Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Transmission being replaced -- opportunity?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    7

    Transmission being replaced -- opportunity?

    So, my transmission needs to be replaced on my 2003 RS6 (80,000 miles). Thankfully, I have warranty insurance that's covering the costs for that, which means my engine is being pulled on someone else's dime. Is there anything I should ask to have done, while the engine is out? I'm mostly looking for prophylactic replacement of parts that might fail and require expensive labor costs to get at.

    For example, is it worth replacing the original turbos, even just with newer OEM replacements? I'm not really looking for performance improvements, since drive train seems challenged with the original power on these beasts.

    i need to let the mechanic know in the next ay or two if I want anything added to the planned work...

  2. #2
    Registered User 4everRS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,405
    Was the tbelt done at 75k like its supposed to be?

    O2 sensors. EGT sensors. Make sure the steering rack bolts are tight.

    Turbos? Not if you don't have a tune. If its been tuned for a while, I'd consider a rebuild.
    Avus Silver RS6 - Viper Stage 2 ECU/TCU - Water/Meth Injection - Frozen Rotors - Hbars - clear corners - Hella smoked tails - gutted precats

  3. #3
    Registered User Other_Erik's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Posts
    852
    Wish I could get my front end torn apart on someone else's dime :\ My personal checklist when I have to go out-of-pocket is:

    Header wrap
    Turbo blankets
    Bolt/hose inspection
    Leak check
    EGT Sensors
    O2 sensors
    Trans pan/filter/fluids (nipped uptake tube)
    Brake ducts
    Wagner IC's/hoses/shrouds (and removal of fog lamps)
    Thorough degreasing and rust inhibitant
    Splash Guard
    Heat/noise insulation (boom-mat, possibly some rhinoliner)
    Pre-Cat gutting
    Alternator Diode preventative replacement
    Considering a Meziere electric water pump
    Heater core de-gunk and fins straightened
    Full coolant flush and radiator pressure treatment


    etc...
    #905530 - Brilliant Black on Ebony. Sorted, running strong, ready for a new owner.
    No, I am not the board admin - that's Erik (from Sweden), I'm Other_Erik (from the US)

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by 4everRS View Post
    Was the tbelt done at 75k like its supposed to be?

    O2 sensors. EGT sensors. Make sure the steering rack bolts are tight.

    Turbos? Not if you don't have a tune. If its been tuned for a while, I'd consider a rebuild.
    Thank you for answering. :-)

    Yes, the timing belt was done, so no problem there.

    When you say "a tune", do you mean if the car was chipped? I got it used, so I don't know for sure, but I have no reason to believe that it was ever chipped to provide more boost...

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by Other_Erik View Post
    Wish I could get my front end torn apart on someone else's dime :\
    [/QUOTE]

    Yes, I see it as an excellent opportunity! :-)

    Quote Originally Posted by Other_Erik View Post

    Header wrap
    Turbo blankets
    Bolt/hose inspection
    Leak check
    EGT Sensors
    O2 sensors
    Trans pan/filter/fluids (nipped uptake tube)
    Brake ducts
    Wagner IC's/hoses/shrouds (and removal of fog lamps)
    Thorough degreasing and rust inhibitant
    Splash Guard
    Heat/noise insulation (boom-mat, possibly some rhinoliner)
    Pre-Cat gutting
    Alternator Diode preventative replacement
    Considering a Meziere electric water pump
    Heater core de-gunk and fins straightened
    Full coolant flush and radiator pressure treatment

    etc...
    Thank you for this list! I'll definitely scope out most of it. I'm not sure my Audi dealer will be up for gutting the cat. ;-)

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    7,780
    Well it depends on how much longer you have service contract coverage. Lets say you have 30k more miles then I would not do anything and let her ride. The cost to change primary O2s and EGT sensors are a small fortune just for the parts alone. And these are covered components anyways.

    What failed in the transmission?

    Ditto for the turbos. If the car has not been tuned or flashed and oil was changed on schedule then the turbos are fine.

    Just have the tech look for oil leaks that would be covered while its out. Most likely valve cover gaskets at your mileage.

    Leave everything else alone. No way is it a good idea to gut cats unless you have big tuning plans later on. And the dealer will laugh at you.

    Which service contract do you have? And the last 4 of your vin?

    Quote Originally Posted by RS6bear View Post
    So, my transmission needs to be replaced on my 2003 RS6 (80,000 miles). Thankfully, I have warranty insurance that's covering the costs for that, which means my engine is being pulled on someone else's dime. Is there anything I should ask to have done, while the engine is out? I'm mostly looking for prophylactic replacement of parts that might fail and require expensive labor costs to get at.

    For example, is it worth replacing the original turbos, even just with newer OEM replacements? I'm not really looking for performance improvements, since drive train seems challenged with the original power on these beasts.

    i need to let the mechanic know in the next ay or two if I want anything added to the planned work...

  7. #7
    Registered User kevin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Waterloo, IA
    Posts
    341
    oil cooler nipple!!!
    2003 Rs6 Mugello/Ebony Eurocharged/APR R1 DV's/RNS-E/KW-v3/Hotchkis/Full Milltek Cat-less/Apikol IC's/D.O. water-meth/ 6 speed SOLD!! Next???

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    7,780
    Yes that is a must. Completely forgot about that one. Its the small cooler tube that cracks.

    Quote Originally Posted by kevin View Post
    oil cooler nipple!!!

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    600
    03 RS6 :: 01 allroad

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by DHall1 View Post
    Well it depends on how much longer you have service contract coverage. Lets say you have 30k more miles then I would not do anything and let her ride. The cost to change primary O2s and EGT sensors are a small fortune just for the parts alone. And these are covered components anyways.

    What failed in the transmission?

    Ditto for the turbos. If the car has not been tuned or flashed and oil was changed on schedule then the turbos are fine.

    Just have the tech look for oil leaks that would be covered while its out. Most likely valve cover gaskets at your mileage.

    Leave everything else alone. No way is it a good idea to gut cats unless you have big tuning plans later on. And the dealer will laugh at you.

    Which service contract do you have? And the last 4 of your vin?
    I have coverage from Zurich Insurance for 2 years; I will only be driving the car ~5,000 miles/year, so I don't know as anything else (O2 sensors and EGT sensors) are really likely to fail during the remainder of my coverage.

    The transmission is rough in upper 2nd gear, and there's something funky with 3rd -- when I floor it and it drops into 3rd, it can be very jerky. Also, twice when stopping at a stop light, when I went to start up again, the transmission locked itself into 4th gear (a protection mechanism).

    The last 4 digits of my VIN are: 5115

    Thank you for all the advice (everyone), including the notes about the oil cooler nipple. :-)

  11. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    7,780
    Well then...

    Most Audi dealers take list price on parts and then mark it up another 25%.

    If you price out EGTs or O2s you will spend in the 1000s for them.

    The car will function with a failed EGT but not a O2. So if I were to go with one or the other I would do the O2s. Primary only

    Price out the dealer for the parts then go to Genuineaudiparts.com for a quote.

    Quote Originally Posted by RS6bear View Post
    I have coverage from Zurich Insurance for 2 years; I will only be driving the car ~5,000 miles/year, so I don't know as anything else (O2 sensors and EGT sensors) are really likely to fail during the remainder of my coverage.

    The transmission is rough in upper 2nd gear, and there's something funky with 3rd -- when I floor it and it drops into 3rd, it can be very jerky. Also, twice when stopping at a stop light, when I went to start up again, the transmission locked itself into 4th gear (a protection mechanism).

    The last 4 digits of my VIN are: 5115

    Thank you for all the advice (everyone), including the notes about the oil cooler nipple. :-)

  12. #12
    Registered User 4everRS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,405
    Quote Originally Posted by DHall1 View Post
    Yes that is a must. Completely forgot about that one. Its the small cooler tube that cracks.
    Just the nipple. Not the whole aluminum block.
    Avus Silver RS6 - Viper Stage 2 ECU/TCU - Water/Meth Injection - Frozen Rotors - Hbars - clear corners - Hella smoked tails - gutted precats

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    7,780
    I got the receipt for that sucker somewhere.......hold on.

    Quote Originally Posted by 4everRS View Post
    Just the nipple. Not the whole aluminum block.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by DHall1 View Post
    Well then...

    Most Audi dealers take list price on parts and then mark it up another 25%.

    If you price out EGTs or O2s you will spend in the 1000s for them.

    The car will function with a failed EGT but not a O2. So if I were to go with one or the other I would do the O2s. Primary only

    Price out the dealer for the parts then go to Genuineaudiparts.com for a quote.
    Actually, I have a failed EGT and I'll be replacing it -- at my own expense (but cheaper because the engine is pulled for the covered work). Apparently, EGT's are not covered by the warranty, so I think that I will prophylactically replace the O2 sensor.

    I've communicated everything else to the mechanic, so I think I'm covered. It was fun telling them to replace "the nipple" -- something I'm much happier to tell a mechanic than a doctor.

  15. #15
    Registered User G2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Eugene, OR
    Posts
    695
    For me (in addition to some of those listed above):
    Torque converter should be replaced. Maybe pay any extra for an upgraded unit?
    Rear main seal, close inspection of flex plate for cracks-- maybe send it out for mag testing to prove failure is eminent or in progress.
    F.diff carrier bearings (but can supposedly be repaired w/o trans R&R) if output drive flange is exceedingly loose.
    Turbos: ensure radial and end play are within specs, or replace as needed.

    From personal experience with extended warranties doing anything preventative is a tall order. Went thru a transmission issue with Nat'l Warranty Co couple years ago for a noisy carrier bearing. They heard it-- well the second "rep" did-- but it was still denied. On a vehicle with known weak transmissions. Tried to blame it on in adequate service. Total BS.
    Cheers, G2/Gary
    C5-RS6/KWV3/Revo/H20 Inj./Custom BBK/Custom cooling/CNC arms \ VW Touareg V10 \ B7A4 2.0T Avant \ Mk1 Callaway Scirocco \ audirs6parts@gmail.com / www.oilpro.myamsoil.com

  16. #16
    Registered User lswing's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Eugene, OR, again...
    Posts
    4,760
    Quote Originally Posted by RS6bear View Post
    I think that I will prophylactically replace the O2 sensor.
    Proactively? But yes, we do end up taking it in the year from this car sometimes. Your wording makes more sense, and if you did it on purpose, well done, well done...
    Ace/Edge TC - Tozo Trans - MTM TCU - REVO/ME7 tune - Wagner IC's w/ Venair Hoses - Aux Radiator delete - Hotchkis Sways - Hawk HPS Pads - Koni Sport Struts - Scroll KO4 Turbos - Devil's Own WM - 421whp/452wtq on Mustang Dyno - http://www.audirssix.com

  17. #17
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by lswing View Post
    Proactively? But yes, we do end up taking it in the year from this car sometimes. Your wording makes more sense, and if you did it on purpose, well done, well done...
    I actually did mean prophylaxis (not a typo), but proactive is just as good. ...and as you say, when dealing with The Beast, I am on the receiving end of some rough stuff, and any kind of protection and prevention is good. :-)

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •