BIG gearbox problem

[gapthree]

Hi ya'll. Well my 2000 A8 sport 5sp gearbox has really done it this time! javascript:void(0)

I got it with 120k on the clock and immediatly had the fluid changed. At 130K fluid pan & filter changed. At 150K another fluid change and just after my 160K service (Gbox not touched) at 162K I noticed in neutral when cold the car crept forward at walking pace. When warm the creeping went away.

4 days later I reverse up the drive ok put it in D and off we go, at walking pace for 3 meters at 1500rpm before a huge bang and a jolt as the torque converter dumps the power down then reverts to walking pace with all the gear lights iluminated in red on the dash! I reversed up fine and switched off re-started and repeated the process in D, 2,3,4. Each time it was walking pace then a bang / jolt and back to walking pace at 1500rpm with all the gears iluminated in red.

The car was AA relayed to Chester Auto Gearboxes & will be looked at at the end of the week. They suspect one of the clutches has burnt out and the drive in neutral may be down to an internal leak. I don't think just a fluid change is going to resolve this!javascript:void(0)

Before they take it apart! Has this happened to anyone else and was it down to a sensor or something external to the box? They have quoted £500 to remove / re-install the box and £1700 for a ZF recon kit. With the Vat it's a bargain at £2,700 compared to a 'stealer' quote. Doh.

I'm 'clutching' at straw's hoping for a simple less expensive remedy but if you have one I'd sure be glad to hearof it.

Thanks in anticipation,

[Atomic]

Well if it's truely forked you will have few options. Personally though I'd want more assurance that it's not simply a cable or pipe removed or some piece of electronics not playing up before they pull the whole unit out and replace it.

As for cost... personally I'm surprised it's not more expensive. It's a big beast and must be a real PITA to remove, and having played around with gearboxes before (Albeit manual ones) I know to my cost that repairing them really isnt much of an option once something seriously mechanical has gone. The knock on mechanical impact of something like a gear or bearing breaking in a gearbox can last for 1000's of miles after the original fault is fixed.

So as I said, get it check out properly... and if you find out it's definitely the box sure, try to haggle over the price (Look around, threaten to take to a cheaper place etc.etc.etc.) but overall £2,200 seems a reasonable figure.

[A8_Tony]

gapthree, sorry to hear about your problems with the gearbox...... I had mine done last year, and found that my biggest problem when trying to resolve it was choosing between recon or new.

The solution came very quickly. I was quote about £2700 plus VAT for a reconditioned engine that would then give me 18000 miles or 18 months, whichever soonest, warranty. Audi dealer provided me with a new gearbox, 2 year unlimited mileage warranty, and a service for £3200 all in....talk to the dealers and check the warranty offered before parting with any cash

[charlie61]

[ QUOTE ]

They have quoted £500 to remove / re-install the box and £1700 for a ZF recon kit. With the Vat it's a bargain at £2,700 compared to a 'stealer' quote. Doh.

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Is that a recon done by ZF for £1700, I would presume the stealer box will be a recon even though they say it's new because all manufacturers re use old gearboxes, axles, engines etc.

just depends if it's a genuine ZF recon or a we'll replace the bit that broke recon.

TBH £1700 doesn't sound like enough for a ZF recon, especially when you consider the garages markup on that £1700, cost to them would probably be £1300-1400, deduct the labour and profit for ZF to recon it and it doesn't leave much for parts to recon an expensive gearbox does it.

I never have any luck with recon parts, alternators and starters allways pack up within a couple of months.

If they're prepared to give you a decent warranty on the ZF box it may be worth considering but if like tony your stealer will do a new one for £3200 i'd go with that

EDIT just re-read your post, is that a recon box or a bag of bits for £1700 they're going to fit

[gapthree]

Spoke to Audi stealer who can supply an exchange box from the factory in 2 weeks for £2869 inc vat. Basically I will be getting someone elses old box wich has been re-conned with a standard kit at the ZF factory.(They just probably change the ATF fluid as this seems to cure 99.9% of them and keep sending them out) It comes with a 2 year warranty. By the time its fitted with Vat I'm looking at £3600.

Chester Auto boxes have removed the unit and found what went wrong. An internal steel casing split allowing fluid to leak and cause creep in neutral. Eventually 310lbs of torque ripped it apart. They also said the crown wheel and pinnion was about to let go as well. The bearings are shot and pitted badly. The box is apparently used in Range rovers but with different ratio's. I wonder if Range Rover boxes are 'sealed for life' ?

They can replace all the worn & shot parts, bearings, clutches and solenoids as they are within the ZF kit and offer a 12months warranty all in fitted inc vat for £2,600. If I go the stealers route its £1,000 more for basically the same job but with 24months warranty....hmmmmmm. I'll slep on it.

[Will22]

When I had my box replaced a while back it was a NEW box from Germany.

Not sure of the cost because AmD were paying the bill but it was not a recon unit. I have a 3 year warranty with it.

[Atomic]

I have to ask.. what's the age/value of this car?

As you've already mentioned its done 162k... arn't you at risk of throwing good money after bad?

[A8_Tony]

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I have to ask.. what's the age/value of this car?

As you've already mentioned its done 162k... arn't you at risk of throwing good money after bad?

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Some people have asked me the same question Atomic......as the car is currently worth more to me than it would be as a trade-in or indeed to sell on.

Surprisingly though, if you look at autotrader there aren't that many 4.2 QS's for sale.... £7.5k for a similar aged car, with 84k on it.....on the basis of that mine's worth about £4

But I love the car. It's not going to lose much more in the way of value, it'll keep going for ages, so I'll spend money on her

[gapthree]

The car is a black 2000 4.2 sport with FSH and very well maintained. Its mileage is all from motorways and shows little sign of wear (Apart from the gearbox). For £2600 its back on the road. Without the repair what is it worth ?

I spoke to the dealers parts dept and they confirmed that all the boxes were reconditioned as all moving parts subject to wear are replaced. Maybe you did get a brand new one but at what cost? I'll call Audi technical and post later. Cheers.

[Ska]

Is there no one else out there who can supply and fit for cheaper? There are so many gearbox companies in London but non seem to cater for the A8

[gapthree]

Just spoke to Audi technical who said and I quote 'All the gearboxes are new, they are made up of the good parts removed from the returned exchanged boxes'. Sounds like a box full of old but working parts to me.

I'm with A8 Tony on value to me.

Its worth £2600 to get back on the road with 12 months warranty. Audi have not convinced me to spend an extra £1,000 for a further 12 months warranty.

SKA I think the gearbox companies in London will be more expensive as labour rates and site costs will be higher than in the North West. Its a big lump of a box to re-build so I think £2,600 is probably worth it. Here goes....

Cheers.

[Atomic]

Sorry for the probing value questions, I just didnt know if you had a 1996 £4k car...

What about one of the breaking cars I keep seeing on EBay? cant imaging a Box out of one of those costing £1000's. Sure no warranty but you could presumably hold of paying until you've at least tested the box in your car maybe?

[A8_Tony]

or speak to www.allaudi.co.uk they've got a 3.7 in at the mo, and they'll remove your existing box, and drop in the new one too

Based in Bristol

[gapthree]

Thamks Tony, the 3.7 is a 96 so will be a 4speed unit, mines a 5 speed tiptronic. Swapping boxes is a £600 at time gamble for labour fluids and VAT.

I've gone for the ZF kit re-build of Crown & pinion, cluthces, bearings, solonoids, pistons etc.

Cheers.

[Atomic]

Best of luck

[A8_Tony]

Good luck chap