I have a '93 100S that is making a humming/whining noise, which increases in frequency and volume as the revs go up. I'm thinking transmission fluid, but can't find a way to check the level.All I can find is a tube with a little red top on it, but no stick and no obvious opening to add new fluid if necessary.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Jim

 

Not sure what the whining noise could be. I'd describe low power steering fluid as whining. I'd check the level on all the fluids just to be sure.

Also, I have a '92 100 S. I think yours has a slightly different tranny in it than mine, and so something may have changed, but I have a tranny dipstick on the driver side, towards the rear of the engine. It sounds like yours is capped off, so possibly it doesn't have a stick, or perhaps it was capped off and the stick is missing. Perhaps someone who has experience with your model year 93/94 100 S can chime in.

 

Also, I'm guessing you have an auto tranny and not a manual (not sure if the 100 S came in both I know the Quattro did).

Usually to add tranny fluid you have to do it from a fill hole under the car on the transmission pan.

 

Thanks Kraysaw -

I have an automatic, and I was also wondering about power steering fluid, but that's within the range. The cap on my transmission "tube" has the cap but no indication that there was ever a stick (I've heard this from others also, and apparently some came without any way to measure). I wonder if I can dribble a quart of transmission fluid in there to avoid having to jack things up. Can I do any serious damage by adding a quart at a time to see if the noise stops?

Jim

 

I'd be careful doing that, only because you have no way to know if, or how low it is and I'd worry about overfilling the tranny.

Also, if you were going to try that I'd start with a very small amount. A quart sounds like a lot. I believe the 90's era 100 S tranny capacity is only about 3.5 quarts with a full drain, filter replacement and refill.

Perhaps you could see if you can get a tranny dipstick. You can probably find one used. You might check with www.shokan.com. They're pretty helpful over the phone and can probably tell you if you can stick one down the hole. That way you'll be able to keep an eye on the level going forward as well.

I'm guessing it doesn't have a dipstick because Audi claims that the fluid is a "lifetime" fluid and never needs to be changed (what a crock). I'd still think you'd want to check it though in case of a leak.