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So my 2017 A4 S-Line (B9) has developed an issue where the rear wheels are scrubbing when taking sharp turns (doesn't happen in neutral; happens more when on the gas aggressively). Audi diagnosed it today as having a bad center diff. (they unplugged it and the issue went away). They quoted me $7000 CDN to replace it. I guess you can't change the fluid in it, and the clutches in it cannot be replaced, it now comes as a non-servicable unit. They said changing the fluid would not resolve the issue. FML . I called around and other shops agree and won't touch it with a 10' pole as programming is required they noted.
Has anyone had this issue, do I have any options? Any help is appreciated. The car has 103,000km. I'm also looking for the part # on this and / or if I can buy one used.
So my 2017 A4 S-Line (B9) has developed an issue where the rear wheels are scrubbing when taking sharp turns (doesn't happen in neutral; happens more when on the gas aggressively). Audi diagnosed it today as having a bad center diff. (they unplugged it and the issue went away). They quoted me $7000 CDN to replace it. I guess you can't change the fluid in it, and the clutches in it cannot be replaced, it now comes as a non-servicable unit. They said changing the fluid would not resolve the issue. FML . I called around and other shops agree and won't touch it with a 10' pole as programming is required they noted.
Has anyone had this issue, do I have any options? Any help is appreciated. The car has 103,000km. I'm also looking for the part # on this and / or if I can buy one used.
I would absolutely change the fluid in the AWD clutch. Actually, there's a TSB for this exact problem and the instructions clearly state to change the fluid twice. Sounds like to me the fluid needs to be changed as this was the same feeling many of us with the Ultra system has experienced before doing the AWD fluid flush/fill. The fact that your Audi dealer said you can't change this fluid is ludicrous. Here is the fluid you need. Regarding the "programming" that is needed - it's a simple VCDS command, those instructions can be found here. FWIW, I have no idea how and if this adaptation does anything other than reset the stored values within the modules.
Last edited by Sjorge3442; Feb 8, 2023 at 02:01 PM.
Appreciated!! Just what I was looking for. Ya, dealership does the thing where because I didn't buy the car there, they tend to treat me worse than other buying customers (IMO). I get it. But every appointment is a fight. Their fix is to replace all. The drivers side door handle that acts up, they want to replace all handles. (come on!... we know it's green crusties on the handle.. ; I took it off and cleaned it = fixed). They want $157 /hr to troubleshoot the smallest things. The recall letter I got 2 years ago they said they would let me know when the parts come in... they'll never update me. Takes more than a month to get an appt. The list goes on. But... techs do good work. It's the management side that's weird. Anywho /rant...
But I'd say replacing the unit is the last choice, so why not do this first. I'll see if they'll do it.... no harm. I'm assuming this TSB applies to a manual transmission? This clutch pack area is near the rear of the transmission but a separate fill?
Curious that you have quattro ultra on a MY17 A4. Is this an allroad? $157/hr at a dealership is cheap. But is this a dealership? They should not have been to miss the TSB. You can drop a note to Audi Canada, but good luck with them caring about an owner over one of their customers. Remember, dealerships are Audi's customers, not you. And an Audi dealership <> Audi, same as Audi Canada <> Audi AG.
Curious that you have quattro ultra on a MY17 A4. Is this an allroad? $157/hr at a dealership is cheap. But is this a dealership? They should not have been to miss the TSB. You can drop a note to Audi Canada, but good luck with them caring about an owner over one of their customers. Remember, dealerships are Audi's customers, not you. And an Audi dealership <> Audi, same as Audi Canada <> Audi AG.
2017 Audi A4 S-Line / manual / Canada
$157/hr to drive car for little repairs
Have emailed Audi Canada a previous time. No response
Yes, the AWD clutch can be drained and filled. It's actually in the "rear final drive" workshop manual rather than the "dual clutch transmission" workshop manual, for whatever reason. Drain and fill must be followed by an adaptation to reset the oil age value.
I keep forgetting the type 8W with 6MT started out quattro ultra, unlike with DCT.
The green circle is the drain plug, the orange is the fill plug. This unit takes VERY little fluid. Its like, less than half a liter. I was able to do the drain, fill, drain, fill process of the TSB with just one bottle of the designated fluid.
After a fluid change in the AWD clutch (ultra clutch) assembly you do need to go through an adaptation. Any VW / Audi specialist independent shop should be able to do this. You can probably do it yourself with VCDS. "won't touch it with a 10' pole as programming is required " sounds very strange if you were talking to shops that claim to service VW / Audi.
As noted, the TSB describes drain and refill as part of the diagnosis process. However, if your problem was severe then they may have fast tracked the diagnosis to 'it's dead' diagnosis. Or, if the dealership is sloppy they may not be on-top of the TSBs. If you can't do the flush and adaptation yourself, find a VW / Audi independent to do it for you. Given your relationship with the dealership cultivating a relationship with an independent sounds like it might be a good idea anyway. I would be inclined to try the drain process at least once. There was one thread on this forum discussing this problem about 6 months ago and when they drained the fluid metal debris came out. At that point they declared the assembly a gonner. I think in that case it was still under warranty so the poster was not out $.
The cost of two fluid flushes and adaptation is tiny compared to the cost of a new clutch unit so the risk / reward is heavily biased in your favour.
Thanks everyone. (Thanks Sjorge3442 for the picture!! ) I insisted the dealership do the TSB and they responded with:
"We can perform the TSB for you, but do not reccomend it. That TSB is no longer valid, and that is becuase it was found to not fix the issue. We actually dont even have access to it anymore. "
I'm telling them to do it anyways. Called every VW / Audi shop in town and they won't do it; 'not something they do" is what I'm told. I could easily do this myself as I have worked on cars my whole life as a hobby, but I do not have VCDS ......, not sure what's involved there? And guessing you fill it until it starts pouring out like manual transmissions? They are booking for March 22, 2023 (they also seem lost a lot of techs at this place)
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Center Diff bad....
(they also seem lost a lot of techs at this place)