Sorry for the long post, I'm just a bit stressed about this.

My 2004 A4 CVT just started acting up yesterday (50,700miles on it) so I ran some searches... Not looking good. On my way home last night, my dash guages started acting weird where the temp needle wouldn't work, then it would shoot up to 1/2, then drop back off, come up a 1/4 then just not work. I looked back down shortly later and it was fine.

The row of transmission gears disappeared for a couple stop lights, then came back on flashing. About 5min later they stopped flashing. Everything felt fine while driving. Then when I stopped at another light and started to go, the car shuddered. I looked at the gauges and the temp was wavering up and down. As I near my house, my check engine light popped on. Then the auto-up/down for the windows wouldn't work. Ugh.

Took the car today to get the code read at AutoZone (auto up/down still not working on windows) and it popped the P0102 MAF error. As I left, the car wouldn't go in reverse. I had to take put it in neutral a couple times before R fully engaged. On my way back home, as I came to a stop, the car stalled out. When I restarted, the RPMs would go up to about 1300 then down to 100 trying to stall again and the traction control light popped on and is staying on (also, the upper-left part on the center info area where the RDS displays stopped working.) Got home, parked it and the windows worked normal again.

All of this in the course of about 30 miles. Sounds like an expensive trip (tow) to DFW Audi (closest dealer that I've read good things about here and elsewhere) is in my future. Until then, it stays parked.

I can't believe so many of these transmissions are dying right around 50k...how shitty is that. It'd be ideal if they could work it into warranty even though I'm 4 months over, but I don't have my hopes up from what I've read. When my catalytic converter needed replaced two years ago, they were fantastic, even giving me a free rental though I didn't buy my car from them, but again it was under warranty at the time.

 

Well i don't mean to knit pic, but you realize you don't have a transmission temperature gauge right? I don't know what gauge you're looking at. The CVT's are required to have the fluid changed every 40k. Have you done that yet? Do you own a VAG COM to check the fault codes? Auto zone scanners can't scan the trans. It sounds like your TCM inside the trans is toast.
There are tons of TSB's at the dealer about these issues.
You're cat converters are acutally covered under federal law to the 80k mark, and they put tremendous stress on the dealers to get it done. Thats why you were getting the "good treatment" from the dealer.

 

Actually, you'll always get good service from dfw audi. That's where I bought my car and had it serviced for a couple of years before I followed my service guy to boardwalk.

Where are you located?

 

I was referring to the temp gauge for my coolant acting like that. I wasn't aware the CVT fluid needed changing every 40k, ****. Hopefully it's just the TCM. Car going in tomorrow.

 

I'm in Grapevine.

 

Well if you have an 04 then you already have the updated 7 plate clutch pack, so i doubt there will be anything major with the trans. They will see metal flakes in the fluid when they drain it if something has started to wear.

 

I'm assuming the 7 plate clutch pack makes the CVT transmission more reliable/stronger from your statement?

My car is a 2004 model but I bought it in november 03, do you think I have the 7 plate? Also I had the TCM replaced at 96k miles two weeks ago and they changed the fluid, the dealer didn't alert me to any abnormal wear (metal flakes).

 

The extra plates reduces internal temperature so the fluid doesn't burn up as fast. You probably have a 7 plate clutch pack. If you need confirmation you have to look for a green tag riveted to the bottom of the trans which has the transmission code, then you would either call the dealer parts department or AOA to see. If you're not having any problems then i would assume you have the 7 plate pack.