC 06335
1 Fault Found:
01206 - Signal for Duration of Ignition: OFF
27-10 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent

The 18032(MIL Request Signal Active (Check TCM for errors too!)) and the 00652 - Gear Monitoring didn't come back. It hasn't gone into limp mode since I added the quart of atf.

I also pulled the carpet up tonight and didn't see any water near the TCM. I am really enjoying the car and hoping it doesn't need a transmission..

I plan jacking up the car this weekend and topping up the atf the proper way (stopping at 38°)

Anyone know of any guru tranny specialists in the greater toronto area? I am very skeptical about taking it to just anybody, because I have a feeling its something electrical, but dont' really have the time to diagnose it properly, and before I go spending a ton of money, and still have the problem

 

replacing the oil in audi tranny's are a hit and miss this may sound stupid but your not supposed to change the oil in a audi tranny (lifetime oil) bad things like this will happen i dont have a answear why this happends but if you pull up some google searches you can see when others change there oil in there tranny the car goes to **** idk if its a quattro thing or the tranny doesnt like the oil you used but i have seen this happen before and i dont have the answear how to fix it good luck to you sir

 

I don't have a definite answer either, but are coming off my fair share of trans issues myself (mine was a 96). Car had bad trans when I bought it. Not a tiptronic.

Had trans taken apart by trusted local trans shop (me present). Looked like water/coolant from the trans cooler (running through the radiator) had ruined all friction plates (all mechanical parts good). The shop (with its good name on the line) would change all suspect parts (friction plates, valve body); cost for parts astronomical (i.e. >$1,500).

Sourced new used tranny (supposed to have CJP) and installed (had for whatever reason - prior change? - a DRN trans). Installed new radiator. Pulled in 1st and 2nd, totally slipping in higher. After 5 min, slipping totally in all. Tested various trans fluid levels. Couldn't figure it out (so slipping and pulling strong when cold, nothing when warm. No slipping in 1st/2nd when cold, but totally slipping in higher gears?). Suspected internal fluid pump (hence the temperature dependency).

Returned tranny and picked up another used CJP. Installed. Gear indicator not working, and 'multi position switch' or so error code. Went back to previous tranny and stole the selector switch.

Working fine now.

Conclusions:
- there is little or no DIY knowledge for auto trans out there.
- troubleshooting trans issues to narrow down what is wrong is difficult or costly. Complete rebuild often the solution
- I would recommend to take the trans out (DIY; painful, but shop charges a ton) and take to a good trans shop. They take trans apart (mine charged $80 to be applied towards repair if done). If they find problem and can fix it for $800 or less )(on a budget; up to $1200 if invested in car), I would go for it.
- Otherwise: look for used trans from reputable source (if you are on a budget); I paid $750 for a 80k trans.
- If heavily invested in car, get rebuilt tranny.

Codes: I found that I have to keep my foot on the brake when running VAGcom scan to avoid the error:
00526 - Brake Light Switch-F
27-00 - Implausible Signal

Codes:
00652 - Gear Monitoring
27-10 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent

When my 'multi position sensor' (on the side of the tranny where the shifter cable connects) was bad, VAGcom still showed gears and car was shifting and driving. I suspect it has only secondary function (gear display in dash, locking out P and R etc.)

Since the error shows 'intermittent', take a look at the 2 round connectors (bottom of engine, towards the front, on driver side). One of mine was pretty 'mangled'. The larger one comes from the trans valve body and has all vital signals, the smaller comes from the above mentioned 'multi position sensor'.

Note: above refers to NON TIPTRONIC trannies (CJP, DRN, etc.)

 

wow sounds like you have gone through audi hell with the auto tranny's the best think to do is a manual swap =]

 

Good stuff, thanks for the tips, I have the day off work tommorow, so i'm going to jack it up and check those connectors, top off the tranny for good and cross my fingers. I am hopeful its my fluid level because all is good until the car warms up after highway driving, I also got a bearing somewhere along the serpentine belt gone too, I bought the car for $700 and have so far put about $1800 more into it. The car is immaculate (in and out) so I still don't feel so bad (yet)..

thanks a ton,
Tony

 

Just a quick update, looks like my problems may be solved (for now). I pulled the car into the garge in the morning (cold) and did the tranny fill from cold, let it syphon in until it hit about 35°, at the point it was pissing out, so I sealed it up, and went for a couple of long drives and no probs! I also pulled out that plug at the front of the transmission and found water inside, i first sprayed some WD-40 and let it soak in to disperse any humidity, blew it out with compressed air and jammed a whole bunch of die-electric grease inside and closed it up..

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I may have solved my tranny woes. (for now)..

Good luck to anyone in the future.. Strange thing is that I used about 7 litres of ATF in total..

 

Its not so much that the fluid is "lifetime" (which is relative really). Its that when you drain the fluid anything that might be gunked up in there still keeping things together are actually being drained out causing more problems. In my case it was clutch packs so changeing the oil to non gunked up stuff caused more issues. If that doesnt clear up your issues and you want to keep the car you can always swap for a 5 speed.

 

The reasoning behind potentially making things worse by changing trans fluid:
During the life of the clutchpacks in the trans, 'friction' material is worn off the clutch discs and is now part of the trans fluid. "Flushing" those 'good' particles out with new fluid by leave the clutches with less 'friction' material, and could slip.

Note: there is no technical way to get all fluid out of a trans (excepting removal and taking apart). The amount of fluid 'changed' when dropping pan (and change filter at that time) is around 3-4 quarts (ball park). Another way to get fluid out: disconnect hose running to the radiator/cooler. Run engine (will pump out a lot more fluid that dropping pan).

Shops who flush actually use about 2x the trans capacity (by pushing old fluid out and replacing it with new fluid (similar to brake flush), and just the 'material' cost for the fluid is quite high.

My trusted trans shop checks (color, smell) the fluid. If satisfied, they will NOT change your fluid. At the most, drop and clean pan, change filter (only 1/4 or so of you fluid is replaced). Problem with the Audi 'lifetime' fluid, its not so easy to inspect the fluid (as a trans virgin, stupid me took the plug out without the engine running; duh).

No trans problems, good fluid: don't touch.
No trans problems yet, but fluid is burnt: drop pan, change filter, replace 4 or so quarts of fluid (total I think is 11 or 12 quarts for the A4 B4 trans).
Trans problems: low fluid level and tons of other reasons (plugged filter, bad pump, bad valve body, etc.)

But if the trans fluid looks and smells burnt, you won't have a choice and are better off to get as much new fluid in as possible.

IMO "gunk" does not make a trans run (and the removal of it not make it NOT run. The trans consists of mechanical gears, friction plates, torque converter (a hydrodynamic device), valve body. Dirt or gunk can only do harm. Slipping clutches a sign of worn discs (or loss of 'friction material', see above).

Regarding trans filling. I found it best to take the 'as cold as possible' engine, start, quickly remove fill plug and fill in as much ATF as possible (until it start leaking out), put plug back in. If concerned with overfilling: Start engine, hook up VAGcom. When temp reaches 25 deg C, get under the car, take fill plug out and let extra fluid train out for a few seconds, put plug back in. You check VAGcom temp again (should still be under 40 deg C).


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I used gunk as a laymans term as most won't know what you're talking about. You are correct on the friction material. Good luck OP keep us updated.

 

Took it out again today, did about 100k's.. and still no problems . Even took it out 'quattroing' in the snow tonight..

the reason i changed the fluid is because when i bought it, it was really clunking into reverse and has 278,000 km's without a trans flush. I figured it couldn't hurt, and now. honestly it feels so much better.. I got a feeling it was the water getting into the tranny plug that was causing most of the heartache. I am hoping the die-electric grease I used inside the connector is holding off the water for now, once I get it up on a hoist to change the diff fluids I will see if I can somehow fix the water leaking into the plug issue.

I still think that you have to top up the transmission atleast 2-3X after the initial drain/fill, and starting from cold is probably best. I don't want to jinx it, but I honestly had a really good feeling yesterday after that fluid started rushing out of the fill hole at 35° and cleaning out that water..

i will keep updated.. and on to my next project I absolutely love the way the car handles and how much fun it is to drive..

tony