Further documentation of FWD tranny problems...

Here's the most up to date list of FWD TT transmission problems. There was a period of time where I was not documenting the problem, so I believe that I could now add an additional 30+ names to this list.

Don't compare these numbers to the total number of TTs sold, but rather to TT.Org forum participants as of August. Here's a partial documentation of some of these problems.

1. MattC 6-25-99. 2nd gear syncro problems. Transmission replaced.

2. Brad Willis 7-24-99. 2nd gear syncro problems. Transmission replaced.

3. Brad Willis 8-7-99. 2nd gear syncro AGAIN. Appears transmission will have to be replaced for a second time.

4. Kurt 6-25-99. 2nd gear syncro problem. Transmission replaced.

5. Sai 6-25-99. Said that his dealer replaced the tranny of a non forum member.

6. Sai 7-26-99. He is now experiencing transmission problems. Tranny "clanks" when shifting into 2nd gear (probable 2nd gear syncro problem).

7. Hal 6-15-99. Problems getting transmission into 2 gears.

8. Jay 6-14-99. 1st and 2nd gear problems requiring multiple attempts to engage transmission.

9. Steve Mikula Service Manager of Don McGill Audi. 2 non-forum member TTs in at the same time getting transmission replaced.

10. TToby 6-25-99. Said his friend is an Audi mechanic who had already replaced "several" TT transmissions. TToby then searched local dealerships for a TT demo to drive. He found one, but the dealer said., "you can sit in it, but that's it, because the transmission's broken."

11. DaveO 6-15-99. Lost 3rd gear. New transmission

12. Jeffrey Sessler 6-15-99. Reported difficulty engaging 1st gear from a dead stop.

13. BillK 7-25-99. 2nd gear syncro grinding (I think his transmission was replaced later).

14. Corto 7-26-99. 2nd gear syncro grinding.

15. Crisp 7-25-99. 2nd gear syncro grinding.

16. BLB 6-15-99. Reported notchiness.

17. Kurt Alexander 6-14-99. New transmission.

18. EnVenice 7-24-99. Rented a TT at a rental agency. They said that it was in the shop for the 1st month getting the transmission replaced.

19. Ari Jay Comet 8-8-99. Transmission failing due to 2nd gear syncro problems.

20. MNE 8-7-99. Transmission failing. Dealer says replacement is inevitable.

21. Jorg Butzbach recent German posting. Transmission replaced.

22. Markus Hirsch recent German posting. Transmission replaced.

23. Jorg Schoppmeyer recent German posting. Transmission replaced.

24. DonK. Transmission replaced.

25. John Szobocsan. Transmission failing.

26. Robby K. Transmission grinding (syncros).

27. Dave W. 2nd gear syncro grinding. Transmission replaced.

28. Fred Russo. 2nd gear syncros grinding.

29. Cara from SoCal TT Club. 2nd gear syncros grinding.

30. John Salerno. 2nd gear syncro grinding (twice). Sold his TT out of dissatisfaction.

31. Rob W. Carroll. 2nd gear syncros grinding.

32. Peter Ryckaert (former Audi-TT.Org Associate Editor). Reports 2nd gear syncros grinding. Traded his TT for an S4.

33. Peter in 90210. Experiencing 2nd gear transmission grinding. Sold his TT and bought a Mercedes 320 CLK Cab.

34. Dave Olinger. 2nd gear syncro grinding.

35. Bill Lindsay. Reported 2nd gear syncro grinding.

36. Lorne Goldman. 2nd gear syncro grinding.

37. Ryecatcher. Reported 2nd gear syncro grind.

38. John Korellis. Infamous 2nd gear syncro grind. Transmission replaced.

39. Charles Palm. Periodic 2nd gear syncro grind. Reported via e-mail 1-8-00.

40. Brad Willis. 3rd transmission has failed. The usual 2nd gear syncro problems.

41. ChrisC. 2-23-00. Reported transmission "crunch" when shifting.

42. OmarTT. 2-25-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grind.

43. TT Tom. 2-27-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grind.

44. John Frye. 2-27-00. Wrote that his friend test drove a TT which "crunched" when shifting into 2nd gear.

45. Tony Martino. 3-12-00. Sent me an e-mail reporting 2nd gear "grinding and clunking".

46. Yannis. 3-22-00. Replaced transmission 6 months ago due to grinding transmission.

47. jfchristie. 3-27-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grind.

48. ttkevinc. 3-27-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grind.

49. ScouTT. 3-27-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grind.

50. tlcu@aol.com. 12-22-99. Reports 2nd gear syncro grind (via email).

51. RobertNY. 4-12-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grinding (Wed night chat).

52. Steve Z. 4-28-00. Reports 2nd gear syncro grinding (via e-mail). Tranny replaced.<p><img src="http://home.san.rr.com/winefinds/1.jpg" border="0">

<B>Brad Willis</B>

<FONT COLOR="#FF6600">2001 225q TT Roadster
No Borla
No Garrett
No Stickers</FONT>

<A HREF="http://home.san.rr.com/winefinds">SoCal Audi TT Club</A>

 

After I duplicated the problem with the shop forman in the car, they apparently took my car out with the regional service rep last week. While they had it, apparently they couldn't duplicate the problem and decided "possible that clutch not fully depressed". (Suggesting that I would be incapable of realizing that my left foot wasn't down).

I've demonstrated this time and time again. It happened twice this morning while I was shuttling a friend to the train station -- again, with the car cold, the lever stuck in the gate.

Do you feel that all those people really need their transmissions replaced outright?

I really don't think my transmission needs to be replaced. It feels like it just needs a bloody linkage adjustment. (Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!) Oh well....

 

Joe:

i drove your car and you don't have a bad tranny! The only problem that your car had was the problem with the engine. I think that has since been taken care of.

When you drove my car you also said I have a grinding problem, this is <b>NOT</b> true! My tranny is perfect and has ONLY ground when two things have occured:

1. I missed a shift, which has happened on aless than 5 occasions in 16,000 miles.

2. You driving my car that day up near Hartford.

Sorry to say it, but your mechanic might be right.<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=3285"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ttsig.jpg" BORDER=0 alt="Click for Mods"></a>
<a HREF="http://larrytt.tripod.com">Larry's TTQ WebSite

 

Damn and i thought it was just my lousy driving....I have ground up 2nd gear on 5 or 6 occasions...mostly quick shifting from a standing start...I hope this is not a bad omen....
BTW thanks for mentioning this kinda thing,you know darned well Audi wouldnt tell us.

 

I don't know - maybe it is me. But you're saying you've never noticed a difference in the transmission's notchiness at say, 35, and compared it to the way it felt while the car was stopped? I'm still suspicious. The only other vehicle I was ever able to grind with the clutch at the floor is my dad's old 1971 Ford F-150, and then only by moving the shifter toward the edges of the gates, rather the center (so it had to be a deliberate, or a really ham fisted attempt at a shift).

In any case, with the weather getting warmer, the gearshift lever isn't as stiff, so its easier to shift smoothly.

 

It is my opinion that there is a problem with the drivetrain of the FWD TT, which manifests itself as a 2nd gear syncro grind. However, I do not believe that any problem exists with the quattro transmission, except for unusual, isolated instances.<p><img src="http://home.san.rr.com/winefinds/1.jpg" border="0">

<B>Brad Willis</B>

<FONT COLOR="#FF6600">2001 225q TT Roadster
No Borla
No Garrett
No Stickers</FONT>

<A HREF="http://home.san.rr.com/winefinds">SoCal Audi TT Club</A>

 

7 months ago my dealer replaced my FWD tranny and since then no grinding, shifting is smooth and perfect. Service manager was able to duplicate the grind and replaced tranny within a week. I really think that there were some faulty trannies out there but also incopetence of dealerships worsened the problem - like not being able to duplicate the problem in most cases. It seems that Audi has "growing pains" with their service but I'm sure that they'll make it at the end.<p>Corto
2000 Blk/Grey 180 Fwd TT

 

8,000 miles and no tranny problems. Someone document it.

 

Very scientific and solid documentation/hypotheseis testing of useless FWDgearbox in A3 platform.