frame2

ok, march fourth, I brought my car into the dealer with transmission problems (among other things).

car's been there 3 weeks and they have yet to figure out what the heck is wrong with it.

Maybe one of you guys has an idea.

97 audi A4 2.8 FWD automatic (not the tiptronic)

essentially the car will not engage into gear when put into drive. I have to put the car in '2'
(2,3,4,D,N,R,P) after a short delay (1.5-2 seconds) the car gets into gear. As I start to accelerate the car momentarily lets go (like neutral) for a short second ad the reingages. This happens a few seconds
after starting in '2' from a standstill.

Now, to add to the weirdness, once the car is going 6-7mph or more, I can put the car back in drive 'D' and all the gears will function normally, shifting and all, even under heavy throttle (although it does occasionally slip the gear at which point I have to lay off the gas until the rpms go back down and then gently give it gas until it reingages. But this is very rare and only under heavy acceleration.

so basically above 7mph everythig pretty much works.

Now, if I leave the car in drive from a stand still the engine revs and revs (ok, it goes about 2mph at
6000rpm). after a few seconds of reving all the gear lights on the dash light up and the car drops to the emergency gear (3rd gear).

after a few repetitions of this, the car spit out a code indicating a failure in the transmission Vehicle
Speed Sensor. This supposedly monitors engine/vehicle speed and determines shift points ad such.
Now, basically, the VSS either has a short or a bad conector and if confused as to when to shift on the
'D' "program".

Well, they put i a new VSS, and no change, and no code (although I don't know how long they forced the 'D' because it took me a few times before it spit the code, so it may still be there)

Any ideas?

they've checked all the fluid levels, those are fine.

Running out of rental car coverage here=\


ANY Suggestions, no matter how far fetched are welcome

Audiboy

they checked it. hmmm

frame2

if it was the problem would go away as the oil heats and expands wouldn't it?

Perpetual Novice

There was a fluid leak which caused foaming, and then the Bands fried.

Do they still use bands?

I didn't think the dealers were trained to repair transmissions...or is that just 98 and up?

Audiboy

That's like saying putting water in the tranny will work too No, it won't.

frame2

?? dealer has no clue, they are putting in a new tranny, $$$$ =\