Transmission slipping when hot...need help...Tozo?!

[905084]

Just finished the MAF problem and had a chance to romp the RS around. When it's cold it is amazing, as it gets hot (shifting a lot and driving hard) the transmission is completely coming out of gear. So much so that I barely made it home as it would slip out of gear even under light acceleration in first. No transmission codes at all and the only engine code was "Too rich, bank 1/2". Car was at the transmission shop and the fluid level was fine.

I'm thinking transmission fluid/filter/ or solenoid pack. Any ideas folks? Thanks.

[4everRS]

Tozo would know best, but the trans might actually be overfilled, causing the fluid to froth.

[905084]

Forgot to mention that I had the transmission level looked at by the guy that did my A6 4.2. He checked the level at the proper temp and looked at the color and said it looked good with no codes. At the time, I didn't have a good handle on the transmission slipping problem nor could I duplicate it. He didn't want to service it before I worked out the other "driveablity issues". Now definitely happens when hot.

[TozoM8]

If it slips that bad, you should have codes. Did you check it with vag-com? It is nearly impossible to overfill the trans.

[905084]

Tozo, yo da man! Checked with my cheap code checker and nothing...checked with my free VAGCOM (damn I'm cheap) and got "Load signal error from ECU..P18265, Mechanical failure intermittent" wouldn't have thought to check the VCDS...

[905084]

Pulled the pan. Oil looks a little dirty (like motor oil).



Magnets don't look terrible for 103k



Pan didn't have a whole lot of gunk on it.



Anyone have any opinions? Going to put a new filter and fill it with fluid and see what happens. Going to find some LT71141 spec fluid of any brand I guess.

[hahnmgh63]

Fluid looks old & burnt, I bet it didn't smell very good but your right, not a lot of sludge and at least no large metallic chunks stuck to the magnets. You might even try to drain the trans oil cooler lines to get more of the old stuff out then you would only be left with the quart or so in the T.C. If you do the cooler, do the refill procedure then drive it for a few miles and check it again soon (after the fluid cools to within limits as there can be a bit of air in the system that just running it to temp at idle will not get out. I would be that most that have had the T.C. and/or tranny replaced are running a little low on fluid since most shops just check it once, especially since they would have to let it cool to do the procedure again.

[TozoM8]

Cut the filter's pickup pipe to 1/2". I use Mobil 1 ATF for the last 5 years without problems.

[905084]

Fluid did have a "special smell". I'll cut the pickup back, thanks Tozo. Do you know if the T/C has a drain to get almost all the fluid out?

[TozoM8]

There is no drain on the TC and it holds ~6qt.

[905084]

Pick up cut back to 1/2 inch. Pan looks like it is 3 1/4 deep and a full fill fills it right to the top. Just have to clean and put the pan back on and find some Mobil 1.....I really wish this was going to fix the slipping problem, but I have to say I have my doubts.

[TozoM8]

It looks like you cut it to 3/8".

[905084]

Sharp...it is 3/8 on the front side, 1/2 on the back. My calibrated PVC saw is a little off. Do you think this will be a problem? The pan is about 3 1/4 deep, the stock filter puts the pickup at about 2 3/4 inches (again my calibrated eye so don't trust nothin'). That puts my pickup at 1/2 inch below/above stock at 2 1/4 inch. I've got to try it now 'cause it's all I got. I figure it may or may not work, and if it is the filter pickup I'll order another filter and flush some more fluid.

[TozoM8]

It should be fine.

[kevin]

What is the reason for shortening the pickup tube?

[905084]

Cause Tozo said to I'm sure he can 'splain it but I did it cause he said to...

[TozoM8]

If the pan was pushed just a bit during trans install or hitting something on the road the pan will be too close to the filter. Here is a picture. http://audipages.com/tozo/DSC03676.JPG You can see the fluid flow built up a debris ring on the middle of the pan showing how close the filter was. As the trans warms up the pan even caves in more. If you put a magnet where the pipe is, sometimes it touches the filter when you trying to bolt it up. the magnet is only like 3/16" thick. I always cut the filter to 1/2" and never had problems since. You probably know BMW uses the same trans and their filter don't even have the pipe just a bid oval hole.

[aussie rs6]

why cut the trans pick up tube?

to ensure no oil starvation and associated transmission whine as new filter replacements for the generic trans in the RS6 all look alike to the shop mechanics, but are not, as some are too shallow.

see post http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/23...170#post225170