S Tronic whine

[Justinos]

I have detected a noticeable all be it feint whine from the gearbox when slowing down, ie on over run. If I apply a small amount of gas or knock into neutral it stops straight away, so isolating the noise to the gearbox. On searching the internet for these symptoms it seems it is a 'trait' of the S Tronic and DSG boxes and well known.

I can't say whether mine has got more noticeable over time, or whether I have just noticed it, and its been like that all the time. Its done 47,000 miles and not long had the DSG fluid changes. It is now out of warranty, but annoyingly I didn't mention the noise on the last service before the warranty expired.

Anyway, does anyone else have a similar noise, best description would be like the noise of a faint alternator noise through the radio, or supercharger coiling up noise (I wish!)?

I'm not sure what the technical reason for this occurring when the gearbox is not under load, but maybe a different gearbox oil would help reduce noise by reducing the friction of the gears when not under load??

Justin

[rhammond84]

Had the same symptoms. Purchased the car (2013 3.0 Avant) in January (approx 18000 miles on the clock), and the noise only started around April (with ~21000 miles). Identical symptoms to you. After 5 weeks (!) of unsuccessful attempts at troubleshooting (gear selector cable initially replaced: part of a TPI they believed would fix, but didnt...then turbo replaced to rule that out), the gearbox was ultimately replaced under warranty (noise gone). Doesn't give me great confidence in the gearbox, but equally, do not know whether it would have amounted to anything more than an annoying noise - I imagine many people would never have raised the issue, or noticed it. The Techs were adamant it was not normal though, following comparison with the other A6s they had available at the dealer and they suggested it got "worse"/more noticeable between when I handed it over to the dealer, and when they finally replaced the gearbox (though that may, like me, just be getting more used to what they're looking out for).

I can only imagine it's something akin to a minor imbalance/interaction within the gearbox...when under load, there's a slight shift that means no noise. When winding down, the teeth interact slightly differently and create the whine/transmission noise. Given it's only whilst not under load, I can't imagine there's a short term failure mechanism going on but, depending on your disposition, acknowledge it can be very annoying.

About two weeks into ownership, I did receive a "gearbox malfunction" warning. Stopping and re-starting the engine cleared it with no problems, and the dealer found nothing upon investigation at the time.

On a separate note, my car seems to have come back with a different/wrong headlight switch (the switch itself appears sunken in the dash, not flush) - from what I can tell, it looks like the switch has been changed slightly and this could be the one, incorrectly, fitted from the Facelift A6. The dash brightness knob is also broken (hole in the end)....so am not best pleased. Not even sure why this has been touched (don't yet have the full works list). More inconvenice back to the dealer to sort!

28206

[Whippy53]

On the box, sounds like it may have something to do with the freewheeling device? That switch looks like its been on the receiving end of someone's knee!

[rhammond84]

Switch itself looks different to how the manual shows it (and this picture...which is what I think it looked like before). Note position of the "bulb" indicator on the switch itself, and shape of the switch:

28207

Anyway....re: gearbox, dealer (with Audi UK) obviously deemed gearbox replacement only feasible solution (though it being 4 weeks without my vehicle may have had a factor in this). Understand the old gearbox itself is sent back to Germany....though not sure I'll ever get any more specific details.

[Justinos]

Annoyed I didn't raise this at the service before the warranty expired last month. Thinking this is going to be expensive. It may not get any worse. I am reassured there are loads of similar stories on Google about it being a trait of the DSG or S tronic, but then if your replacement box has no noise, then it isn't normal.

[Justinos]

I had a closer listen to this today. It doesn't make the noise from cold, only once warm, and generally between 40 to 15 mph. This made me think perhaps an additive to the gear box oil, such as an FM (friction modifier) which is what I add to my Z4M LSD to reduce friction and stop diff chatter noises on tight turns, may help by reducing friction, and thereby noise. Also a slightly thicker oil at the warm end of the scale may also help?

[Justinos]

I have bitten the bullet and booked it in. The master tech came out in the car with me to listen, and he agreed it didn't sound normal, but said he wasn't aware of any significant S Tronic failures, but he would say that!

I think I can also hear something whilst accelerating, which the tech agreed with. It does it in various gears, bot just one ratio.

Whats odd is the noise had definitely got more pronounced since the oil change.

[Justinos]

A quick update. The dealer is convinced it is the turbo. Apparently they have used a chassis listening device to establish where the noise is emanating from, whatever that is (ears?). Still unsure how a turbo can make a whine noise whilst slowing down, ie not on the gas. Time will tell, turbo arriving tomorrow hopefully.

[soft]

A quick update. The dealer is convinced it is the turbo. Apparently they have used a chassis listening device to establish where the noise is emanating from, whatever that is (ears?). Still unsure how a turbo can make a whine noise whilst slowing down, ie not on the gas. Time will tell, turbo arriving tomorrow hopefully.

They actually use microphones, mounts underneath to listen for where noise is coming from.

[Justinos]

Turbo didn't cure the problem, noise still there. Now discussing with Audi technical, so lets see what happens next.

[Justinos]

Further Update.

After the new turbo didn't cure the noise, Audi Germany got involved and requested data from the gearbox - essentially I think to establish it hadn't been abused, or torque levels exceeded which could indicate remapping etc. They then asked for the gearbox sump to be removed and examined, which showed metal particles in the box despite it having new oil only 7 weeks ago. They then suggested it needed a new gearbox.

At this stage it was passed back to Audi UK as I was 5 weeks out of warranty when I took the car in. Very annoyingly the noise was there at the last service, but I didn't mention it. It only made the noise when warm, and it takes a 40 minute drive to get it warm enough, so I would have had the usual, couldn't recreate the problem scenario - so I talked myself out of mentioning it. A few weeks after the service I thought the noise had changed, and by the time I took it in, the warranty had expired - a valuable lesson learnt - any issues, get it on record straightaway - even by phone as all helps. Presumably the oil change had disturbed the metal particles?

I am now waiting on a new gearbox to arrive from Germany. Audi has contributed to the cost which otherwise retail cost of a new gearbox fitted I am told is £10k inc vat. My contribution is enough to hurt, and ***** my annoyance having not raised it, but it could have been a whole lot worse. I have also got a new turbo fitted in the process, and by the time I get it back, I will have put 2000 miles on the loan car, so I will have to keep repeating that to myself to ease the pain.

[Justinos]

Car will be ready Friday or Monday.

I asked to see the correspondence from Audi UK which authorised the goodwill claim - I wanted to see confirmation on the percentage. The local dealer says he is also contributing to the cost - whilst I am not knocking that, why would they do they that, hence I wanted to see who was paying what towards the costs. I am picking up 10% of the total cost (parts and labour), but not sure if this just so happens to be the labour element of the job, and Audi UK are supplying 100% of the parts cost? The dealer tells me this is confidential and wont show me, which just adds to my suspicion - if they have nothing to hide, and it is transparent, what is the issue in showing me. Anyone else had an issue like this.

[Scott K]

My wife's A4 had the DMF replaced under warranty and I didn't see correspondence but I did have to sign for the completed work which had a full breakdown of costs. No dealer contribution though. In your case that probably skews it.
Presumably, this now gives you a further 2 year warranty on the gearbox.

[Justinos]

Not sure on the warranty - I did ask but didn't get a reply.