My car is currently in for transmission repairs. I have a 180 FWD roadster with chronic 2nd gear grinding. This is the 5th time I have brought this to the attention of the service department in less than a year. I have heard many comments on this problem on the forum. Particularly in 180 FWD's. (Brad I believe you championed this cause a while back.)

My dealer says he has not heard of any "problems" with the transmission in the 180 FWD. He has made mention of replacing the syncros to repair the problem, essentially placing a re-built transmission in a new (8,000 mile) car. I don't think this acceptable, especially since I made mention of this problem in the first 500 miles. (any comments) They have tried to remedy the problem in the past by "adjusting the linkage" but it has not helped.

I would like to get as many people as possible to respond to this string with there grinding problems. You don't have to be long if you don't want to. Just any simple response will do.

 

Further documentation of FWD tranny problems...

Case #724871


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. Another reason for this is that some here seem to think that my tranny problem was just isolated bad luck. I think that it is something more. Anyway, here's a partial documentation of some of these problems.

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

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

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

4. Kurt 6-25-99. 2nd gear synchro 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 synchro grinding (I think his transmission was replaced later).

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

15. Crisp 7-25-99. 2nd gear synchro 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 synchro 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 (synchros).

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

28. Fred Russo. 2nd gear synchros grinding.

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

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

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

32. Peter Ryckaert (former Audi-TT.Org Associate Editor). Reports 2nd gear synchros 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 synchro grinding.

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

36. Lorne Goldman. 2nd gear synchro grinding.

37. Ryecatcher. Reported 2nd gear synchro grind.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

52. Steve Z. 4-28-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding (via e-mail). Tranny replaced.

53. STTUKA. 5-1-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

54. Guido. 5-21-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding (German TT newsgroup).

55. January Henning. 5-21-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding (German TT newsgroup).

56. Dirk. 5-22-00. Reports "same" transmission problems as January (German TT newsgroup).

57. ALAN VONDERHAAR 11-27-99. The Cincinnati Enquirer TT article. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

58. TX. Carvoice.Com 5-23-00. Transmission replaced due to synchro grinding.

59. Mark Parker. Reports 2nd gear synchro grind. TT back to Audi via Lemon Law.

60. Chiu. 5-25-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

61. Bobby M. 5-25-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

62. Uncle Frank. 5-27-00. Reports 2nd gear syncho grinding, followed by failure of 2nd and 4th gears.

63. William Morse. 6-4-00 via e-mail. Reports a "pop" when shifting from 1st to 2nd.

64. EncierroTTR. 6-13-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

65. JWS. 6-13-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

66. Fred Frommy. 6-13-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

67. The Rev. 6-25-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

68. Gary Price aka kattt. 7-3-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

69. TTTT. 7-3-00. Reports that his NM TT is experiencing 2nd gear syncro grinding.

70. Sean7. 7-3-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

71. Matt Kellett. 7-21-00 via e-mail. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

72. Craig Syverson. 7-24-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

73. CubsTTer. 7-28-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

74. Bob Fogt. 7-28-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

75. Model TT. 7-28-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

76. Scooter_clx. 7-29-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

77. TT Tom. 7-29-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

78. George F. Webster. 8-2-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

79. BobbyM. 8-2-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

80. Bob. 8-2-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

81. Ron-TT. 9-25-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding. Tranny replacement tomorrow.

82. Edwin. 11-2-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

83. Matt Kellett. 11-10-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.
Transmission replaced (3rd attempt at repair).

84. Mike Bailey. 11-28-00. 2nd gear is "clunky".

85. Model TT. 12-3-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

86. The Blue Roach TT. 12-5-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

87. Robinic54. 12-9-00. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding. New tranny enroute.

88. Gary Price. 3-12-01. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

89. Ricardo Paloschi. 3-15-01. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

90. ttglee. 4-7-01. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

91. robinic54. 4-7-01. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding.

92. mpm. 4-8-01. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding (rental TTR).

93. RickiTT. 4-24-01. Reports 2nd gear synchro grinding (5 repair attempts.

 

Brad, you are the BEST!
Thanks the quick update.
I guess, as per your experience, a replacement is no guarantee to remedy the problem for good. Wish me luck!
Thanks-

 

your dealer call your rep and have them drive your car. In addition to Brad's list - there was a list of similar size compiled on VW Vortex of Golfs and Jettas that suffered from the notorious 02J tranny second gear grind. My GTI was one of them and VW bought it back. I spoke at length with my OTS, while he didn't outright say it - he alluded to the fact that it is a known problem with this transmission. Good luck!

 

some more than one time! BobbyM is on your list with a synchro problem. I believe he is on tranny 2 or 3 at this point!

 

Maybe I'll wait on a TT and see if they "fix" these types of things before I jump in. I'll have to stick with my 91 BRG SE Miata and just carry a picture of a TT with me.

Besides, if they really do come up with a in-dash CD, all the better as I would have been looking for one in the long run any way.

 

I'm also running my second tranny, 25000km and no problem so far

 

Smart move - had I had the sense to visit here first, I would be driving something else.

 

thing that has failed (and that was an easy fix).

 

My suggestion is to avoid the FWD until we know problems w/the tranny are resolved.