Judder when setting off in 1st gear

[ianc1990]

Hi Guys,



You may see a few of my posts recently posted to this forum - I apologise from the apparent spamming, but I'm just trying to make sure everything with the car is right.


Recently, I have noticed that when in start-stop traffic, setting off from first gear is very juddery. Once you're in a high rev range, it behaves perfectly fine, and all other gears are fine too. It is just the first few seconds when setting off. This is the case when the car is cold, and also when it is warm (Just got the issue when hitting traffic lights after a 30 mile trip)


Has anyone else experienced this, or is this something else I should be raising with Audi (I feel awkward raising so many issues with them!)

[Guest 2]

As you've only purchased the car last week I'm saying you're not simply just use to the clutch just yet.

[ianc1990]

Well, I would like to say that I am pretty good with the clutch, and have experienced many Audi clutches, including the A4 which I had just a year ago that had the same gearbox.



Since noticing the issue, I have played with different techniques of releasing it to set off, and nothing makes it go away apart from one thing - The only way to stop it from juddering it to give it unusually high revs, and I don't think this would be doing the car a great deal of good.

[Cockney Boy]

Your car is a 2007 A3? whats the mileage? is it a Manual box? if so then chances are the release bearing on the Clutch is FUBAR. Get it changed...............

[Guest 2]

He just got a 1 year old A6.

[Igloo]

I had this on my C6, audi replaced the clutch and flywheel.

Go somewhere quiet, full lock, then try and move off. Is the judder predicable?

[Cockney Boy]

Then take it back to the dealer!! its not your problem so get them to fix it.

[ianc1990]

Updated profile to reflect the new car.

I just drove back home from work (was working away earlier today when it did it but was back in the office for 2pm) and didn't notice the issue as much. I had a good think about it and it seems that the car only does this when its warm. The 3 times I have noticed it so far have all been 40+ mile trips.

What could cause this only when the car is warm? As you say, I think its probably best raising it with Audi….I just feel really awkward raising so many issues with them in just a week, when I didn't even buy the car from that dealership.

[Cockney Boy]

Warranty is a great thing :)

If it's only doing it when it's hot the the oil in the box isn't being cooled properly. Ask them to check the oil cooler

[Az1]

I noticed something similar on my test drive, but didn't pay much attention to it. But when i look back it was a brand new car and i was the first proper driver. I drove it for about 60 miles or so, and only noticed the judder around half way through my test drive. If that was my car i would have it straight back to the dealership.

[Mike41]

Updated profile to reflect the new car.
.I just feel really awkward raising so many issues with them in just a week, when I didn't even buy the car from that dealership.

Someone can correct me, but my understanding is that whichever Audi garage you take it to isn't owned by Audio! Any problems with the car they will be motivated to work on because doing work on cars is how they stay in business (apart from selling them of course) and in this case, it will be a large company (Audi UK) paying them instead of you. Therefore, I would imagine they would be very happy to take care of every single fault big or small with any Audi car.

[ianc1990]

Didn't think about it that way, I just didn't want to come across as **** to them, but I guess what you said makes perfect sense :)

[turpal]

Missed quite a bit on here.Get the dmf and clutch replaced,make yourself clear on that when you take it to the dealer.

[ianc1990]

Would they be covered under warranty? I read in another thread that they're not? Mine was also second hand from an independent dealership - don't know if that changes things however, the car has only just hit 6k miles today.

[turpal]

Would they be covered under warranty? I read in another thread that they're not? Mine was also second hand from an independent dealership - don't know if that changes things however, the car has only just hit 6k miles today.
You don`t get warranty for s/hand parts mate.

[ianc1990]

Not sure if you misunderstood there - parts are still originals, it's the car I purchased second hand, and it's only got 6k miles on the clock. Most other things seem to be covered by the 3 year warranty I just wasn't sure if the clutch and DMF would be include in the standard 3 year guarantee?

[turpal]

Not sure if you misunderstood there - parts are still originals, it's the car I purchased second hand, and it's only got 6k miles on the clock. Most other things seem to be covered by the 3 year warranty I just wasn't sure if the clutch and DMF would be include in the standard 3 year guarantee?
Sorry mate,too tired to read etc.I`d put my foot down on that if I was you but nice and gently.You can`t expect a dmf and clutch to give up after such a silly mileage so I`d insist in that to be covered if they try to avoid and speak to the manager if you have to and so on,just gentle and firm on this.

[ianc1990]

That was my thinking as well really. Yes it's second hand and not purchased through them, but with such little mileage you wouldn't expect it to go wrong.

I'll have a word with them tomorrow as the car is going to be with them on Friday anyway to fix the headlight washers and to investigate the rust issues. Unfortunately, it seems that I'm having nothing but bad luck with this one :(

[ScottyA6]

I must have driven about a dozen manual Audi's over the years (including my sisters '98 A3 that had more miles on it than Starship Enterprise) and not one of them had any judder or vibration through the clutch. Take it back.

Personally in an A6 the idea of anything other than an auto leaves me cold but I do realise there are those of you out there that like to stir their own porridge !

[Cockney Boy]

Warranty stays with the car no matter who has owned or where it's been. The dealer will get paid by Audi for the work to just take it there and let them worry about it

[Wuffles]

Unfortunately, it seems that I'm having nothing but bad luck with this one :(

Chin up, could be worse. You could have paid full whack for a new one and had similar problems.

[Forkit]

Curses, I think i have this as well. March 2012 car with 33k on the clock purchased 3 weeks ago.
Thought it was just me not setting the clutch correctly. It's even stalled on occasion....

[ianc1990]

I called the local dealership to tell them about this, so that's its added onto the list of things to sort when the car is with them tomorrow.

I was asked if I could replicate the issues and when I said, probably not as the car will be cold, I was told that in that case, they're not sure what they can do.



Does everyone else experience this only when the car is warm, or is it just me?

[Forkit]

I only drive it at the weekends.. Will do some testing and report back.

[nickc65]

I have had EXACTLY the same issue on my 2011 A6 that I bought second hand from a dealer (150 miles away) at the end of August. I noticed a very intermittent judder when pulling away from warm and had taken it back to the local dealer on numerous occasions, but as they could not replicate the issue they would not investigate further. The last time i took it back (couple of weeks ago) to replace a rattling internal panel, they said that their engineer had noticed the judder... SUCCESS!!! Er maybe not spoke too soon...

At this point they said that they would be more than happy enough to take the gearbox out to investigate the clutch issue, but I would have to promise to pay them for this if they took it apart and it was not a warranty issue. I was not overly impressed so asked them to contact the supplying dealer to ask them to approve the costs as it was under warranty from them for a year. They made the call and the supplier dealer refused on the basis that I had taken the car 3 month previously and they were not responsible for what could potentially be my bad driving habits (despite the fact that I first complained about the clutch within a week of owning it, and had proof of this that they sent through).

Yesterday I had a call with the suppliers sales manager, and after an initial refusal we eventually came to an agreement that they would support the costs of all work - but perhaps me mentioning that the goods were obviously not fit for purpose and I would demand a full refund if they didn't helped this conversation.

ianc1990, I suggest that you report the fault in writing, and get them to sign a copy just to be on the same side, and if they decide to do nothing now and it fails later you have proof that it was reported shortly after purchase

BTW, don't get me wrong, the A6 is a wonderful car and I REALLY hope I don't end up taking it back, but sometimes the dealer backup could do with improvement

[ianc1990]

Thanks for your reply. I took your advice and sent them an email - not necessarily in writing I know but at least it's something! I drove 25 miles after work today and when I got to my destination, I stopped and tried re-creating the issue a few times with no luck!

Did Audi end up covering yours under warranty or did te dealership you purchase the car from pay for te repairs? Also, what did they replace?

Not sure what I'm going to do to recreate it when it comes to showing the dealer!

[nickc65]

I'll know for certain what the issue was next Wednesday (this is when it is booked in for the work), but I share your frustration on the fact that it was impossible to recreate it on demand i.e. when at the dealers. The time that seemed to bring out the issue at it's worst was when picking up my wife's parents from Gatwick (approx 80 miles each way). On the way there I cruised the entire way at about 70-75, barely slowing at all, and was the same on the way back until I hit the queue for the Dartford Tunnel at the A2. Suddenly the symptoms were considerably worse than they had been before (despite the fact that I had barely used the clutch), and by the time i went through the tolls I was driving my own personal bucking bronco!!

Have a try yourself on a reasonable length journey, and then hit stop/start traffic to see if you get the same results perhaps?

[ianc1990]

Thats the only time it has done it for me, when hitting stop/start traffic in Leeds centre when I was working down there on both occasions.



I live in York, and Audi is 2 miles away from my house so dont get much stop/start on the way there! As you said, when it does do it its pretty bad. On one occasion, one of my clients sat in the passenger seat said, 'is everything ok' because it was juddering that bad.

Thats what caused me to post this thread :)

[nickc65]

:-)

I would suggest perhaps you can book it in for investigation in the afternoon and take it for a good drive beforehand, preferably with some stop/start towards the end to see if it is going to misbehave...

[Lukenkarl]

I had this problem on my A6 albeit a 2007. It was during the warranty period and Audi took it in replaced clutch friction plate and then one week later, because was still juddering, the flywheel and pressure plate. Now 30000 miles later it still judders slightly when cold (not warm) but only when weather is cold and damp. If your car is in warranty take it in and, if you can, leave it with them until its fixed. I told them to let the technician / mechanic use it , take it home to sort it out. They did, he drove it and the next day came in and said it needed looking at hence new DMF and clutch. Stick to your guns and if you have no joy at one dealership either go to another or customer services at Milton Keynes.

[Forkit]

Gents, how have the investigations progressed?
Hasn't happened on my car since I booked it in. Got until 3rd Jan to be able to replicate it at will.....

[ianc1990]

I couldn't replicate it either. Not much I can do :(

[nickc65]

Unfortunatley this seems to be one of those things that you just have to pray for - The car was in the garage for the last two days and has come back to me with a shiny new clutch and housing - apparently there was a problem with the spring which meant it was not landing "flat", so it ended up with a particular part of the clutch wearing prematurely! Felt very strange yesterday as biting point has moved, but very smooth - will let you know how I get on as they also said that there was play in the DMF... Fingers well and truly crossed!

[Forkit]

Cheers Nick, good to hear that something was done.
I'll get it checked out regardless of being able to replicate.

[ScottC25]

i too have this, 13 plate with 18k on it! Will take it in to the dealer and ask them to sort it.
I put it down to me and the move from petrol to diesel.

[dandam]

My C7 has just had the clutch and flywheel replaced for the second time.
I got it with just over 70 miles on it in Sept 11, the judder first started in Feb 12 after 10k miles, i spoke to Audi Birmingham about it a few times and eventually in August 12 they replaced the clutch and flywheel. All was fine for about 10k miles and it started again. It was serviced a couple of weeks ago and they replaced it again, at that point it was on 55k this time paid for by Lex Autolease (who own the car). When i mentioned it to Birmingham Audi they admitted they had seen a 'few' with the same problem.
I have a friend who is in the trade and he has been told that it is a 'design characteristic' rather than an inherent fault (which it clearly is).
The worst thing is that it has juddered again since. The car is a 2.0TDi SE, and other than this is a fabulous car. I have had 3 A6's and 2 A3's and many VW's, but even I am considering a Merc next time.

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[christurbo]

My friend has an A5 manual who has this issue too. He had a new clutch and flywheel about 5k ago and it has been ok since.

[Forkit]

Managed to recreate it the other day in stop-start traffic after a 70 mile run.
Set the revs to about 1100, let the clutch out as normal to biting point and maintained the revs. Few seconds in there's the judder which passes quickly and we're off.
Booked in for 4th Jan, will report back

[Mike41]

Managed to recreate it the other day in stop-start traffic after a 70 mile run.
Set the revs to about 1100, let the clutch out as normal to biting point and maintained the revs. Few seconds in there's the judder which passes quickly and we're off.
Booked in for 4th Jan, will report back

Maintain revs or maintain foot on the clutch? If the latter, then presumably the revs would drop further as the clutch engages and the engine will labour and nearly stall which might feel like judder? I'm probably wrong but just a thought.

[Forkit]

Mike41, maintain rev's.
I thought the same thing - perhaps it's almost stalling. I then managed to make it happen about 6 times in a row and my wife agreed with me (!!!?!??) Was juddering, not almost stalling.

Just had the call to say clutch and DMF have been replaced under warranty.

[JamesMo]

Hi guys,

I had exactly the same clutch issue with my A6 2.0 s-line. I first reported it to the dealer at about 15k miles where they couldn't replicate the issue (it had been getting worse since new). I then took it back for a service and went out with the master tech to try to find the fault which after much driving around we found a way to replicate. The method is as follows;
Find a road with a slight incline that will allow the car to roll back slowly. With first selected allow the car to roll back gently and then pull away. If you have the judder issue this should force it to happen as you are putting significant load on the driveline by starting to move forwards as the car is rolling back.
On mine the clutch pressure plate was found to be defective - this and the clutch friction plate were replaced under warranty (flywheel was ok). Since replacement (2k miles ago) it has been completely fine.

Hope this helps

J


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[Andy McDonald]

I received my car back from Exeter Audi on Friday. 29800 miles and they replaced Fly wheel, clutch etc showed very bad scorching in patches. So my vibrations have stopped and the car feels far better when pulling away in low gears...


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[Tripletrouble]

I received my car back from Exeter Audi on Friday. 29800 miles and they replaced Fly wheel, clutch etc showed very bad scorching in patches. So my vibrations have stopped and the car feels far better when pulling away in low gears...


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Warranty?

[Andy McDonald]

Yes all warranty. .. seems it's an acknowledged problem so they just grt on with it... car feels more responsive. Super happy

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