New A8 4.2 D2 - Gearbox queries !

[hype1]

Hello peeps. 2 days ago i bought a D2 4.2 107K on the clock broken history, i had been trolling the forum before i bought it and new about the gearbox problems. But it didn't bother me I have an A4 2.6 also it runs great, easy to maintain etc etc.

So driving it down the motorway it was fine, but i noticed at road works around 40mph - 50mph it felt like it was slipping (slightly jerking or seemed like it was looking for a gear, revs were going up and down 500rpm) when giving very little throttle (harder throttle its fine), reverse engages the car jerks when you let the brake off ( whats that all about ?).

I knew before i bought it that i would be doing a gearbox oil change. But i didnt know how hard and expensive it was to get parts. Iam used to normal cars where you have an option of choices for parts and oils.

For this all i can get is the ATF code G052 911 A2 and quoted at 18.99 1 litres, and for the filter gasket and sump nut, came too £49.94 from slough Audi.

So if 7 litres are needed £132.93 in oil and £182.87. Plus i need an oil change, rear pads and a rocker cover gasket (also new was a common problem)

My engine and gear box codes are ABZ and DNW DTD. If any ones done this work and has the same codes can you give me the part numbers and where i should be buying them. One audi place i phoned has no idea or what i needed or was trying to do and swore he had never had anyone ask about this problem before.

I got a feeling im barking up the wrong tree here. Can some one perhaps point me to a more appropriate tree or let me know if i indeed have the correct tree to be barking up.

Please help me !

[PsYcHe]

Yup.. that's definitely hunting.

A workaround is to drop it into tip and then into 4th which stops the problem.

Where are you located, might be an idea to go to a experienced indy for the work.

[hype1]

Hello mate, Im in slough

I have an good mechanic at hand i reckon we can do it, But the parts seem very expensive. Is this the correct price for the world. I dont mind paying if it is, just as long as im not paying over the odds for no reason.

I m confident going with the audipages printed guide it will fix the hunting problem. Im just wondering if the parts seem too expensive can get my ATF and gaskets somewhere else?

Ive kinda come from buying stuff from GSF car parts for most of my cars or ebay. With this A8 the options for bit seems quite limited (and expensive)

For example on cheesebay you got this option.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A4-A6...-/170717667072

But for my gearbox codes the ATF fluid and gaskets i seem to have only one. AUDI DEALERSHIP !

On a side note would it be possible to use a hand pump to drain off the more of the fluid than comes out from side bolt on gearbox ?

[PsYcHe]

I think you need to go to Audi for it all.. 190 quid for all the bits sounds about right, though if your mate is a mechanic, try TPS with all the audi codes and see what they come back with.

[hype1]

Thanks for the update, I will bite the bullet And goto Audi, the cars lpg so at least that's it's saving grace, the body is mint and it drives perfect, new Tyres but only on 16s, hid kit, parrot and some other bits. At frost I felt a bit like a lemon who had bought a lemon but after googling I understand nearly all 8s hunt 4th 5th a little from this age. It's got 107 on the clock if Ivey it too 155k I'm happy. That's alot of luxury motoring for little money.

[47p2]

Is this a manual gearbox? The reason I ask is the oil you are quoting seems to be a 75W-80 grade which seems to me to be a manual transmission oil...

Here is a Fuchs equivalent oil to your G052 911 A2 at £9.25 per litre.

[IT]

This is probably not what you want to hear right now, but the DTD box was the first 5 speed box that Audi put in the 4.2 A8, and it was the least reliable.

I've never seen one make it past 120K personally.

The oil change may well be too little, too late - Normally, the box feels better for a day or two, then goes back to being clunky, and in the worst case, changing the oil dislodges all the gunk that was resting peacfully and finishes the box off....

Let hope in your case it pulls through - Let us know how you get on ?

[hype1]

Hi peeps will let you know. How much would a manual conversion be? This is a Autobox with triptronic.

The hunting isnt to bad, its only at 40-50MPH on very light throttle. If i give it loads of beans its fine at higher constant speeds its fine.

Rather than rebuild the box id prefer to try a manual conversion, especially if the box i have now is so unreliable there is little point to rebuild it. Unless i can swap it for another code of gearbox?

changing the oil dislodges all the gunk that was resting peacefully and finishes the box off ! Ive heard this all over many forums. I don't believe in this theory (So it will 100% happen to me now ) I cant believe changing the gearbox fluid will do a gearbox any hard if done properly. Maybe those boxes were just on there last legs ?

If that code of oil is for 75-80 makes no sense to be either as id of thought more like 75-90 would be the way to go ?

PS the gear changes and lever are not clunky at all on this they are smooth, only reverse and forward is clunky when you let go of the foot brake when first selecting D or R.

Im starting to think i should of taken a small load a bought a VW phaeton, bmw or benz. My sister for example has a 323I which she bought for 14K years ago. She does 20K at least year. Hammers it everywhere in the 3rd plane does a basic yearly service - its done 190K and still going strong.

Tbh im thinking **** VAG, ****ers. I had a golf gti at 75K it was a pile of crap had new throttle body the works. My audi 2.6 is a jap import so only done 60K Miles prob why it feels to good.

I got an old c200 never had a single problem, and a Vito too with no issues out the norm, why is it only Audi, VW and Skoda that give such issues. Over rated ?

[Goran]

I personally have spent around £2500 for all the manual gearbox & related parts. Some I got second hand, some I got brand new from local Audi dealer.
Then there is labour to add on top of that. I havent done the conversion yet, when I'm ready I'm planning to go to Unit 20. Just have to sort out the pedal box. Thats another complication, there was no RHD manual pedal box.
My current idea is to get someone to weld on a A6 manual pedal box onto the A8 auto pedal box (with all the protruding bits machinde off).
Nollywood has found someone to make him a custom pedal box.
So its not a light undertaking, lots of parts gathering and waiting.
The main part is the gearbox, if you can get one of those cheap, you have a good chance of limiting parts costs to under £3k.
Look for gearboxed on German ebay, thats where I got mine for £500.
A guy in the states has done at least 2 conversions using Audi S4 gearboxes, so you dont necessarily need a A8 manual gearbox. The thing to watch out for is the final drive ratio in the gearbox to match to the rear diff final drive ratio.

Here is Tozo's post when he did his S8. For the A8 you either have to re-code the ECU so it doesnt look for the Auto gearbox signal, or trick it into getting a signal, thats what Tozo did on his A8.

http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/msgs/12898.phtml

All cars have their problems, before I found this forum and bought a S8 I researched E39 M5 (vanos problems, needs frequent valve shimming), and Mercedes SEC560 (not too bad but a bit wallowy round corners, rusty). Later I also looked at Mercedes E55 (had some timing chain and head gasket problems, rusts from new, water based paint, check Wikipedia).

[hype1]

If i hadn't gone for this id prob gone Mercedes E/ 55 or BMW 5 like you say those have problems too, what pees me off about this is its major and there seems to be no good permanent fix. If i go for a rebuild im still on the DTD weakest box. So it will likely fail again even with 20K oil changes from what i hear. Will a better auto box fit ?

For the manual box conversion the most id want to spend is 3 grand but for that id want a drive in leave for a week, and drive off solution !