Name that problem! (I think TC)

[Brav]

While on the way to ferry one car to a shop with my sister in tow in the RS6, she told me the car was acting funny, and not shifting right. I thought she had it stuck in manual mode. Sure as sh*t, it was slipping bad. PRDLS was all red. Shut it off, went away. Then it slipped bad a few times and got the CEL. If I drove very slowly, it would not slip too bad and would eventually get to highway speed and got her home.

Here are the codes.. . but to me it seems it could be a bad sensor or ground. Ever since I replaced my alternator, batt light has been on but charging and running fine. The low voltage to the ABS module may be a clue. "Incorrect Gear Ratio" is clearly evident of the slippage. I have had the "Gear Recognition Signal" come and go throughout the life of the car, but never an issue about it. Never seen the "load signal" error.

As for the MAFs - they are new, and it does this sometime after going WOT. Not a concern for now.

SO - cast your vote:
Voltage/ground issue
Sensor issue
TC toast, time for ACE


Address 01: Engine Labels: 077-907-558-BCY.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 4D1 907 558 D
Component and/or Version: 4.2l V8/5VT G 0003
Software Coding: 0006752
Work Shop Code: WSC 13876 409 403238
VCID: 2F6DA5B7BDCF6D6088F
3 Faults Found:

16487 - Mass Air Flow Sensor (G70)
P0103 - 001 - Signal too High - Intermittent
17482 - Mass Air Flow Sensor 2 (G246)
P1074 - 001 - Signal too High - Intermittent
18032 - MIL Request Signal Active (Check TCM for errors too!)
P1624 - 008 -

Readiness: 0000 0000
Tuesday,14,August,2012,12:58:37:53793
VCDS Version: Release 11.11.4 (x64)
Data version: 20120807


Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 01L-927-156.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 4B0 927 156 FL
Component and/or Version: AG5 01L 4.2l5VT USA 0305
Software Coding: 0000002
Work Shop Code: WSC 02195 785 00200
VCID: 76E350D302151CA80B9
1 Fault Found:

17114 - Gear Ratio Monitoring
P0730 - 003 - Incorrect Gear Ratio - Intermittent - MIL ON
Tuesday,14,August,2012,13:00:07:53793
VCDS Version: Release 11.11.4 (x64)
Data version: 20120807


Address 03: ABS Brakes Labels: 4B0-614-517.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 4B0 614 517 AD
Component and/or Version: ESP 5.7 RS 6 2310
Software Coding: 06697
Work Shop Code: WSC 02195
VCID: 63C51987F18799005C7
3 Faults Found:

00532 - Supply Voltage B+
07-00 - Signal too Low
01119 - Gear Recognition Signal
35-10 - - - Intermittent
18265 - Load Signal
P1857 - 35-10 - Error Message from ECU - Intermittent

[lswing]

Sounds like the Trans...never got those codes when my TC failed...nor was it that bad...yikes! Good luck on a quick fix!

Trans fluid level is perfect yes?

[Brav]

Sounds like the Trans...never got those codes when my TC failed...nor was it that bad...yikes! Good luck on a quick fix!

Trans fluid level is perfect yes?

Don't like to hear that. It should be, I had it serviced by Raven less than 2 years ago with Quantum Blue

[lswing]

There's also the associated valve body I believe. You could have a small leak that burns off, never drips, two years is a long time, get that fluid checked!

Worse case, you get it rebuilt better than stock!

[ben916]

I am gonna roll the dice and say that it is:

The transmission gear selector circuit board.

[Brav]

I am gonna roll the dice and say that it is:

The transmission gear selector circuit board.

Oh yea? heard of this happening before? Would that be different form the TCU?

[ben916]

Oh yea? heard of this happening before? Would that be different form the TCU?

John (Audi5000csqt) had that problem where the PRNDS would light/blink then he shut off car, presto! everything is good! Start it the next day, PRNDS is lite. This continued for a while... card was bad... not sure if it effected the shifting of the transmission or signals to shift.
The card is between the transmission and the body = transmission drop to access.

I hope I am wrong...for your sake

[4everRS]

Its the trans. Not TC

[Brav]

my god... maybe I should bite the bullet and go 6sp.

[ttboost]

my god... maybe I should bite the bullet and go 6sp.


..was gonna suggest that..might cost you the same ..if you gather parts and do it yourself...good luck with whatever you decide...

[Brav]

Its the trans. Not TC

Why do you say that?

[Brav]

..was gonna suggest that..might cost you the same ..if you gather parts and do it yourself...good luck with whatever you decide...

I don't think I could do this myself. Physically, yes. Mentally.. I dont think I have the patience. SpeedTrapped gave me a great line on a rebuilt AT, it would be hard to pass up.

[4everRS]

Why do you say that?

Incorrect gear ratio usually is clutch packs not holding. TBH, I would first check the fluid level. This can cause the code too.

[Brav]

Incorrect gear ratio usually is clutch packs not holding. TBH, I would first check the fluid level. This can cause the code too.

Makes sense. but when it would slip, all 5 gears would. not just one. Then, all back to normal. So all go bad together?

[ttboost]

Much like a regular clutch, the higher gears slip first. If the lower gears slip (1st ans 2nd) thats really bad. I agree that it could very well be fluid level.

[4.2Crew]

Just out of criousity, if the fluid IS low, wouldn't there be signs of significant leakage?... And, are these transmissions THAT sensitive and dependant upon such a narrow level of fluid level? Wow!... It would be nice to hear his resolution is simply a drain and fill!

I remember reading in a prior thread that these transmission's prefer to be slightly overfilled...

Brav, good luck guy!... You've done an excelent job in the past keeping us posted in excercising previous demons! Please keep as updated on your progress!

[mnsnwbrdr]

Mine threw P0730 when gears 2-3 went on my transmission - and it was definitely those two gears, the rest were good.

[Brav]

Haven't noticed any leaks. Yea thats the thing.. ALL GEARS SLIP, when it slips.. its intermittent. One stoplight its perfect. The next, schitzo. But I just drove it home and haven't driven it since. Methinks it could be a control module/electrical issue, or bad valve body. I hope. those seem like simpler and cheaper fixes...

[Jimmy]

Based on what you've said Brav...I also wager it could be a control module or the valve body....since it shifts OK, then all goes bad, then its OK again.

[4everRS]

I've had this thought before:

If you have an mtm or other tcu chip, does it put extra stress on the solenoids and cause them to fail prematurely?

Tozo says that the solenoids rarely fail.

[Brav]

Well for all I know, I am on the original trans. But 2nd TC. I think 160k miles is "fair" life expectancy. I will test the 5th gear pull to see if its my clutch pack "A" and report.

[Brav]

OK- another road test. Got ballsy after driving it around my office and took her home (12 miles). Tried various gear pulls on highway. No issues. My house is in a hilly area so I got a bit nervous. No hiccups all the way home. I got my gym clothes, and as I started to come back, it slipped right away within 1 minute of turning the car back on (this is consistent with how it first happened. quick off, then back on). Then came the hill.. and she behaved. Slipped on and off the rest of the way. Several times I would feel it engage better right after slip, then I would hammer it and it would TAKE OFF! what the hell.. Actually none of the times I did a hard pull, did it screw up. Just sometimes after coming to a stop and trying to go again. Not sure if this sheds any more light.

In tip mode while slipping, it would jump in RPM, then drop into the next gear without telling it to, all the way to 4th.

No codes. No red PRNDS.

If it were a bad clutch pack, wouldnt it consistently slip during a hard pull? My knowledge of auto transmissions leaves a bit to be desired. Still smells like electronic issue to me. Or.. crud stuck in valves?

[mmaturo]

Good luck but as the former resident tranny replacement king I will say that my second one went just as you are describing from your sister's experience on. Took the TC with it but not sure what exactly failed within as under warranty I did not care back in '05 to ask. It started simple on a trip then progressively worse in 500 miles to barely holding low gears to limp it to dealer. My other ones failed a little differently.

[905084]

Intermittent problems are the worst. Personally I would think clutch packs vs. electrical. Might be the VB. Certainly not the TC. If you can duplicate the problem you can solve the problem. Try the stall test and see if it jumps out of gear.

[lswing]

Have you done this current driving without getting the fluid checked, are you crazy man? :)

My mechanic is experienced with other Audi's, and believed my trans was filled after some work, following all instructions. Months later, occasional slip, top gears, heavy load, no codes though, it happened three times. I went in and was 2 quarts low, I think it holds 12 or so with the TC?

[Brav]

Ya I'm crazy. No way to check it until I drive it to a friends lift. I highly doubt its low on fluid after so long. But I hate being wrong...

[ttboost]

Yeah...I thought I was wrong once...crappy feeling...

[905084]

Have you done this current driving without getting the fluid checked, are you crazy man? :)

My mechanic is experienced with other Audi's, and believed my trans was filled after some work, following all instructions. Months later, occasional slip, top gears, heavy load, no codes though, it happened three times. I went in and was 2 quarts low, I think it holds 12 or so with the TC?

A: Your trans leaked 2 quarts

B: Your mechanic didn't fill it right

[AUDI5000CSTQ]

BRAV,
$300 card, $3000 trany drop to replace card on top of trans, $100 platinum co-pay,
beating to hell thier S4 for two weeks, priceless.

Yes this is what I had.
Why is it I always get the wierd stuff first!
leaking fuel tank, smell gass off and on
Vacuum leak under manifold so brakes go bad,off and on
card on top of trans. wierd trans, again off and on.

[Brav]

was the trans control card what cause the problems?

[AUDI5000CSTQ]

they typed "AUDI" on it

[ben916]

BRAV,
$300 card, $3000 trany drop to replace card on top of trans, $100 platinum co-pay,
beating to hell thier S4 for two weeks, priceless.

Yes this is what I had.
Why is it I always get the wierd stuff first!
leaking fuel tank, smell gass off and on
Vacuum leak under manifold so brakes go bad,off and on
card on top of trans. wierd trans, again off and on.


was the trans control card what cause the problems?

yes...

Too much Dentist's laughing gas, John. There are support groups for that type of thing...

[AUDI5000CSTQ]

Sorry, read it as " what caused the problem"
My answer is always, just like, "why does it cost so much?"
Has 'AUDI" writen on it.
A toyota would never have had this problem.
An RS6 owner askes a Toyota owner " want to race?"
Toyota owner answers, " sure, how far?"

[Brav]

hittin the sauce, LOL? The question was simply if the control module is the problem leading trans failure..

If I wanted a Toyota, I would get a bowl cut, stock up on mock turtle necks, and divide my personality in half. pay to play..

[kilian tuning]

mine is slipping to , but only when i accelerate very slow...about 200-300 rpm rise after gearchange...prob normal...

[AUDI5000CSTQ]

It doesn't cause the trans to fail. Just makes it act badly.
Do you have any insurance?
I have lots of cars for different purposes.

[SFJ_RS6]

Recommend you start with a fluid level check. My car exhibited similar symptoms, and it turned out the transmission fluid level was about 2 quarts low even though it had been serviced within the previous year. Bringing the fluid up to the correct level resolved the problem. Good luck!

[905084]

hittin the sauce, LOL? The question was simply if the control module is the problem leading trans failure..

If I wanted a Toyota, I would get a bowl cut, stock up on mock turtle necks, and divide my personality in half. pay to play..

LMAO...I had my Toyota...Scion Xb as it was. A/C went at 24k, Toyota wouldn't fix under warranty. Went all the way to to Jim Lenz (VP Scion at the time). I will NEVER....EVER....EVER own another POS Toyota product again. Cost me way more to drive my Scion Xb in maintenance than my Ford Expedition ever cost me in gas.