I'm back in the market for an S4 after settling with the insurance company. I found one I like wth a nice color combo and feature set, trouble is the car won't go into 1st or 2nd gear. This sounds like the classic 1st and 2nd gear bad synchros that the 6 speeds are notorious for. I can't think of anything else that could be causing this with the exception of a bad motor mount, but it sounds more like the synchros since the tranny won't shift into 1st or 2nd. Your thoughts?

I was thinking of removing the tranny myself and having a transmission shop install the rebuild kit, has anyone had this done / know how much it costs?

The S4 I'm looking at only has 40k miles on it, but the guy wants $16.5k for it, we'll have to negotiate on that...just seems like too much money for a car with some fairly signifigant transmission problems.

Thanks in advance

 

Yes it probably is like 97% likely that its the syncros. Even though that is wrong will the car, that price is still pretty good, it only has 40K!! I cannot search on AF's search thing for crap, there was a video under a thread that contained a video of either vast or the 11secs4 guy talking all about the tranny and showing the syncros in great detail and how there are better ones that you can buy should that be your problem. Sorry I can't find that or remember it for sure, maybe trusty hp addict can.

 

that video is at http://www.jhmotorsports.com/videos/

JHM and VAST work together alot from what i understand. I have a JHM shifter and its ****, i hear the software is top notch, and lately they have been pimping full on RS6 turbos to bolt onto the s4, with k04 hardware. 99% positive im gonna choose a fat set of these instead of k04's http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187225

Anyway. Yeah sounds like synchros, if for no other reason, i would buy it because of the low miles.

 

I watched that video a while back, I might have to get in touch with JH for a rebuild kit. I did a clutch in my last car and of course, getting the tranny out was a *****, but I didn't ever do it in my S4. How much of a bitch is it to get out? Also, I was planning on taking the tranny out myself and sending the tranny + rebuild kit to a tranny specialist for the rebuild. But I was thinking of maybe doing it myself, has anyone done a rebuild on the B5 6spd?

Also, for those that have removed a B5 tranny, how much ground clearance can you get by with? Would just using some normal sized jackstands (prolly get the car 1.5-2ft off the ground) work?

Thx in advance.

 

oh boy, good time rigt there getting the tranny out! I did it on jack stands, it sucked *****, but the lift was in a no heated place soo... Get that mother up high cause height will be your friend. For the first time doing it its a pain. The main thing that hung me up was the lower hex/ allen head bolts on the tranny where you have to jack up the thing in order to get a combo of tools in there to get those bottom ones. Also I told tk and now you that be careful where the front shafts go into the tranny the gaskets there are made from CORK! Either be careful or go to the dealer ahead of time and buy them anyways, they were only like $16 if I remember right cause I bought other stuff. Oh and don't forget the torque to yield, to get new of those. What I'm trying to say is try to be prepared so you don't hung up on all the small stuff. If you need anymore info bump this, I will see it. You definatley should get that car though..

 

Tranny issues so early on mileage-wise? Hmmm...

If you do go for it, i'd REALLY make sure that that is the only major thing needing attention. Check on maintenance and be **** looking everything else over. And...likely drop the price some.

With that said, there's still a good chance you could have found a great car with just one problem worth tending to!

Good luck either way!

 

To see if its the synchro, try going from third to second or third to first, I've heard that will tell you if its synchro or tranny.