Got my RS6 Thursday, but I also got a bad suprise.

[Innovator]

I went down to NYC the other day to pick up the car. I ended up getting the 44,000 Ebony Pearl with White leather and CF trim. The car had may aftermarket options,and I paid 27K.

So I was happily driving home to Albany NY. The front tires were smoked, and making noise, but overall the car was running great.

On the way home, I noticed that the car was reving higher at 80 MPH than it was when I started the trip, and then, the CEL came on. I knew what is was, just by the symptoms and higher revs.

When I got to my shop, I hooked the VAG to the car, and pulled a 17125 (Torque converter code). That really sucked, because I knew what that entailed, and I had no warranty, since the extended warranty has a grace period.

So I call the guy I bought it from, who claimed he had never had a problem with it. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. I just don't know. But he did agree to give me 2,000 dollars toward the repair, which was better than him saying to piss off, which he could have.

Anyway, now, I am trying to figure out where I should get the converter from, and whether or not I should have the valve body reworked as well, since I hear that they also cause the converter to slip. I called IPT and Level 10. Total cost from either is about 1200 dollars for both the TC and valve body modification.I will be doing the labor at my shop.

Does anyone have any experiance with either, and if so, Who do you think is my best shot?

Thanks, Rick

[DHall1]

Rick,

Sorry to hear about the problems but does the car look as clean in person as the ad?

Very fair of the owner to pitch in. Now your down to 25k on a low mileage RS6.

As for trans. I have had work from Level10 many years ago but there are several stories of problems of late.

I would opt for IPT and you have the best plan of TC+valve body. Tell us more about the IPT TC as you get additional information. The prices look good if thats for both units. 1200?

Good luck, I hope you love the car.

[Innovator]

Rick,

Sorry to hear about the problems but does the car look as clean in person as the ad?

Very fair of the owner to pitch in. Now your down to 25k on a low mileage RS6.

As for trans. I have had work from Level10 many years ago but there are several stories of problems of late.

I would opt for IPT and you have the best plan of TC+valve body. Tell us more about the IPT TC as you get additional information. The prices look good if thats for both units. 1200?

Good luck, I hope you love the car.

Yea around 1200. I get a small discount as I am a repair shop.

I may be down to 25, but I need close to 2K in parts now, and the labor is a killer. Even though we do our own labor, I still have to pay my tech to work on my own car, while losing money not working on customers cars. What can you do? I am trying to figure out if I can remove the trans without removing the engine. Level 10 says that's how they do it.... And yes, the car is very very clean. Like new inside and out. Some repainted panels, but well done. Nothing bad enough were it was reported to insurance.

[DHall1]

Well just get er done at this point. Glad the car has the condition that will make you smile for years to come.

Just remember there are folks on this board that paid 2x the amount you paid for that car just a couple of years ago.

That should make you smile.




Yea around 1200. I get a small discount as I am a repair shop.

I may be down to 25, but I need close to 2K in parts now, and the labor is a killer. Even though we do our own labor, I still have to pay my tech to work on my own car, while losing money not working on customers cars. What can you do? I am trying to figure out if I can remove the trans without removing the engine. Level 10 says that's how they do it.... And yes, the car is very very clean. Like new inside and out. Some repainted panels, but well done. Nothing bad enough were it was reported to insurance.

[Innovator]

Well just get er done at this point. Glad the car has the condition that will make you smile for years to come.

Just remember there are folks on this board that paid 2x the amount you paid for that car just a couple of years ago.

That should make you smile. I smiled when I punched it, and realized that is too fast already without the chip! Got a question.. If I get the valve body done, do I also need to get then TCU chipped if I chip the engine?

[DHall1]

The valve body will do just fine without a trans chip.




I smiled when I punched it, and realized that is too fast already without the chip! Got a question.. If I get the valve body done, do I also need to get then TCU chipped if I chip the engine?

[MaxRS6]

My tranny is currently at IPT for a total rebuild and tc. So far it has gone well and IPT expects to ship it out Monday. It has taken some time for the entire repair process (research, pull tranny, ship, etc.)- and trust the wait and effort will be worth it.

Good luck with your repair

[4everRS]

That sucks! Very cool that the owner is pitching in 2k though. I am now nervous about mine which I expect to arrive in a week or so. I paid about 24k but with 73k miles. Was the service history clean on yours? If the TC is the only issue, it sounds like you got a good deal.

[Innovator]

That sucks! Very cool that the owner is pitching in 2k though. I am now nervous about mine which I expect to arrive in a week or so. I paid about 24k but with 73k miles. Was the service history clean on yours? If the TC is the only issue, it sounds like you got a good deal.
I just took the engine/trans assembly out this morning.

While I could have taken the trans out alone, I don't think I'd be able to do as good a job putting it back together with the engine still in the car. It only took me a little longer to pull the whole assembly, and I know all the wires and bolts will be secured properly without fighting with it . Sometimes when you take a short cut, it can take more time in the end. Also, having never taken one of these trans out before, it's easier to pull the whole thing the first time out.

Total time to remove assembly, 5 hours. Now I still have to seperate the trans from the engine, but that's no biggie at this point. With any luck, I'll have this baby back on the road late next week, as long as IPT comes through for me in a timely fashion.

[Innovator]

That sucks! Very cool that the owner is pitching in 2k though. I am now nervous about mine which I expect to arrive in a week or so. I paid about 24k but with 73k miles. Was the service history clean on yours? If the TC is the only issue, it sounds like you got a good deal.

Well, if you buy this car, it seems prudent to have 10K in reserve for repairs. Take this TC issue I have. If I didn't have my own shop, the dealer charges close to 5K! In essence, it's good practice for me to the powertrain out, as I'm pretty sure it wont be the last time:nono:

[Innovator]

Rick,

Sorry to hear about the problems but does the car look as clean in person as the ad?

Very fair of the owner to pitch in. Now your down to 25k on a low mileage RS6.

As for trans. I have had work from Level10 many years ago but there are several stories of problems of late.

I would opt for IPT and you have the best plan of TC+valve body. Tell us more about the IPT TC as you get additional information. The prices look good if thats for both units. 1200?

Good luck, I hope you love the car. It will be more like 1400 for the parts, after speaking with IPT. Level 10 was 1200.

[p3u]

Yea around 1200. I get a small discount as I am a repair shop.

I may be down to 25, but I need close to 2K in parts now, and the labor is a killer. Even though we do our own labor, I still have to pay my tech to work on my own car, while losing money not working on customers cars. What can you do? I am trying to figure out if I can remove the trans without removing the engine. Level 10 says that's how they do it.... And yes, the car is very very clean. Like new inside and out. Some repainted panels, but well done. Nothing bad enough were it was reported to insurance.

I am having mine done as we speak, engine is going no where.

[hahnmgh63]

Innovator, would you mind doing a short write-up on how you did the engine/tranny removal? Did you remove the front end, radiator? Did you pull the whole driveline?, just undue the axles or pull them completely out? Thanks, MGH

[AudiRS4ever]

Curious, as I don't quite understand what IPT is doing. Are you buying a new torque converter and valve body and sending it to them, or are they sending you their torque converter and valve body?

[Innovator]

Curious, as I don't quite understand what IPT is doing. Are you buying a new torque converter and valve body and sending it to them, or are they sending you their torque converter and valve body?


I am sending them the TC and the valve body. Actually, to save time, I'm driving down to them...

[Innovator]

Innovator, would you mind doing a short write-up on how you did the engine/tranny removal? Did you remove the front end, radiator? Did you pull the whole driveline?, just undue the axles or pull them completely out? Thanks, MGH

We pulled it the same way we do the 2.7 TT in A4 and A6's.


Except, we did not need to take the nose off, due to the fact that all of the hoses detach with threaded connectors that are located directly under the belly pan, and there is no belt driven fan.

So the axles come out completely, the lower control arms are detached from the spindles, exhaust and driveshaft removed.

Fluids drained, hoses all detached, wiring harnesses disconnected. I removed the trans pan and valve body because it would be more difficult to do it with the assembly on the table.

I lowered the car down on the table so the subframe was directly above it and all sub frame bolts were accessible, removed the bolts, raised the car slowly, and the engine and tranny came out with some rearward guidance.

Yes, I am leaving a few things out, but it was relatively straight forward.

We saw that we could get the trans out without the engine(with many swivels and extensions(and scraped knuckles), but I honestly don't think it would have been worth the struggle. It would be very difficult to get everything back together perfectly torqued , route all the wires and such in their holders, etc, etc.. I'm sure if you've done it a few times you'd learn some tricks, but I don't want to learn from my mistakes with what this baby costs to repair ...

Honestly, taking the sub frame down was not that big of a deal. Then again, this is what we do for a living..:)

[hahnmgh63]

I'm only a hobiest but I do have a lift in my shop, 6 cars (2 track) & 1 truck which can keep my busy. I can pull the engine/tranny in my 911 in about 1.5 hours but that has to be one of the easiest cars in the world to work on. I'll attempt the RS6 myself when it comes time. Thanks again for the info. MGH

[Innovator]

I'm only a hobiest but I do have a lift in my shop, 6 cars (2 track) & 1 truck which can keep my busy. I can pull the engine/tranny in my 911 in about 1.5 hours but that has to be one of the easiest cars in the world to work on. I'll attempt the RS6 myself when it comes time. Thanks again for the info. MGH
You will need a metal table on wheels that can handle 1000 lbs+

[DHall1]

Rick,

Could the same be done with the engine/trans left on the floor using wood blocks to hold up and balance? Next raise the shell leaving the engine/trans on the ground. Then use the cherry picker to move the assembly around.

So no engine hoist/cherry picker is needed in your R/R. Just the vehicle lift.

Did you take any pics?




You will need a metal table on wheels that can handle 1000 lbs+

[Innovator]

Rick,

Could the same be done with the engine/trans left on the floor using wood blocks to hold up and balance? Next raise the shell leaving the engine/trans on the ground. Then use the cherry picker to move the assembly around.

So no engine hoist/cherry picker is needed in your R/R. Just the vehicle lift.

Did you take any pics?

You can use 55 gallon drums. We still do that even though it seems cobb.. Bottom line, it has to be stable and hold the weight. Three 55 gallon drums work like a charm.:) In fact, we will be setting the assembly on three drums, as we need our table for another job next week. We will move it with an engine hoist on wheels.

I'll take some pics on Monday..

[AudiRS4ever]

I am sending them the TC and the valve body. Actually, to save time, I'm driving down to them...

Thanks for the reply. Now my next question is, are you taking them brand new one's, or are you taking the blown one's? sorry for all of the questions, but I'm trying to plan for this. I figure it's only a matter of time. Per DHall's insistance I'm purchasing a 3 year Fidlelity Warranty and am trying to make sure that if/when the TC goes out I do it right so that I end up putting a stronger valve body and TC in. Thanks again.

[DHall1]

Audi needs to give me commissions on all the Fidelity plans I have sold.

:eye:

"I think" IPT takes the old stuff and reworks the valve body and exchanges the TC with a reman/performance unit.

Please correct if needed because we have several members heading down this road. Me someday as well.




Thanks for the reply. Now my next question is, are you taking them brand new one's, or are you taking the blown one's? sorry for all of the questions, but I'm trying to plan for this. I figure it's only a matter of time. Per DHall's insistance I'm purchasing a 3 year Fidlelity Warranty and am trying to make sure that if/when the TC goes out I do it right so that I end up putting a stronger valve body and TC in. Thanks again.

[AudiRS4ever]

Audi needs to give me commissions on all the Fidelity plans I have sold.

:eye:

"I think" IPT takes the old stuff and reworks the valve body and exchanges the TC with a reman/performance unit.

Please correct if needed because we have several members heading down this road. Me someday as well.

Funny you say that, because when I called my friend in Denver and told him I wanted a quote for one he asked me why I had the sudden change of heart (other than the intercoolers I just purchased). I told him a buddy of mine online mentions it to me everytime I talk about a problem with the car. :jlol: So you really should get a commission.

Also, thanks for telling me how they are doing the TC and VB. I am really thinking about buying them both and then sending them off so when mine finally does go I can just put the new ones in. Probably not the best way to spend money, but it's a thought.

[DuckWingDuck]

lol@dave, i think you mean FIDELITY needs to cut you a commission cheque, Audi don't get anything ;-)

[bruce]

lol@dave, i think you mean FIDELITY needs to cut you a commission cheque, Audi don't get anything ;-)

Actually the dealer will get a commission just like any insurance salesman.

[DHall1]

And AoA gets the money in the bank until we break something.

At my rate, AoA is making money on my investment. My car wont break down. knock knock

But a hedge is a hedge. I can drive for 6yrs without breaking a sweat. That there is priceless. Not to mention the potential "get rid of that money pit" :w: from the you know who if the you know what starts to break down with 7-8-9k service invoices.

:deal: Just put it on my Fidelity tab please. Honey lets go to dinner tonight.