Hello, Like the title says I'm having problems with my throttle getting stuck and my transmission is " jumping hard "
into gears, as well as hesitating to up shift/down shift /not shifting at all at times.

I have a 1997 a6 Avant c4 2.8 12v with 125k miles. I am the second owner and this car was fully maintained at an Audi
dealership before I got it. As far as I know the transmission has never been worked on. The only thing I had done at
a Volkswagen dealership was having the radiator replaced, ( two times, they didn't use a genuine audi radiator the first
time and it cracked ) and Iirc they have to use a special tool when doing so for the ATF. However this was over 20k miles
ago and the transmission has had no problems until now.

So just before I started having these problems I did a timing belt/water pump/thermostat job on the car ( blauparts kit,
didn't change the seals though ) and change my valve cover gasket. I also took off my throttle body so I could clean the
butterfly really good in front and behind it. Now after doing this job the car sounded GREAT. I even drove it two times
on a 3 hour trip ( going 90+ over I80 from Reno to California lol ) and the car did so well!!!. So then I left the car
parked for a few days in front of my dads house and I started to have these problems.

The car will shift/jump really hard into first and once it gets going into second ( around 20 mph ) its like it can't
decide weather to upshift or down shift. And another things its doing is, I will floor it and it wont kick down into
overdrive. It will just slowly and I mean dog slow get up to speed. Now it won't do this every time however!

Another problem that just started at the same time is my gas pedal seems limp/sticky. It was getting stuck so I sprayed
all around the linkage with silicone lube and also around the hinge on the gas pedal. This helped and the throttle is no
longer getting stuck, but it still feels sticky and doesn't feel like its returning to the proper position when I let
off the gas.

Do you think I messed something up when I put the throttle body back on? ( I've made sure the linkage cable isn't impeded
all the way to the firewall)

Is it possible im missing a spring somewhere in the gas pedal? does it have one?

Could there be a vacuum leak causing the shifting problems? or does this sound related to the linkage not working right?

Or am I just having bad luck and my transmission needs work?

I think what ill do next is look for vacuum leaks, and take the throttle body off again and see if something inside
around the butterfly is getting stuck.

Thanks for any ideas , it's much appreciated.

 

Since the radiator was replaced twice, did the VW dealer verify the ATF level was correct? You may be slightly low on ATF, which may delay/alter the shifting.

 

I doubt they checked to see if the levels were correct. I purchased a VAG tool for my car and pulled the following codes.

Address 01: Engine Labels: 8D0-906-266.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 8D0 906 266 B
Component and/or Version: 2,8l V6/2V MPI OBD2 D01
Software Coding: 10242
Work Shop Code: WSC 02324
VCID: 2B5B0E00D94A2B461E5-515A
1 Fault Found:

16506 - Throttle Position Sensor (G69)
P0122 - 92-00 - Signal too Low

Readiness: N/A
Sunday,29,June,2014,17:38:14:20251
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator
VCDS Version: 12.12.2.0 (x64)
Data version: 20140212


VIN: WAUJC84A0VN00468 License Plate:
Mileage: 125444 Repair Order:


Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: None
Control Module Part Number:
Component and/or Version: AG4 01F 2.8l2V USA D26
Software Coding:
Work Shop Code:
VCID: 70E1D96C30EC089E6B7-4A82
2 Faults Found:

00518 - Throttle Position Sensor (G69)
27-00 - Implausible Signal
00526 - Brake Light Switch-F
27-00 - Implausible Signal
Sunday,29,June,2014,17:40:46:20251
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator
VCDS Version: 12.12.2.0 (x64)
Data version: 20140212


VIN: WAUJC84A0VN00468 License Plate:
Mileage: 125444 Repair Order:


Address 15: Airbags Labels: 8A0-959-655.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 8A0 959 655 D
Component and/or Version: Airbag V AUDI D00
Software Coding: 00127
Work Shop Code: WSC 02324
VCID: 3469157C047474BE4FF-5178
2 Faults Found:

00532 - Supply Voltage B+
07-10 - Signal too Low - Intermittent
01025 - Trigger for On Board Diagnostic Lamp; Malfunction
31-10 - Open or Short to Ground - Intermittent
Sunday,29,June,2014,17:43:59:20251
VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator
VCDS Version: 12.12.2.0 (x64)
Data version: 20140212


VIN: WAUJC84A0VN00468 License Plate:
Mileage: 125444 Repair Order:


Address 35: Centr. Locks Labels: 8D0-862-257.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 8LO 862 257 B
Component and/or Version: CV-Pump,Alarm, RC
Software Coding: 12172
Work Shop Code: WSC 65535
VCID: 53AB76E0A1BA5386765-4F02
3 Faults Found:

01367 - Central Locking Pump Run Time Exceeded (Likely Leak)
35-00 - -
01371 - Alarm triggered by Door Contact Switch; Driver's Side
35-00 - -
01370 - Alarm triggered by Interior Monitoring
35-00 - -