staplejj33

2003 S8 (D2)
200K mi., auto, 4.2L

Apropos of seemingly nothing, while decelerating (coasting) and usually while downshifting around 2K RPMs, my car's ENTIRE drivetrain jerks HARD twice: the dash clicks, then the front of the car lurches, the tach revs, and a beat later the rear jerks half as hard, after which nothing happens. The car will continue to drive fine until I turn it off and take another drive.

This happens most times whether I'm going down the highway or slowing down for a U-turn, no matter the speed, engine temp, weather conditions, or driving patterns, but not EVERY time.

It's scary as hell, but I just had all my fluids filled. I just got the car from a used lot, so that's all the mechanical history I know. I can't find a way to describe it that helps me narrow my search (is it a transmission issue? Engine thing? "Car goes bang...bang" is as best as I can describe it). Hoping it's a common issue. And a fix I'm just not aware of, as I'm new to Audi. Let me know if I can be more specific.

a8gd

They are finicky did a audi / vw specialist do it or the used car mech?
audipages A8 Automatic Transmission Servicing

staplejj33

I haven't had anyone look at it. I figured any place I take it in BFE Mechanicsville VA will either have no idea what they're looking at (despite the name, Mechanicsville mechanics I've talked to all have...uninspired suggestions, to wit, "maybe it's the brakes.") and the German car guys will charge me an arm and a leg for the "everything needs to be replaced, it has over 200K miles on it" package. Thanks, but I just want to fix THIS issue or at least identify it. Everything else runs fine.

staplejj33

Besides having more faith in an online community of experienced Audi owners who are trying to save Audis not sustain business models, I also work 16 hour days 7 days a week and get my schedule week to week, so even if I get a half day off, I only know a day or two in advance and can't schedule an appointment weeks out..

a8gd

see 20:30 they might have over filled it? on last youtube link

audipages A8 Automatic Transmission Servicing

a8gd

you could search for vw guru near you via vwvortex or tdiclub.com

staplejj33

So you're saying it sounds like a transmission issue. It was happening before I took it to Jiffy Lube.

a8gd

The filter is probably clogged, if you look at the video there is quite a bit involved, not that much but a bit more than they could do at jiffy, they would have to special order that filter and gasket.

a8gd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-1999-20...72.m2749.l2649

a8gd

The filter option might be well past by now since it's most likely been overdue for service in the tranny for way too long. Not saying it is, BUT it could be dead now due to starved canals smacking metal against metal due to fluid restriction, if stuff like that ever happens again with another car stop driving it immediately and get it sorted, you will avoid the repeated damage of doing it over and over. What type of atf they stick in there?