Help! A4 gearbox nightmare!

[Patsy666]

Can anyone help... please!

I bought an A4 1.9 TDi '03 (automatic) from my friend in January this year. He told me he had had problems with the gearbox but said that he had spent a lot of money getting it fixed and the replacement parts have a 2 year warranty. He gave me the receipts from Taunton Audi where the work had been carried out - as follows:

April '07, mileage 61599. Juddering at slow speeds, taken into Taunton Audi for diagnostic check, gearbox found to have defect in the input shaft. Part replaced - cost £1846.25

Sept '07, when engine cold there is long delay after drive is selected before bite point, also when accelerating away gearbox very fierce and making clunking sound. Another diagnostic check, this time valve body found to be at fault. Part replaced - cost £1487.75.

Nov '07, same problem arises again, Taunton Audi say valve body they fitted was faulty, so another is fitted under warranty.

April '08. Car begins to judder at low speed in morning, that evening gearbox gives up completely, no forward/reverse in auto or manual, stranded! Car back to Taunton Audi, another diagnostic check shows none of the previous parts are at fault but that this time the gearbox has a mechanical fault (I'm told this would not show up on diagnostic check), result - new gearbox needed, Audi say this is a different fault so not covered by warranty - cost will be £3700 approx.

Self and previous owner argue with Taunton Audi. How can a car that is only 5yrs old with a mileage of 80k and with such a high quality brand be this unreliable? Surely there must be some liability on Audi's part as it's the gearbox AGAIN!! They say it's just one of those things and all previous problems with the gearbox are unrelated to this, so unfortunately not covered under parts warranty.

The service manager at Taunton Audi told me they had contacted customer services to ask for a contribution, the service manager said he had made a big issue of it because of all the previous problems with the car, the reply from customer services was that they would contribute 25% of the cost. When I called customer services after being told this, they said that that is the amount the service manager at Taunton Audi had suggested Audi UK should offer!

Sorry this has gone on a bit but thought I should lay out all the facts. Should I take legal advice, Trading Standards, bury the car at sea, any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Anybody..?

[paul b]

Am I right to assume that the automatic transmission oil was replaced every 40k? Wouldn't surprise me if this is another Multitronic gearbox. Does it have paddle shifts?

Many people have had such problems, just type multitronic into the search box and you'll get hundreds of pages about it.

Paul

[kimandsally]

For a start I would ask the names of the people you spoke to then go back to Taunton Audi and ask how they think it's fair to spend £7K on a gearbox in a year when they have known faults. Then approach Audi direct and ask to be sent by them to another Audi dealer to have their view on it, then depending on their advice either go to trading standards or better still watch dog.
Always take the names of everyone you speak to and ask before you begin your questions that way they know not to bull***t you because you have their name.
Always approach it with the view that you want them to help don't get nasty as it will be negative, if you get someone on your side you will be surprised how far they will go to help you.

Please don't think that I expect you to be nasty, it was the way I used many years ago with the greatest failure in customer services I ever had, taught me to be nice in one foul swoop.

[Patsy666]

Hi Paul, thanks for replying.

Yes I believe it had its oil change at 40k, but apparently Taunton Audi didn't question that when they did the first job.

Yes it is multitronic and yes I've discovered that many people have had or are having the same problems and while it's comforting to know I'm not 'the only one', what I'm trying to find out is if anyone has taken legal advice, spoken to Trading Standards etc etc.

[Patsy666]

Hello Kim and Sally, thanks for your advice.

I have names of everyone I've spoken to, that was a lesson I learned the hard way! Do you think I would get an unbiased opinion from another Audi dealer?

It looks like I will have to go to a Trading Standards/Watchdog or possibly take legal advice. I would really like to know if anyone has applied some legal pressure and whether they had any success.

From what I've read here and Audisport.net there is clearly something very wrong with this gearbox, so many people facing really big bills. What I can't understand is how Audi is getting away with it.

[max942x]

Sorry for the delay in replying - been busy rest-driving various cars!!!

My car (53 reg, avant, 2.5TDI multitronic, 31000 miles when first had a problem (44000 now)- brought from a garage in bristol 10 months ago, full Audi service, insurance backed 12 month warranty) initially went to Barnstaple Audi for diagnostics twice (paid by seller - good trader) and it was only after my research on here that they agreed that it had a problem. Car went to Taunton for 7-clutch-conversion (though it seems that it was built with this) paid for by seller and warrany + 50% Audi contribution. This was because there was a pause between putting your foot down and going somewhere and a juddering when coming to a stop. August 07.

Had problems getting any proof that the work had been done - I didn't pay so Audi would give no copy invoice or anything. But the car was fab.....

Oct 07...... car develops same pause before acceleration again. It goes for more diagnostics. I wonder if Taunton did anything except maybe change the gearbox oil?

My arguement with Roger was that it should be covered by a guarantee as the problem is the same as before. Apparently it is not.......it's the valve body. I say that they should have done it all in one go.....they say Barnstaple did diagnostics and Taunton did what they were asked to do. Audi do the work (without my permission) and say they will pay 90%. At this point I wanted to not have the work done and to legally reject the car back to the seller. But instead I paid up and hoped all was well. This work was done in Dec 07 (problems getting courtesy car until then).

Again it was wonderful.......

Until a couple of weeks ago. I had the revs spike rapidly and the "PRNDS" lights flash. A couple of days later the display all lit up and I had no drive, this is happening more and more frequently.

The gearbox is in need of work again. I have had enough. I am trading it in. I have lost £5500 in it's value, it has had £3000 of work on it, and I have to find £2-3000 towards another car. It won't be Audi.

This is the most appalling situation that someone needs to take on. There are further versions over on the A6 board - one person wants to start action but he writes in upper case so no-one will talk to him! Maybe worth a try.

I bought a supposedly reliable car - that's why I paid the higher price. I won't do it again.

Good luck with yours!

Max

[Patsy666]

Hi Max, thanks for the reply.

I have just finished writing a letter to Trading Standards, I'm going to send the same letter to Watchdog and Citizens Advice. I have spoken to a lot of people in the last few days about my car and they all agree that it is unacceptable to pay £7000 on a gearbox in 12 months.

You are right about the 7 plate clutch. My car had this so called upgrade last April, but I have just been informed that this is what it was fitted with originally... so what's that all about???

Something is very wrong with these gearboxes and I believe Audi know it but are trying to keep it as low profile as possible. I'm sure the only reason they have got away with it so far is because no one has taken any action against them.

Would you consider writing to Trading Standards? They are based at County Hall, Taunton. I'd be happy to send you a copy of my letter. I'm convinced that if more people complained effectively the more chance there would be of getting some compensation from Audi. It's outrageous that they should keep getting away with it.

Patsy

[kimandsally]

Hi Max, thanks for the reply.

I have just finished writing a letter to Trading Standards, I'm going to send the same letter to Watchdog and Citizens Advice. I have spoken to a lot of people in the last few days about my car and they all agree that it is unacceptable to pay £7000 on a gearbox in 12 months.

You are right about the 7 plate clutch. My car had this so called upgrade last April, but I have just been informed that this is what it was fitted with originally... so what's that all about???

Something is very wrong with these gearboxes and I believe Audi know it but are trying to keep it as low profile as possible. I'm sure the only reason they have got away with it so far is because no one has taken any action against them.

Would you consider writing to Trading Standards? They are based at County Hall, Taunton. I'd be happy to send you a copy of my letter. I'm convinced that if more people complained effectively the more chance there would be of getting some compensation from Audi. It's outrageous that they should keep getting away with it.

Patsy

Agree totally and for sure if I had the problem I would be doing the same as you are, I have taken people to court including multi million pound companies and won, they think thery're above it and I can tell you when they get your letters they will start.
But a little advice if I may, send a letter to Audi first and put a copy of what you intend to send to trading standards and watchdog, then should they not decide then and there you have even more weight on your side because they have been given another chance in writing, then should it go to court you sue for goods not fit for purpose and again if you have given them chances to rectify it the court will be VERY harsh on them I am certain.

Good luck and don't give in you can win and it isn't difficult either.

A good thing to ask is for permission off this forum if you can link it to Audi to show them they are getting bad press, what ever you do make sure you ask permission first.

[max942x]

I am more than happy to do anything to help you with this!

I think kimandsally have good suggestions.

You have found others on the A6 board (including the loud Dalton!!!) who may very well join you.

I did try to PM you but it wouldn't let me for some reason.

Max

[mj62mj62]

Yikes!!! There are some scary threads around the 'net about the multitronic gear boxes around the '04 model year

Multitronic is known as cvt in other places which is good to know for searching the net for info.

Me:

Car: 1.9 TDI A4
Reg: 04

- juddering eventually led to a 7 plate clutch being fitted under warranty (no charge) and it was smooth after that. no change to the 123456 as others had asked about. Job done by Reading Audi who immediately understood the problem.
Car had < 30k miles at the time.

- In the last 2 weeks, the PRDNS gear indicator has flashed twice. The car drives fine and I'm not sure what the deal is with it...
Car has < 40k miles now

I've had my car Revo tuned (i highly recommended it for all diesel drivers - just need special insurance, i went with brentacre for it) but since I don't drive the car hard, I can't see that being anything to do with it.

I have an appointment at an Audi garage, I'll let you know what they say.

I'd like to highlight the invisible service at 40k miles - you need to get the transmission fluid changed every 40k, but no one seems to know about it and the computer doesn't tell you. without it, you kill your transmission...

That's my situation -- Best of luck with your fight - i love the transmission but I'm beginning to think we're into a lot of hot water with this model year of Audi's....


Perhaps the smartest thing is to get rid of it before it's too late!! I wish we had an official statement from Audi on this...