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:Confused:

[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?

[ainarssems]

1996 car , 3.7, non quattro, similar ones sell for £600-1000 in good running order. With gearbox issue it's only good for breaking for spares so £200-500 depending on extras and condition of resealable parts that have demand.

[ash_a8]

hi its a sport so should break for half sensible but will see what happens

[IT]

1996 car , 3.7, non quattro, similar ones sell for £600-1000 in good running order. With gearbox issue it's only good for breaking for spares so £200-500 depending on extras and condition of resealable parts that have demand.

I'd agree. 140K is about the right mileage for the gearbox to go, so I'd say its unlikely to see road action again. Its a breaker for sure.

Non running non quattro 3.7 isn't gonna be worth much sadly....

[Sir WIll]

Looks at 148,000 miles on the clock of my own 3.7.....

:-(

[ash_a8]

it works fine in reverse and 2nd and if i put it into triptronic i can put it into 1st and is fine i can nail it and doesnt slip in them gears soon as i put it it drive or 3 or 4 it just revs up but can smell a dodgy smell so could it be electrical?

[mannyo]

The dodgy smell is most likely the transmission fluid overheating and burning. Not good for the fluid at all, and it will now for certain need changing.

I had a slipping brake band in an old Mondeo Automatic, got it fixed at a transmission specialist for £300 including new fluid. The symptoms I had though was total loss of second gear and a slipping overdrive. Driving everywhere with just 1st and 3rd was not fun as it would rev to the red line before changing straight from first to third.

[ash_a8]

it hasnt been driven far like it but ill see what they say tomo and see about gettin filter and fluid changed if they think thats what it is

[RanjS8]

From what you are describing this really does sound like an internal issue since 3rd and 4th gear aren't transmitting drive...I would hope the f125 switch is buggered....cos usually low fluid causes thumping and dodgy gear changes....but i hope for your sake it is just fluid that you need....

[ash_a8]

ive been speaking to a few people and a bloke who has a few a8s that maybe is on here said he had similar problem because the ecu was wet and shorting under the bonnet, the car was steam cleaned and wash out all under the bonnet so i think this may be it also under the passenger seat is wet were they did carpets it not coolant as hasn't used any so fingers crossed its ecu problem or oil as love the car

[ash_a8]

its 5 speed so 345 that wont work but 1st and 2nd are perfect but it wont let me go 1st to 2ns on triptronic only 1st i then have to put it in2nd under drive so seems weird

[HPsauce]

Gearbox ECU is I think the top one in the box by the bulkhead on the nearside under the bonnet.
Getting the cover off to check inside is fairly easy (just a few screws) though sometimes the sockets they fix into just rotate in the plastic they're set in so you need to be careful.

[ash_a8]

could this cause it to mess about if there wet due to them soaking everything

[sarg]

the gearbox is gone - the symptoms, the smell, it all point to a failed gearbox. Since when do wet electrics (a) smell or (b) work at all?

[IT]

Water in the cabin is a common A8 fault to do with evaporator drains. Nothing to do with the gearbox.

Its a hugely slim chance that water has ingressed into the plenum chamber, and affected the ECU, thus affecting only gears 3/4/5

Its fractionally more plausible that some transmission fluid has leaked out, burning on the exhaust and causing low fluid, but to be honest low fluid would affect gears 1/2 just as much as the others.

Given the age, mileage and symptoms, number one in my book is still a terminal mechanical failure inside the box, sorry.

Take it to an automatic transmission specialists - Not a generic garage - They will see ZF boxes all the time and should be able to give you a good idea, fairly cheaply of whats going on....

[ash_a8]

that's were its going today they said could be electrics it has a weepy rocker that look like dripping on exhaust so that might be the smell, some times all the gears work thou bujt rarely now

[The_Laird]

Possibly more than one problem?

F125 switch for the box; final output seal for the smell; aircon or bulkhead drains for the water ingress? Had allof these on mine not long after I bought it!

[ash_a8]

well they confirmed its low on fluid but they think the 1st gear clutch for drive may have been flipped? i am going to sell it as it is hopefuly ill get 6-700 for it

[sarg]

hopefuly ill get 6-700 for it

Good luck!

[ash_a8]

Good luck!


did say hope! i know i wont but just want enough to buy a cheap run about :D

[Dezzy]

I'll start the bidding off at 100 notes