Reverse gear problem

[coco]

Hi Guys,

I have a question about transmission.

My car (has 140,000km on it) has problem only in reverse gear, has no problem whatsoever in 1st through 5th.

When I put a gear in reverse,
1. it usually do okey when creeping (no rev go up nor any shift shock with it)
2. after start moving backward, sometimes the gear (slips? I don't feel anything though) disconnected (I'm guessing) and won't do anything.
3. at that time, it doesn't do anything, no vibration nor anything. It just sit quiet I don't even notice that the gear is disconnected (I mean no shock at all). Just stops.
It happens especially when going backward on down slope.
4. if I let it stand for a while (about 5 secs.), the gear sometimes seems to work again with no problem without any vibration
5. but sometimes, it create some vibration (but moving backward)
6. Whan "5" happens, idle often bocomes rough

Rebuilding TC and transmission here in Japan cost me US$7-8,000!!
So I'm trying to figure out other method to fix the pboblem.

Anyone please give me some idea what to do.
Any suggestion will help me a lot.

Best regards,
Coco

[DHall1]

have a shop that knows what they're doing check the fluid level

[905084]

Fluid....or "F" clutch...hope it is just fluid....

[lswing]

Shift cable connection to trans, needs to be perfect, suggest finding the connection and making sure it's good. I can dig up an image with it circled, but your mechanic should easily find it.

Could be internals for reverse going bad, think there's a pin that likes to fail.

[TozoM8]

Most likely the F piston.
http://audipages.com/tozo/collapsed%20F.jpg

[905084]

Hope it's not the F.....but probably.....clean the contacts on the electrical connector to the trans....change the fluid and filter....and pray.....5HP24A in 2000 with the 4.2 was notorious for the F piston.....ours not as much, but explore all your options before you start maxing out your VISA card.

[coco]

Thank you guys,

I will talk to the mechanic that I've been asking to fix my car for long time.

I've done fluid change every 15,000km and it's been about 5,000km since the last change.
I had my car through a vehicle inspection (every two years we have inspection in Japan and cost me $2k for that) so the fluid level should be OK.
I guess I will start with reasonable options first and pray.
Adjustng wire and change the fluid one more time.

Is it possible to rebuild on TC without rebuilding transmission?
Or, I should go for complete rebuilding?

I guess I have to check the cost fisrt...

Coco

[Bigglezworth]

F Clutch...

http://tomboynton.com/Audi.html

[coco]

Hi guys,

So I had my transmission rebuilt.
Valve body and F-Clutch replaced but still have reverse gear problem once in a while.
It is definetely slipping.
Somtimes it will re-connect after slowly pressing a gas pedal, sometimes it won't move at all.

Transmission guys could not figure out why these things happens so far.
Does anybody have any idea about it?

Please help!!

Best regards,
Coco

[lswing]

Was the transmission removed from the car and fully rebuilt? Much more than you listed should have been done. Also, there is an adjustment cable from shifter to trans I believe, something like that, we looked at mine when it was jumping from 3rd to 4th, was not the issue. Maybe on the rebuild they didn't fix the reverse issue it sounds like, doesn't sound fun.

If TozoM8 chimes in here you will get an answer on the internal part that is probably the issue.

At least all your forward gears work!

[coco]

The reason I had my transmission rebuilt was because I almost completely lost the reverse gear.
At that time, I didn't have much significant problem in forward gear.

So I decided to have transmission specialist do the complete rebuld.
And yes, the transmission was removed and fully rebuilt professionally (cost me more than $7k).
The mechanics who did rebuilt the transmission did only rebuilt the valve body.
But the problem continued therefore they replaced the valve body.
After replacing the valve body, shift shock eliminated and everything seemed smooth for a while but the reverse gear problem came back again.
Now they try to figure out what the source of the ploblem causing reverse gear slip.

I'm not sure if anbyone had some kind of problem and hoping somebody know the pin point solution for the problem.

Hey, it's pretty inconvenient driving without reverse especially Tokyo Met. We need reverse all the time!

Coco

[coco]

Hi guys,

Update regarding trans rebuild.

After replacing valvebody to the new one, everything went nice and smooth until about a month, the same Reverse problem showed up occasionally.
There seems no pattern when the problem occur (as far as I can tell).
So, the transmission rebuild shop determined that the new valve body was "defect" and went for another new valve body, with same result (what a shame...)

And now, they think the problem is due to something inside the transmission case where complete trasnmission rebuild specified by ZF does not cover and probosed that the shop want to replase trasnmission assembly.

I'm not sure, at this moment.　if I should let the shop do the job (the ship will cover the cost and cost me nothing).

What do you guys think?

I mean after replacing transmission assembly and will not solve the problem, what the shop will be able to do next?

Anyway, I'm wondering if anybody know where I should buy the rebuild/remanufactured transmission assembly for my car?
Becuase the price fo rebuild transmission here in Japan is running $12,000-$15,000 if anything available.

Coco

[lswing]

I would look into getting a rebuild from Tozo. Cost of the rebuilt trans is $3,500. Cost of rebuilt TC is $500. Buy a core trans for $1,000, and a core TC for $250; both here in the US, maybe Tozo can deal with that for you. So you would be around $5,250 for a whole upgraded unit ready to put right in. You might just hold onto your old trans core and tc core since shipping them would cost a lot. Even if shipping to Japan (correct?) is $1,000-$2,000, you will be set for a long time.

I think that Tozo upgrades a reverse pin I believe (which could be your problem), along with some other small internal parts and the clutches.

[Bigglezworth]

The transmission rebuilder should have a warranty for their work and should correct your problem at their cost. You paid to have a transmission rebuilt so that the car was functional. You've provided payment for such and they have a contractual requirement to provide such - irrespective of what they may or may not have got correct the first time. Expensive error on their behalf and a host of frustration for yourself.

[coco]

I would look into getting a rebuild from Tozo. Cost of the rebuilt trans is $3,500. Cost of rebuilt TC is $500. Buy a core trans for $1,000, and a core TC for $250; both here in the US, maybe Tozo can deal with that for you. So you would be around $5,250 for a whole upgraded unit ready to put right in. You might just hold onto your old trans core and tc core since shipping them would cost a lot. Even if shipping to Japan (correct?) is $1,000-$2,000, you will be set for a long time.

I think that Tozo upgrades a reverse pin I believe (which could be your problem), along with some other small internal parts and the clutches.

Thanks, Iswing

Rebuilding transmission, or replacing transmission is not very common here in Japan. People often change cars within 3 years (and average driving distance/year is approx 10,000km (6,000miles). Low demand means high price, right?


The rebuilder has not yet decided whether to replace the transmission or not, he simply proposed the idea because he have no other choice to correct the problem.

I researched rebuild/remanufactured transmission a little bit on the web and found Level 10 and 517 transmission as well as ZF remanufactured transmission from ZF.

What are the differences among Tozo/Level10/517/ZF?

If price is not the matter (since rebuild transmission here in Japan is $12,000-$15,000), which transmission do you recommend?

Any suggestion is appreciated!!

Coco

[coco]

The transmission rebuilder should have a warranty for their work and should correct your problem at their cost. You paid to have a transmission rebuilt so that the car was functional. You've provided payment for such and they have a contractual requirement to provide such - irrespective of what they may or may not have got correct the first time. Expensive error on their behalf and a host of frustration for yourself.

Thanks for your concern, Bigglezworth

Yes the rebuilder did and will cover whatever the cost it takes to correct the problem. But still I want my car running in good condition (that's why I had them to rebuild transmission, right?)

The shop simply could have no idea to correct this problem (Audi dealer has no idea at all neither) so went for replacing valvebody twice and now proposing to replace transmission assembly.
And everytime the shop do something, my car's gone for at least a week (sometimes 2 weeks).
What a frustration!!

Anyway, I hope the shop will find the way to correct the problem.

Coco