OK this happened to me for a second time. I was in a terrible rush. Started the car and immeditely shifted to reverse. The RPM's were still way above 1000. The car gave a strong kick and slipped into "safe" mode. I learned a lesson that after start I need to wait a second or two before selecting gear. It is strange because I have done that with my A4 and it doesn't happen. Any thoughts on that?

also when the car is cold after start it idles at about 1000 rpm. when I select a gear it gives a slight kick again. It feels like a Buick. It doesnt happen when it warms up. Do I need a throtle adjustment of some sort?

 

I've never had that problem, but I don't like to shift really fast into reverse, but I've done it before.

Have you ever had the tranny fluid changed? If not, I would not be surprised if this was contributing to your problems. I would get it changed if you did.

So you just cleared the problem by a restart?

As far as the idle goes, that's normal and the computer controls it. If it's cold outside, it's going to hold it higher until it warms up, just like a choke on an old carberated car.

pw

 

not that it needs replacing, but it needs to get pumped up into the transmission itself, just like the oil. Give it 30 seconds or so to get the blood flowing and try it then.....

As for it not happening on your A4? Time of year perhaps? In warmer months the fluid will be more, well, fluid, and therefore easier to move through. As you get into the colder months, it becomes thicker (cold = closer molecules = more dense), which would account for the roughness while shifting.

 

I would love to have the trany fluid change but I cannot find anyone to do it. My mechanic says he will do it following PaulW's directions but I don't feel comfortable being the guinea pig. He has never done that before.

 

Mitaka- This is the same thing that happened to me when my tranny went kaput! It was a loud jerking thump while in reverse. Sounds like you were able to get the car out of safe mode and all is fine. IMHO I would say that the tranny fluid was not up inside the tranny like Boogs said. There are also sensors,input/output transpeed sensors, on the valve body that match the engine RPM with the with the TCM

 

Karpedmman your reply made me feel "great". Could you please tell me what exactly you experienced before your trany went bad.

 

Sorry! The car was parked on a slight incline. I started the car and put it in Reverse (Noise as described above occurred). Shut the car off and restarted. Transmission Safe mode was now reset. Thought that maybe it was the incline so I put the car in Neutral and let it coast back to level ground. Put the car in Drive and it shuttered like "popping a clutch on a car when it is being pushed" - "safe mode" lights came on. I braked and put the car in park. Let it idle a bit. Tried reverse again. Same reaction as the first time. Shut it down and called the flatbed.

Two and a half months now w/o the car. Trying to take the economical way out. (approx. $4000, if this is economical) Had the tranny pulled and sent to GA to be rebuilt. In the tear down it was discovered that the Forward Clutch Pack Housing cracked and broke. This is what caused the shuddering. There have been approx. 26 updates to my transmission since it was built. One of the updates is the Forward Clutch Pack Housing - made thicker and stronger. All of the updates were performed on the rebuilt

That is about all I can say now. Good luck with your situation. Hopefully this will not be your situation. I agree with the other Posts and that you should get the fluid changed per ZF standards-Or Audipages directions and not worry about being a guinea pig. See the PDF on the tranny I'm attaching (Pages 4-6)<ul><li><a href="http://www.zf-group.com/pdf/5HP24A.pdf">http://www.zf-group.com/pdf/5HP24A.pdf</a</li></ul>

 

Don't wait, get the fluid changed - any decent mechanic should be able to do it!

 

Don't forget the pan gasket and oil strainer...