A6 gearbox contamination not picked up by Audi dealer service

[JimA6]

Hello. I am new. Your advice is really appreciated.

My A6 Avant 2013 automatic TDI 2.0 was stalling. Its done close to 100,000 miles.

So I took it to an official Audi dealer to have this resolved and a minor service two weeks ago. They did a software reboot - still not solved stalling.

I took it back to Audi after two weeks to have it fixed again on Thursday. This time they found that there was coolant contamination in the gearbox. If below 50 parts per million coolant contamination, they can flush the gearbox and repair. Since its already 150 parts per million - the whole gear box plus pipes needs be replaced.

Do I have any legs to stand on. Should Audi dealer have picked up this issue early and still be in position to repair not replace?

My insurer only covers accident not this type of mechanical failure. Is scrapping the car the only option at a huge loss?

Thank you for your help

[Gmonster]

Hi Jim .. sorry to hear about your issue..

In a perfect world the multitude of sensors on the engine would be getting monitored by the service computer system ....and this would/should get picked up early by a registered service dealer. Ideally this would be one of the main reasons for attending a main Audi dealer for service etc.

I’m unaware if this issue is part of the monitoring system ...but there are plenty of experts on here that should hopefully be able to advise.

Sounds like a tricky one tho. Good luck.


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[B5NUT]

Examining fluids for contamination is not part of any servicing schedule, the dealership is not to blame on this one.

What I would do at this point if find a garage that can locate where the coolant is entering the gearbox, my guess is the front radiator if it has the oil gearbox oil cooler as part of the radiator. Once the fault has been fixed have the gearbox flushed and and refilled and then see how the car drives. I would also have the coolant flushed and replaced.

[JimA6]

Examining fluids for contamination is not part of any servicing schedule, the dealership is not to blame on this one.

What I would do at this point if find a garage that can locate where the coolant is entering the gearbox, my guess is the front radiator if it has the oil gearbox oil cooler as part of the radiator. Once the fault has been fixed have the gearbox flushed and and refilled and then see how the car drives. I would also have the coolant flushed and replaced.

Thank you. What is the max concentration of coolant contaminant in parts per million where the gearbox can still be repaired instead of replaced?

[B5NUT]

That I have no idea. many years ago I had a gearbox which had coolant contamination. The fault was with the radiator and that was replaced and the system flushed and new oil put in. I never had a problem after that, and the car ran for many years without issue.

A good gearbox specialist will be able to help without emptying the bank account. However I would not be running the car unless you have to.

[FrenchAudi]

I think the possible damage to the gearbox is more likely proportional to the time that the oil was contaminated rather than the amount of contamination.

Definitely worth cleaning up the system as suggested before fitting a new g/box or scrapping the car.

[Crasher]

There is no harm in trying to flush the system clean but the cooler will need replacing. With the car not being Euro 6 emissions, where you live it is not worth pumping to much money into it as soon it will be priced off the road.