CVT auto gearbox judder - Audi A4 avant 1.8t 190bhp 2004 / 54

[jr-323i]

Hi all,

My car has the infamous CVT gearbox judder, more noticable when slowing down or when accelerating in sport mode. If I ask for some eager acceleration the car is skittish as if the clutch plates are slipping in the gearbox and it is very jumpy.

Car in with Audi Watford today who have advised for a Glycol test tomorrow! What is that I ask ? Apparently they think coolant has mixed with the gearbox oil, interesting! Anyone else have any experience of this ?

Incidentally the gearbox has the 7 plate design (thank god) but even the 7 plate is prone to failure and the car has only covered 76,000 with a gearbox oil change at 37,000 and 71,000 respectivly.

If coolant is present, would this mean a gearbox replacement? The gearbox is clearly damaged, but any other users that have had CVT probs, I would be interested to hear from....

cheers, JR

[jr-323i]

Just had the feedback from Audi and no collant present in the gearbox - phew! However the clutchplates / input shaft are shot and need to be replaced, cost around 2k. I just wonder if something else may crumble three months, anyone else had there clutch plates replaced and then experienced subsequent failiure somewhere else in the gearbox ?

[mikeybutch]

Who did the last change?I think these are tricky and I wonder if it was done OK

[jr-323i]

RAC automotive(specialist audi/vw/seat repiar centre) in Kingsbury did the gearbox oil at 70,000 miles. They use audi gear and changed the oil at the correct temperature. The clutch plates are ******* because the torque of the car - 190bhp turbo grinds them down. Common problem now I understand as the torque of the car is just too much for the plates. If left untreated the judder will become worse until the gearbox grinds to a hault and then the whole transmission needs to be replaced!

[mikeybutch]

RAC automotive(specialist audi/vw/seat repiar centre) in Kingsbury did the gearbox oil at 70,000 miles. They use audi gear and changed the oil at the correct temperature. The clutch plates are ******* because the torque of the car - 190bhp turbo grinds them down. Common problem now I understand as the torque of the car is just too much for the plates. If left untreated the judder will become worse until the gearbox grinds to a hault and then the whole transmission needs to be replaced!

Have heard that about the 2.5tdi .I have the quattro which is triptronic and I hope not at risk of this

[fourringsrus]

Mikey, as you correctly point out your quattro is TIPtronic auto, whereas the CVT auto is the trouble laden MULTItronic, so you should be safe

Stuart

[mikeybutch]

Mikey, as you correctly point out your quattro is TIPtronic auto, whereas the CVT auto is the trouble laden MULTItronic, so you should be safe

Stuart

Cheers Stuart I was always a bit free with my Rsss.I have only just got mine but my son had it for 3 years and its seems as good as new on 110k

[danclyon]

Just had the feedback from Audi and no collant present in the gearbox - phew! However the clutchplates / input shaft are shot and need to be replaced, cost around 2k. I just wonder if something else may crumble three months, anyone else had there clutch plates replaced and then experienced subsequent failiure somewhere else in the gearbox ?

Question that price big time. The clutch-pack last time I looked was about £700 plus vat - and it took about 90 mins to replace - so you should be looking at about £1200 max.

Alternatively, ask someone who can give you more accurate figures than the main dealer(s) - try two of the forum sponsors - C&R Enterprises or Indie-Tech? Both may be some drive, but you might find it well worth it!!

D.

[jr-323i]

£810 + for clutch plates, which also includes input shaft. Apprentley 10.5 huors labou as the gearbox needs to be removed and taken apart.

Anyone that has access to mechanic labour time software (I think garages use them to determine the amount of time to quote for a job) that can verufy this would be good. I certainly think it will take longer than 90 mins though ?

[danclyon]

cvt-gearbox.jpg

Gearbox has to come off yes, but it's just like a clutch only without all the faffing around from what the main-dealer told me. When I asked they said the part was about 700 and something depending on the gearbox variant - plus 2 hours work.....2 to 10.5 is a HELL of a jump!! You sure that's not the price to take the old unit apart and put it back together with new plates etc?

See the attached pic showing the unit broken out on the left (with the hydraulic assembly cover to the right) - it's one lump - I certainly wouldn't want to take it apart having looked at it in the flesh when they changed my whole gearbox!!