Straining at the leash

[Mossyboy1978]

Since owning the S8 I've noticed that when the gearbox is in Drive and I'm waiting at the traffic lights the car is VERY keen to push forward when I'm on the brakes. Feels like its straining and the torque is pushing hard to break traction. I have a Range Rover Sport with an auto box and it's nowhere near as keen.

I know I should be in Park but does anyone else experience this?

[HPsauce]

Both mine are/were like that. They'll go off at a fair lick, especially when cold, with no throttle input.

[Mossyboy1978]

OK thanks. Did you/do you also get a slight bump/creak when finally halting after a slow brake into traffic or a junction for example? When I slow down all is fine, then when I finally stop, I get a strange short creak when I finally stop.

[Conquistador]

They all seem to do it. D3 does it as well to start with when it's cold.

And the jolt just before you come to a halt is probably the box shifting into 1st ready to set off again. The D3 does that as well, it's very noticeable.

[1781cc]

Originally Posted by Conquistador

They all seem to do it. D3 does it as well to start with when it's cold.

Thank f**k for that, I was having a panic the other day thinking that my gearbox was on its way out, especially after reading Tony's unfortunate turn of events. Mine seems fine except when I start from cold and put her in reverse, she does that, any other time or when warm she is as good as gold

phew

[Delboy]

Yep mines the same, as Ollie mentioned the box changes to first noticeabley if you are feathering the brake to a stop, it then requires further pressure to stop it crawling away.

The straining is due to the software, most ZF boxes declutch when sitting with brake pedal applied but the A8/S8 don't as mentioned somewhere in tech literature.

[Conquistador]

Originally Posted by 1781cc

Mine seems fine except when I start from cold and put her in reverse, she does that, any other time or when warm she is as good as gold.

Yeah, that's when mine is the most jerky. Lift my foot off the brake slightly and it catapults backwards! From cold, I tend to leave it running for a minute or two before reversing off my drive or setting off. Once the exhaust note has settled down and my neighbour has stopped tutting that's usually my cue to set off.

[1781cc]

ha ha, I do exactly the same thing... must be the S8 passage

[Turbo Tony]

Originally Posted by Conquistador

And the jolt just before you come to a halt is probably the box shifting into 1st ready to set off again. The D3 does that as well, it's very noticeable.

You want a noticeable change into first when slowing? Try taking mine for a spin!

[Pug]

I'll mention it before someone else does, but this complaint usually goes on to people debating whether to keep it in D at traffic lights or switch to Neutral instead. It's normal behaviour but I agree with you that it doesn't feel 'right' compared to other autos.