Problem with gearbox?

[dannyboy75]

Hi everyone

I drive an Audi A4 Sport, 02 plate, automatic gearbox. About 3 months ago, I noticed that the car started to lurch sometimes when pulling away, when previously it has been a nice smooth drive. I spoke to a couple of people who said that the gearbox may be going, and they asked if the oil had been changed every 40000 miles. I bought the car at 60000 and now it's done nearly 115000. Checking the history, it doesn't seem that it has been changed, so a friend who is a mechanic did this and said it may solve the problem, it may not.

Apparently the oil change was bad, it was black and there was "a lot of crap" in there. It hasn't affected the lurching of the car when pulling away from stationary, it still happens, not all of the time but seems to be getting slightly worse.

The car is fine when driving, it is only when pulling away that I notice the problem. Also, in the past couple of weeks, the car starts to shudder a little when I slow down to a stop, then the lurching again when I start to drive.

This car is an 02 plate and is probably not worth more than £1500, so I am weighing up what to do next. I can't really afford a new car. I'm also pretty vexed that the garage I have been using for servicing etc since I bought it never mentioned the 40000 gearbox oil change, as maybe this could have been prevented?

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be, what the cost of fixing it might be, and where I could take the car that is recommended and trustworthy? I live in St Albans in Herts. Sorry if some of the terminology is off here, I am not really too up on cars!

Thanks for reading, any advice would be very welcome.

[the bodgemeister]

Multitronic gearbox failure - 100's of results on here and Google for those unfortunate enough to suffer from it. Resolution can range from oil changes, clutch plate upgrade, ECU reset / replace all they way to replacement box. Either way - your looking at just under the value of the car to fix it should the oil change not cure it.

[Crasher]

It could easily cost £6K to fix using an exchange Audi box. The boxes vary from £3700 to £4800 inc. VAT plus fitting and fluids.

[dannyboy75]

Thanks for the advice, it doesn't sound great. Does anyone know of any trusted, reputable places I could take the car to? My local garage seem to want to try everything, racking up a fortune in costs. Ideally I'd like quote to get it fixed, and then get it fixed, rather than trying (and paying) for 3-4 different options before we eventually get there... is this reasonable?!

I've also heard abour reconditioned gearboxes, is this a good option?

[Dark Horse]

If you live in St Albans, give independent Audi specialists Inde Tech a call as they are nearby (see http://www.inde-tech.co.uk/)

[Mad mike]

Unfortunately it doesn't sound good, I had these symptoms including a loud thump occasionally when pulling away.

Not too long after an onil change pulled out and accelerated hard to pass a truck and bang the drive went and gearbox was gubbed

Cost ke 3700 for a remanufactured box new DMF and fitting about 18 months ago

It has been ok since but very occasionally I get a bit of a lurch pulling away that helps to keep me on my toes!

Done 35k since and don't know how long it will last

Will never buy another, piece of crap gearbox

If it's still driving suggest you get rid rather than waste money on it

[willsan39]

i had a problem , it was the ecu ,had it repaired and the original problem was sorted ,but it had developed really harsh take up of drive . after alot of messing around I found out it was another ecu fault , (they didnt do the repair properly in the first place ?) they had the ecu back fixed it and now its all good . worth getting it checked , I think it cost about £70 then £200 or so to repair if they find a fault .

[fourringsrus]

Indietech at Milton Keynes as said by Dark horse have excellent reputation as being the best outfit specialising in Audi multitronic boxes.

[rswaffie]

Hi,
Had similar symptoms on my 47k a4 avant (55). I was getting a shudder/hesitation on slowing down, as if it was going to stall. Also, on accelerating through 2000rpm, a similar hesitation. Local indie did a diag (£40), but found no faults. Suggested it may be the multitronic on it's way out as test drive displayed g/b failing symptoms. Suggested I call Indietech who also said it could be the g/b, but to bring it in. The oil had been changed at 43k by the dealer so took it to them (Audi P'Boro) for a second opinion. The engineer came out with me to experience the symptoms and was fairly certain what it was but ran diags to confirm his suspicions - free of charge I might add! Result? Very low fuel delivery reading so suggested a fuel filter change for £59. Did it while I was there and problem solved. Now smooth as a baby's proverbial. May be worth checking before you shell out for a new gearbox.