auto box slipping?

[ash_a8]

hi i just got a a8 and the box has been fine had few other issues with electrics it had oil light abs light and no rev counter but went back in garage and they cleaned the connections up i take it and was perfect also when i took the key out the ignition come on not properly but did until opened the door then went straight of but that was sorted as well so that only left the washer fluid warning due to broken washer jet so i fixed that so it now had no warning lights so i thought great took the car for a run then all or a sudden it just started revving and no gears let the revs come down and it would cruise slowly, so got it home, the next morning i went out did the same but when it does it on the display where it says prnd234 ect was highlighted and doesnt tell you what gear its in, it then will slip but some times can start it up and doesnt then it does i can put it in triptronic but still doesn't tell you what gear you in all the time but can normally get it into 1st and drive it but soon as it goes up the gears it seems to start it hasn't had any problems before this
when i spoke to the garage i got it off they said there is a sensor that is realy bad behind the drivers side wheel but looks more like a abs but i don't know they said its to do with gearbox loom, it seems to be when it rained as well but might be a coincident

any help would be great before car is sold as spares its a 1996 3.7 sport

[sarg]

It's either:

(a) a dodgy/broken switch - relatively cheap, or;
(b) a broken gearbox - not so cheap

[Architex_mA8tey]

If it started doing it on a run then I would suspect the gearbox clutches to be slipping, its what happened with mine. If it happens when youre parked and selecting gears then more likely to be the switch, but either way run a vagcom scan and see what pops up. You need to make sure the garage that sold you it is still very much responsible for the outcome too I would say - good luck too. is it a 4 speed box or an early 5 speed?

[ash_a8]

hi its a 5 speed and it does it from cold but some times it doesnt do it thats whats wierd what would i get to sell it as it is?

[Adrian E]

Sounds like a mechanical gearbox fault with those symptoms - if it was electrical (the F125 switch which is probably what they're trying to suggest) then you wouldn't get any physical slipping of the gearbox. It would just go into limp mode (all DIS gear options lit up red) and still drive more or less fine, albeit only in 3rd gear or reverse!

How long ago did you buy it? Sounds like a very close inspection of the small print of sale of goods act may be required or a visit to CAB and/or trading standards may be required. I suspect your best hope is you return the car and get a partial refund back.

The cost of a replacement gearbox, done properly, will be a significant proportion of the car's value. Depending on mileage of course. If you can't stomach the £1000-1500 cost of a repair, or get your money back, then breaking would probably be the most cost effective option and depends on spec and condition etc what the forum sponsors might offer you for it.

Might be worth a visit to http://www.agc.uk.com/index.html if you're down that neck of the woods to confirm it's mechanical and the potential cost to repair.

Hope you get it sorted

Adrian

[ash_a8]

hi it was a private swap for my subaru so havent got a leg to stand on so ill proberly sell it as it is but what would i get get?