Oh dear. I think my gearbox has died

[Greg66]

2000MY A8 4.2. Owned since six months old, around low 70ks mileage.

It's been Mrs 66's car for a while now and I haven't had much of an eye on it as a result. Anyway, last night I got the call that it had gone into limp mode and the PRND4321 lights were all illuminated.

Symptoms: starts fine. Engages R and eases back as normal. Engages D apparently normally, albeit with a bit of a clunk. Touch the throttle and there's another clunk and what feels like loss of drive (ie the car sits there rather than pushing against the footbrake). All the tranny numbers and letters light up. It will move forwards - slowly - but I think it is locked in 3.

So, what am I looking at here? Refurb? Rebuild? Or replacement (which in effect means RIP car).

And does anyone have any experience of Hardy Engineering in Leatherhead? I pulled their name from pistonheads, but there's not a huge amount of infor about them out there.

TIA.

(And no, the gearbox has never been serviced. I know.,,)

[David's8]

Sorry to hear that The stickies at the top of this thread and several other threads about similar experiences suffered by others) provide a good guide to trusted repair options.

[ScottD3]

Get it on VCDS.
My old B5 did that and it turned out to be a speed sensor on top of the gear box.
£80 and 20mins later and it was working fine.

[Adrian E]

I'm not a million miles away if you need vcds

If there are mechanical symptoms suggesting loss of drive as well as the dis lit up like an Xmas tree then it's probably not the f125 switch and is more likely a mechanical failure

Johnny_quattro had a recent box rebuild in South London so worth looking for that thread as think he's been pretty happy with the result. Cost is 4 figures though so depends if anything else is needing doing or if it's worth the investment having it done. Mileage is low for a box failure but could be age/use related? Mine has had a fluid and filter change and been reliable - touches wood!

[Architex_mA8tey]

is it actually slipping in gear or not?
It really seems low mileage for one of these gearboxes - mine gave up the ghost at about 120K miles but the third gear actually slipped so you could hear the revs rise.

[ScottD3]

The clunkyness of the box could be mechanical or a dodgy oil.

The gearbox stuck in 3rd gear is limp mode, the reason for this could be any thing from a speed sensor or a blocked valve.

I'd get it scanned and see what it says.

[sarg]

Symptoms sound very similar to mine, which was a failed gearbox.

And my first gearbox replacement was around 75k

But, if it is worse case scenario, if I had the opportunity again, I would get a replacement gearbox rather than scrapping, that's a decision I've regretted for the last 3 years.

In simple terms, a replacement gearbox is cheaper than most replacement second hand cars, any of which could have an equal amount of problems, plus you get to keep your D2.

[Greg66]

Cheers to all. I will get it to the local Indy for a diagnostic first, and see where we go from there.

I had a walk around it this morning with an objective eye. It's been a town car for most of the last 8 years or so, and it shows on the outside (probably also hasn't helped the gearbox, but hey ho). To tart it up would require a respray of the bumpers, the bonnet, and all four passenger side panels. Plus a new driver's door skin (despite having been replaced only 18 months ago! ), various other rub strips, and some new trim under the driver's side headlight. All four wheels need a refurb. I suspect new tyres soon as well. There are little bits of interior trim that need sorting out, and the power steering works when it wants to.

Oh, and the ABS/traction control light and pass air bag light come on as and when - the MOT has to be timetabled around their moods.

So dispassionately, it's like a faithful old labrador who's really on her last legs now. Fixing and sprucing is a "Heart" decision; not a "Head" one.

If we do let her go, I will regret it, because it's impossible not to grow attached to a car that's served us well for over 14 years. We'll see.

[Greg66]

Originally Posted by sarg

But, if it is worse case scenario, if I had the opportunity again, I would get a replacement gearbox rather than scrapping, that's a decision I've regretted for the last 3 years.

In simple terms, a replacement gearbox is cheaper than most replacement second hand cars, any of which could have an equal amount of problems, plus you get to keep your D2.

I am haunted by this - I admit.

We bought a Range Rover (06 plate) at the end of last year, and aside from the very poor economy, it has proved to be a good, if different, prospective replacement for the A8.

For me, though, there's only one true replacement: a V10 S8 in my perfect spec. Which unfortunately has proved highly elusive...

[Greg66]

Verdict is in: geabrox borked. £2.8 plus VAT to fix.

That's probably over twice its value. To get what is a much loved (by us and Eastern Europeans in London, oddly) but objectively tatty car back running.

Head says game over, but even my cold heart is having a wobble on this one

(A8Parts don't want it due to the fact that with a borked gearbox it's not cost effective to get it to them from London. Double )