Joe Pasquarello

Could very well be temp related.
I live in MN and it has been brutally cold.
But as I recall, even when completely warmed up after a drive on the highway, it still shuddered.
But I'll check that.

Y888

Does anyone know how coolant loss affects transmission behaviour?

Joe Pasquarello

A quick update: Problem turned out to be #4 coil pack and the left bank ICM causing severe misfire.
I want to thank everyone for their input.
Looks like we'll be keeping the car for another 130k!

ThaboTheWuff

That's a tough spot you're in. These cars drive so nicely. My 99 D2 has 191k, I actually has a new tranny put in (insurance paid - don't ask ....) but the car's has a pretty big oil leak and the suspension is a constant maintenance issue. Also worth 2k or less so I'm not sure what I'd do in your case. If everything else in the car is OK, no oil leaks, new control arms I may be tempted to just replace the tranny if I had the money. Do yourself a favor and go test drive the new Legacy and Accord. I did this two years ago and in every conceivable way my 99 oil leaking, worn tie rod $2000 car was better in every way. We are spoilt, I even drove a new 2014 3 series and it sucked compared to the A8. Having said that perhaps a nice Q5 would do the trick. I think all the 4 cylinder Audi engines probably excluding the 2018 A4 2.0t suck from my test drives in the past.

Joe Pasquarello

Yeah...you got that right.
Like I said above, I dodged a bullet and the problem turned out to be relatively minor. Most of my out of pocket expense was shade tree diagnostics.
It does leak from the valve covers which is an easy fix so it looks like its a keeper.