Here is a strange problem I am having with my 1999 Audi A8. i am the original owner and it just turned 54K miles. A few weeks ago, i started the car as usual but noticed the car seemed to have sluggish acceleration. Turns out the transmission seemed to be slipping and all the transmission lights were lit up on the dash, not just the "D" for drive. I had a short distance to go fortunately. The next day, started up and drove great. Then, it happened again. I stopped the car, put it in Park and shut it off. Upon restart, it drove fine. I've done this the last couple of times and on restart, it seems fine. What is going on? This car has been babied since new with all dealer maintenance. It's a great reliable car and has been perfect for years until now. Any suggestions on what could be going wrong? I am assuming an electrical issue as the transmission runs fine after restart. I have a pending dealer appointment (dread that..) and am not driving the car. Thanks for any thoughts, Pat B.

 

It sounds like the transmission is going into limp mode. The cause can be a number of things, but we see LOTs of 1999 and earlier cars having transmission trouble after a few years here.
I would recommend you go to an independent mechanic and have the codes pulled. I don't suppose you are in the Chicago area?

 

Hey Pat , I have a 97 A8 that was going into LIMP mode about a month ago. All I did was changed the filter and fluid and it has been fine since. If you haven't changed the fluid that would be the second thing I would do. 1st thing would be to pull the codes. Note make sure to only use the Audi Trans fluid cheers.

 

No. I am located in minneapolis. Any transmission specialists you may know here? Thanks again, Pat

 

Thanks for the advise. I hope that is all it takes. I've really taken care of this car since new, so would be terribly disappointed if it needed a new tranny. I'll direct the dealer to change the transmission oil and filter. Thanks again! Pat

 

If you haven't been yet, avoid the dealer!! ..unless you personally know someone there. Audi dealers' standard response to ANY trans problem is replacement, NOT repair or even diagnosis.

Limp mode can be triggered by many things that are NOT internal trans problems...water in the E-box, where TCM is located (fresh air plenum) or other electrical connections and related systems...or even low on atf, which should be indicated by a visible leak under the car...trans's don't "use up" fluid. If atf is low, it has to leak somewhere, even at radiator where atf cooler is integrated.

Limp mode (all gears lit on instrument cluster) is the car's way of protecting the trans when it senses a problem...it's one forward gear, 3rd or 4th(?). That's why the slippage feel, but it will get you home...you should have reverse also (standard with limp mode). Sometimes it will reset to normal when you shut the car off and restart...or even disconnect battery and reconnect...but "something" triggered it and will likely do so again.

Before doing anything else, join and post at http://forums.quattroworld.com/a8/ ...there are a couple of regular members there from your area and will likely know a dependable mechanic in the area to check your car out...better than an Audi dealer. A good mechanic will have Vagcom diagnostic program, to read codes for the trans...a simple code read at Advance or Autozone is not good enough.

 

thanks for the good advise!

 

Mr Bassett, I am here in St Paul, and my 2001 A8L just did the slow reverse thing...no lights or warnings. Forward gears all seem fine. I did drive 200 miles in the rain yesterday. Just disconnected the battery...will see what happens. What did you find out about yours? I have 152k on the car, which had tranny fluid done at 102k miles.
Thanks,
Burgie

 

Do you know the last time the transmission was serviced (w/filter)??

 

For a 13 year old car that has only been driven 50-60k miles, the battery could be going (unless you had a trickle charger on it). Take it to autozone (or equivalent). They can test the battery.

A bad battery caused the trans in a '06 VW Passat I had to go into limp mode. Restarting the car usually cleared it. Sounds very familiar...