2001 S8 Transmission Failure Signs
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AudiWorld Member
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2001 S8 Transmission Failure Signs
All this recent talk of transmission failures has me spooked. For the folks that had failures in this model year, would you please respond with any warning signs, signals, codes, or other items that in retrospect may have been a signal that the transmissions was about to go out?
I think I've got some shifts that are less smooth than when I got the car 20k miles ago, but might just be getting 'sensitive" to it after reading post after post of transmission replacement.
Still on the fence of whether or not to do any preventative maintenance after hearing horror stories of fluid and filter replacements.
If the dealer does a fluid/filter change - do you get some kind of warranty on the work if the transmission blow 100 miles later?
TIA
I think I've got some shifts that are less smooth than when I got the car 20k miles ago, but might just be getting 'sensitive" to it after reading post after post of transmission replacement.
Still on the fence of whether or not to do any preventative maintenance after hearing horror stories of fluid and filter replacements.
If the dealer does a fluid/filter change - do you get some kind of warranty on the work if the transmission blow 100 miles later?
TIA
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
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Could you link me to the horror stories?
I have not found a direct connection between sudden "transmission failure" and routine service of filter and fluid except in cases where the transmission is already showing signs of going south. (Not a good reference to me)
Only recently have some voices on this list changed the previous recommendation to change filter and fluid regularly.(Search The Forum) Even ZF wants to see us be good to these units by regular filter and fluid changes. more so than Audi ;-)
IF there is a body of evidence that shows otherwise, I am all ears. A single case were a transmission failed right after a fluid and filter change does not hold significance to me.
OH! Cases were service has just been done WRONG does not count! Loose lugnuts can kill you!
'just want to know
Cal
Only recently have some voices on this list changed the previous recommendation to change filter and fluid regularly.(Search The Forum) Even ZF wants to see us be good to these units by regular filter and fluid changes. more so than Audi ;-)
IF there is a body of evidence that shows otherwise, I am all ears. A single case were a transmission failed right after a fluid and filter change does not hold significance to me.
OH! Cases were service has just been done WRONG does not count! Loose lugnuts can kill you!
'just want to know
Cal
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
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A case for Mythbusters!
There has been discussions about transmission failures on this forum for years. I sometimes get the impression that all units will explode, it's just a matter of time. :-)
Strangely, transmission failures are rarely discussed in European forums. Checking service history of cars in the ELSA system gives no indication of this being a problem, frequency is low. I have access to this system, and ran more than 30 cars through it while searching for my S8 this summer. Not one of them had any transmission problem history, nor had they changed fluid (which I do frequently). There was a variety of more or less scary problems, a couple of lemons, but no gearboxes. My friend at Audi that helped me with this research tell the same story.
So what's the deal here? Coinsidence, urban legend, or something special with the cars crossing the pond?
Strangely, transmission failures are rarely discussed in European forums. Checking service history of cars in the ELSA system gives no indication of this being a problem, frequency is low. I have access to this system, and ran more than 30 cars through it while searching for my S8 this summer. Not one of them had any transmission problem history, nor had they changed fluid (which I do frequently). There was a variety of more or less scary problems, a couple of lemons, but no gearboxes. My friend at Audi that helped me with this research tell the same story.
So what's the deal here? Coinsidence, urban legend, or something special with the cars crossing the pond?
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From: Wilbur by the Sea
I think some of it had to do with the very high gearing
This drives the engine at very low speeds on the A8, it is anywhere from 1000-1400 RPM most of the time.
Torque is highest at low rotational speeds....so the clutch baskets ripping on the A8's could possibly be linked to that....or that's what I think. A lot of torque a lot of the time.
The clutch F seal failing is just a poor design. I see the failures on tyresmoke.net, but not with the 4 speed boxes, just the 5 speed.
Torque is highest at low rotational speeds....so the clutch baskets ripping on the A8's could possibly be linked to that....or that's what I think. A lot of torque a lot of the time.
The clutch F seal failing is just a poor design. I see the failures on tyresmoke.net, but not with the 4 speed boxes, just the 5 speed.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jun 2000
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Dont change fluid unless absolutely necessary...
I can tell you first hand that very often changing transmission fluid shortens the life of transmissions. I have family who own two transmission shops and its an inside joke. When customers come in, it's change the fluid, when family comes in the line is leave it alone, top it off. My step brother had his 2001 Lexus RX300 (80k miles) serviced at the dealer, they recommend a transmission fluid change, about 2 month later the transmission is in Limp mode. I warned him not to do it but the sales person convinced him. There was no prexisting condition with the transmission.
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Re: A case for Mythbusters!
That thought has crossed my mind, but I've never investigated. My European spec 1999 A8 has 210.000 km / 130.000 miles, has never seen a fluid change and shows no sign of hunting or thumping.
I always thought it was my mere-200HP v6 engine, but the 3.7 and 4.2 A8 and S8 drivers I know never had any transmission problem either.
I always thought it was my mere-200HP v6 engine, but the 3.7 and 4.2 A8 and S8 drivers I know never had any transmission problem either.
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Re: So what's the deal here? Coinsidence, urban legend, or something special with the cars crossing
the pond...
My thougts exactly after lurking here for a while.
In Holland, Switserland and Germany, tranny-problems are rare also (dunno about other countries). And the German homeland market for A8's is way bigger than the USA.
Southern Germany and Switserland are especially punishing for engines and tranny's because the terrain is all mountain (for the most part anyway).
I have always wondered why there are so many problems in the US with these trannies.
If you read AW , all enthousiasm to buy one of these cars get rammed in to the ground "because you know what's comming".
My tranny has done 190.000 miles now and is still fine (and the engine has more torque than the 4.2 V8 petrol from an S8).
My thougts exactly after lurking here for a while.
In Holland, Switserland and Germany, tranny-problems are rare also (dunno about other countries). And the German homeland market for A8's is way bigger than the USA.
Southern Germany and Switserland are especially punishing for engines and tranny's because the terrain is all mountain (for the most part anyway).
I have always wondered why there are so many problems in the US with these trannies.
If you read AW , all enthousiasm to buy one of these cars get rammed in to the ground "because you know what's comming".
My tranny has done 190.000 miles now and is still fine (and the engine has more torque than the 4.2 V8 petrol from an S8).
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I have changed filter and fluids three times now
and it has never affected the function of the tranny, it has always hunted and started thumping at 90k and still does it. I am at 247k now and probably will make another change, unless I buy a new car first.