A6 Avant 03 plate 2.5tdi gearbox

[johnm]

I bought this used in Jan from a Audi dealer with just under 50K miles on it. I've been delighted with the car but on a trip to Switzerland it developed a tendency to judder when pulling away. Much like clutch judder or engine misfire on a petrol manual car would be.

It's fine in the cruise.

When I got back I returned it to the dealer who proposes to fit a new gearbox under warranty, has anybody else had problems with the multitronic 6 speed box?

The irony is I bought the car to replace my old Jaguar as I felt reliability might become an issue at 240K miles. Fortunately I've still got it to drive while I wait for the Audi to get fixed

[ss30]

I have the same problem with my A6 2.7 tdi manual, when cold and you pull away in first it judders but after a while it goes away. The dealer siad they could find nothing wrong :(.

ss30

[johnm]

Hmmm. Mine's automatic and the laddie at the dealers told me that they'd had one in before and the answer was new clutch pack/input shaft.

Mine had all the diagnostics read while I was till in Switzerland and NFF either engine or gearbox. I'm suspicious of the engine meself but I don't know diesels.

[ss30]

What I hate is the dealer said they could find nothing wrong when there is.

The one thing that did shock me was that there was a noise with the power steering when on full lock so told the dealer(I tought the pump belt might be slipping) they had it in and replaced the steering rack which they told me did not solve the problem so they changed the pump all under warenty which was good.

[paul b]

What I hate is the dealer said they could find nothing wrong when there is.

The one thing that did shock me was that there was a noise with the power steering when on full lock so told the dealer(I tought the pump belt might be slipping) they had it in and replaced the steering rack which they told me did not solve the problem so they changed the pump all under warenty which was good.
I am having this exact problem right now... and I'm about to fix it. I have been told it is one way clutch failiure of the alternator and I noticed at the weekend that the steering was noisy but only on full lock and that when I turned to full lock, the fan belt (poly V belt) was vibrating a lot. I have been told by forum member Crasher than it is a pulley that requires replacing, not the whole alternator. So that saves me a few quid...

Are you sure yours is fixed? Mine only did this when stationary and when it wasn't really warmed up. Like you, I changed the belt myself, and the problem remained.

I suppose it serves me right to be honest, because for about 6 months the magic eye on the battery is telling me it needs replacing, the only thing is it starts perfectly every time! So I'll get the battery changed too.

Paul

[paul b]

I bought this used in Jan from a Audi dealer with just under 50K miles on it. I've been delighted with the car but on a trip to Switzerland it developed a tendency to judder when pulling away. Much like clutch judder or engine misfire on a petrol manual car would be.

It's fine in the cruise.

When I got back I returned it to the dealer who proposes to fit a new gearbox under warranty, has anybody else had problems with the multitronic 6 speed box?

The irony is I bought the car to replace my old Jaguar as I felt reliability might become an issue at 240K miles. Fortunately I've still got it to drive while I wait for the Audi to get fixed
Multitronics are reknown for failing. Have you searched for them on this forum? You'll find thousands of posts about it. Get the new box fitted, it will then have 7 clutch plates rather than 6.

This is common, you are definitely not alone!

Paul

[ss30]

I am having this exact problem right now... and I'm about to fix it. I have been told it is one way clutch failiure of the alternator and I noticed at the weekend that the steering was noisy but only on full lock and that when I turned to full lock, the fan belt (poly V belt) was vibrating a lot. I have been told by forum member Crasher than it is a pulley that requires replacing, not the whole alternator. So that saves me a few quid...

Are you sure yours is fixed? Mine only did this when stationary and when it wasn't really warmed up. Like you, I changed the belt myself, and the problem remained.

I suppose it serves me right to be honest, because for about 6 months the magic eye on the battery is telling me it needs replacing, the only thing is it starts perfectly every time! So I'll get the battery changed too.

Paul

I think it's fixed because since we had it the steering was very sharp just touch the wheel and you were across the road and there was no play in the wheel at all just the smallest move and it turned, and now it's more like other cars we have owned.

[paul b]

I think it's fixed because since we had it the steering was very sharp just touch the wheel and you were across the road and there was no play in the wheel at all just the smallest move and it turned, and now it's more like other cars we have owned.
Oh I see. The steering on mine remains unaffected, just noisy on full lock.

Paul

[johnm]

Well the saga continues and having removed the gearbox they now tell me that the water pump is leaking and that too will be replaced under warranty. At the same time they have suggested that a load of belts and pulleys should be replaced while they are accessible so I've agreed to that as the labour will be nil so I just have to buy the parts.

In the meantime my dear old Jaguar Sovereign with 230K miles up is driving me around very comfortably with a smug smile on its face. I may keep it at this rate and sell the Audi:zx11:

[mrcheeezy]

I had the same problem with a 1.9 multitronic, it too needed a new box after 100K. I think they are very prone to this problem lots of posts on this forum. You are lucky to still be under warranty, it cost me 4k and believe me i tried everyone else to fix it but no one will touch the multitronic. Lovely when it works - a car scrapper when it fails! I'd stick to manuals

[johnm]

it too needed a new box after 100K

100K isn't too bad, mine barely made 50K. :aargh4:The Jag (touch wood) has never given me a major component problem in 230K miles, I've only ever had to replace consumables and minor bits like bowden cables on the electric steering column and the digital clock display and people think Jags are unreliable and Audi/VW rock solid, how does that work?

I've now got the car back and it turns out this is the THIRD gearbox not the second, the one I complained of didn't make 20K miles and has been replaced under its warranty not the one I got with the car. New gearbox now starts its two year warranty period and I'm not a happy bunny, but we'll just have to see how it goes I guess.

I'm thinking of opening a fitness for purpose discussion with local trading standards anybody else up for that?

[johnm]

The saga continues, when I got the car back, the ESP light was on (I assume something got disturbed in the gearbox swap) so back it goes again next week for two days while they sort that out.

The really annoying part is when it's going it's really a very good car, but so far I have to say that its reliability raises some fundamental fitness for purpose issues and I'm still driving the JAG, even my Morris Minor is more reliable

[johnm]

Well the saga seems to got to a conclusion for now at least.

After the replacement box and other work had been done the ESP light kept coming on. Eventually I spat my dummy and the dealer lent me an A4 (nice car actually) and took it in with a promise not to return it until they were sure it was fixed. They eventually diagnosed the problem as incorrect fuel pump timing of all things. I guess that might be related to the replacement of all thre belts and pulleys normally done at 80K???

I've had the car back for over a month and I've driven it to Prague and back with no problems it even cruised at 100 to 120 mph on the autobahn and returned 37 mpg!

So at present I'm a happy A6 owner. It's asking for a service now so I'll have to read the warranty conditions to see whether it goes to a specialist or a dealer

[TimmyTim]

Well the saga seems to got to a conclusion for now at least.

After the replacement box and other work had been done the ESP light kept coming on. Eventually I spat my dummy and the dealer lent me an A4 (nice car actually) and took it in with a promise not to return it until they were sure it was fixed. They eventually diagnosed the problem as incorrect fuel pump timing of all things. I guess that might be related to the replacement of all thre belts and pulleys normally done at 80K???

I've had the car back for over a month and I've driven it to Prague and back with no problems it even cruised at 100 to 120 mph on the autobahn and returned 37 mpg!

So at present I'm a happy A6 owner. It's asking for a service now so I'll have to read the warranty conditions to see whether it goes to a specialist or a dealer


I've just read the whole of the thread! sounds like a nighmare! I'm glad that my A6 is a 6 speed manuel now! because when I bought my car I really wanted an auto...

Hope the car stays out of the Main ******** and on the road! I bet your glad it was under warranty?! :approve:

[bulgiboy]

I have a 2006 A6 2.0 TD and had clutch judder problems from 15K miles.......every time it went into Audi they said "can't find a problem" eventually admitted it was the clutch and replaced it under warranty at 2 yrs old 55k miles.

Now done 97k and the problem is back!! Car gone into Audi for evaluation today and they say it's most likely the flywheel which floats between the clutch! This will cost £1000 to renew (same labour cost as a clutch) and they advise doing the clutch at same time for £1300.

I asked if we just instructed them to replace the flywheel and it turned out to be the clutch would they replace the clutch free of charge (as only did 40k with the revised / “improved” clutch plate? They said not because the flywheel wear / problem could have caused premature aging of the clutch!! They now advise replacing both.

Apparently they checked the flywheel when they replaced clutch under warranty and it was "fine".

Nobody pointed out the potential for this to happen when they did the clutch replacement; if they had we would have paid for the flywheel to be replaced.

In summary, if the customer is paying they advise replacing the flywheel at the same time as doing the clutch....if they replace the clutch under warranty they don't even ask you if you want to replace it!!

Is it me or does this all sound a little unfair?

:zx11:

[Eshrules]

To be 'fair' you've had 4 years on that clutch, 6 on the original flywheel. depending on your driving style, it is entirely possible the f/wheel was fine when the replacement clutch was installed.

if there was nothing wrong with it and Audi had advised you to change it, you'd be complaining that was unfair too, quite rightly.

[bulgiboy]

To be 'fair' you've had 4 years on that clutch, 6 on the original flywheel. depending on your driving style, it is entirely possible the f/wheel was fine when the replacement clutch was installed.

if there was nothing wrong with it and Audi had advised you to change it, you'd be complaining that was unfair too, quite rightly.

No....

just under 2 years 55k on first clutch
just over 1 year 42k on the second ("revised / improved") clutch
3 yrs 1 month on the flywheel

So I'm alone in thinking this is unreasonable?

[johnm]

It sounds unprofessional at least. When I had mine done at 60000 they suggested I did the big service on all the belts and pulleys at the same time (mine's 2.5tdi) because it would only cost parts and could then be left for 80000 miles

[bulgiboy]

It sounds unprofessional at least. When I had mine done at 60000 they suggested I did the big service on all the belts and pulleys at the same time (mine's 2.5tdi) because it would only cost parts and could then be left for 80000 miles

Now thats profesional!

I wish they had at least given me the option. Really poor and now left with a £1,300.00 bill that could so easily have been avoided for the cost of the flywheel a year ago.

Really not happy about this at all.

[Eshrules]

No....

just under 2 years 55k on first clutch
just over 1 year 42k on the second ("revised / improved") clutch
3 yrs 1 month on the flywheel

So I'm alone in thinking this is unreasonable?

You didn't answer my question though :Blush2:

the flywheel would have been 2 years old, what would be the point in replacing a perfectly good flywheel (had covered 40k, has now covered nearly 100k)?

[bulgiboy]

You didn't answer my question though :Blush2:

the flywheel would have been 2 years old, what would be the point in replacing a perfectly good flywheel (had covered 40k, has now covered nearly 100k)?

Oh dear....sorry I didn't answer that point, before I do, just to correct your "quote" .........

Yes at point of clutch replacement flywheel would have been 2 years old but had done 55k miles, not 40k (you are confusing the mileage covered between the first and 2nd clutch). 1 year on (car now 3 yrs old) the flywheel is suspected as gone and ruined the "revised / improved" replacement clutch plate which has done only 42k miles (in just over a year).

And so to answer your question;

"what would be the point in replacing a perfectly good flywhee?"

Because it would have cost me £500 if replaced at the same time as the clutch, which as an improved plate should have done comfortably more than the 55k covered on the first one. Instead 42k miles later its costing me £1,300.00 (flywheel and clutch) because the flywheel wasn't replaced at the same time and has now knackered the "improved" clutch plate 13k miles earlier than the original one!! Not sure how much additional wear was expected following Audis improvements to the plate, but assuming it would get at least say 80k miles out of it, I'm facing a bill for £1,300.00 around 40k miles earlier than would have been the case.

The point is, sometimes it is sensible to repair other "perfectly good" at the time items at the same time as doing other repairs if their is little to no extra labour involved in doing so (in this case no extra labour time at all). So i feel Audi should at least have raised the point with me and given me the option, given that the flywheel had done 2 yrs / 55k miles of work. To make things worse, having done some research, i find the flywheel is a well known / common problem to my model....not the clutch plate!

see

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=863

"Seemingly widespread problem with dual mass flywheels on A6 2.0TDIs which causes stalling. These can start to separate and the clutch can fail by 45k miles requiring expensive (£1,200) replacement"


It would appear you don't agree with my point which is fine, but when you read this reply to your comments, i suggest you read both this and my previous posts carefully as both of your replies have misquoted the information....in favour of Audis defence.

Cheers

:beerchug:

Mike

[paul b]

On cars fitted with a DMF like bulgiboy's then it is worth changing the flywheel at the same time as the clutch, because one failing could take the other with it. And you don't need to bother doing the same job twice.

If the clutch fails on my A6 one day, the flywheel will be changed too. Or vice-versa.