Transmission "issue" - brand new 2016 A6 2.0
11-11-2015, 08:27 AM
#11
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
I don't believe Bob mentioned his cruise control was activated during his observations, just that it didn't seem to downshift while maintaining the same gas pedal pressure going up a hill. Also, as another poster mentioned, there dozens of software algorithm maps that come into play depending on various driver input factors, pedal pressure and speed to name just two, and adaptation is a valid process. I'm not saying he doesn't have an issue that shouldn't be checked out (it should) but what he was told by his service guy is not necessarily incorrect.
I always use cruise on the highway and as I said this is the first car I have driven (any brand, even rentals) that would not downshift to keep the set speed. Also, when (in cruise) the engine started lugging at 58 mph I selected S and nothing happened, it stayed in 8th gear until I used the paddles to downshift.
11-11-2015, 10:51 AM
#13
AudiWorld Super User
Actually I was in cruise. See the third line of my original post.
I always use cruise on the highway and as I said this is the first car I have driven (any brand, even rentals) that would not downshift to keep the set speed. Also, when (in cruise) the engine started lugging at 58 mph I selected S and nothing happened, it stayed in 8th gear until I used the paddles to downshift.
I always use cruise on the highway and as I said this is the first car I have driven (any brand, even rentals) that would not downshift to keep the set speed. Also, when (in cruise) the engine started lugging at 58 mph I selected S and nothing happened, it stayed in 8th gear until I used the paddles to downshift.
11-11-2015, 03:26 PM
#14
AudiWorld Senior Member
You may also need to give the engine time to break in and loosen up a bit so that it makes the power that both you and the transmission are expecting, across the whole rpm range.
I drove my 2.0T with 37k mi around today paying close attention to the engine rpm, and it spent quite a lot of time down at 1,000-1,200 rpm, but with no lugging or vibration. In fact, when I first got the car I was surprised at the low rpm as well, which felt like it caused a lot of turbo lag and a loud boomy sound when you get on the throttle. Those went away as the engine broke in.
Also it's possible that Audi may have tuned the transmission maps to keep a lower rpm to squeeze out better fuel economy on 2016 models.
I drove my 2.0T with 37k mi around today paying close attention to the engine rpm, and it spent quite a lot of time down at 1,000-1,200 rpm, but with no lugging or vibration. In fact, when I first got the car I was surprised at the low rpm as well, which felt like it caused a lot of turbo lag and a loud boomy sound when you get on the throttle. Those went away as the engine broke in.
Also it's possible that Audi may have tuned the transmission maps to keep a lower rpm to squeeze out better fuel economy on 2016 models.
11-11-2015, 04:52 PM
#15
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
You may also need to give the engine time to break in and loosen up a bit so that it makes the power that both you and the transmission are expecting, across the whole rpm range.
I drove my 2.0T with 37k mi around today paying close attention to the engine rpm, and it spent quite a lot of time down at 1,000-1,200 rpm, but with no lugging or vibration. In fact, when I first got the car I was surprised at the low rpm as well, which felt like it caused a lot of turbo lag and a loud boomy sound when you get on the throttle. Those went away as the engine broke in.
Also it's possible that Audi may have tuned the transmission maps to keep a lower rpm to squeeze out better fuel economy on 2016 models.
I drove my 2.0T with 37k mi around today paying close attention to the engine rpm, and it spent quite a lot of time down at 1,000-1,200 rpm, but with no lugging or vibration. In fact, when I first got the car I was surprised at the low rpm as well, which felt like it caused a lot of turbo lag and a loud boomy sound when you get on the throttle. Those went away as the engine broke in.
Also it's possible that Audi may have tuned the transmission maps to keep a lower rpm to squeeze out better fuel economy on 2016 models.
One question: With cruise engaged and assuming the road and speed conditions are appropriate, should the transmission downshift when the selector is moved from D to S? I seem to be noticing a willingness to downshift when going from D to S when cruise is off, less so when it is on. I don’t remember that from my previous Audi’s.
11-12-2015, 01:25 PM
#17
AudiWorld Senior Member
One question: With cruise engaged and assuming the road and speed conditions are appropriate, should the transmission downshift when the selector is moved from D to S? I seem to be noticing a willingness to downshift when going from D to S when cruise is off, less so when it is on. I don’t remember that from my previous Audi’s.
With cruise off, going from D to S did produce an immediate downshift as you would expect.
11-12-2015, 02:15 PM
#19
AudiWorld Super User
I think it's all in the quest for higher fuel economy. I notice this issue to some degree in my '11 A4, it's more noticeable in my wife's '15 Q5 and it was hugely noticeable in a '15 A4 loaner car I had last week. The newer the car, the more obvious this lugging is accompanied by hanging onto a gear far too long. The cars don't downshift until you get deep into the pedal.
(I think our Q5 is in 7th at 30 mph. It's just absurd. Flicking the gear shift to Sport yields a more normal behavior on all these cars.)
(I think our Q5 is in 7th at 30 mph. It's just absurd. Flicking the gear shift to Sport yields a more normal behavior on all these cars.)
11-12-2015, 02:40 PM
#20
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
That may be the case with my car, so the paddle shifters may prove useful after all. They are much easier than pushing the Tiptronic shifter to the right, then forward/backward.