TTinker

My 2002 Audi TT ALMS has recently started grinding while I shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. I currently have 47k miles on the car. I took it to the dealer today and was told that I had two options. A $500 tranny oil change with synthetic oil, or I could pay for the syncros to be replaced at about +/- $3000. Of course I asked if the work was covered under the manufactures warranty, to which he replied that my warranty expired five days ago! Well, after a $55, oil change I took packed my toys up and left the dealer.

After searching AudiWorld's TT forum it looks like several owners have had this very problem. Apparently if I change the tranny oil with RedLine MT-90 it "might" solve the problem. I take it that is what the dealer was going to do for $500. So here is my questions...Is changing the tranny oil much more difficult than changing motor oil? How many quarts of tranny oil does a 225 Quattro take? What is the proper way to drain the old tranny oil out the system?

On a side note: I purchased the car from CarMax with less than 5K miles on it. I don't know what I was thinking, but I went for the Extended Warranty, which is normally a move I don't make. It looks like whatever is wrong with the tranny is covered by this warranty per the online documentation. The only catch is that when I called the Audi Service rep. to confirm that they will work with my 3rd party warranty I got some resistance. I was told that they would honor the warranty, but that the 3rd gear grind problem was most likely due to "driver abuse". That being the case the warranty would not cover the repairs. Well I am 100% sure that this is not the case. I drive the car very carefully and I don't even let my wife drive it. Does this sound right? Is the 3rd gear grind problem mentioned so many time in this forum due to "driver abuse"? This a war that I will never possibly win with the dealer?

Sorry that the post is so long. I guess I needed to vent a little.

Scenic Driver

You need 3 liters of oil (you'll use slightly less than all of it). The only other things you need is a suction gun, and possibly the security triple square socket for the drainplugs, mid year 2002 is when they started using it (mine has it). It's around $20 and can be purchased from zdmak.com.

I don;t have and links for writeups/pictures but if someone doesn't chime in with any I'm sure searching would get you what you need.

And the MT-90 did make a difference in my car.

Evan

TTagz

They are idiots. Obviously this is an extremely common problem and we aren't all "abusing" our cars. If the warranty will cover it have them replace the syncro. Then also do the redline swap right from the get go.

TTschwing

for less than $30 and do it yourself. Based on info here it will most likely cure your problem. Easy to do...Probably a "how to" in the FAQ (there is a bevel box drain in addition to what is shown). Kiss your dealer goodbye....:-)

<img src="http://images18.fotki.com/v167/photos/7/7305/776256/transcopy-vi.jpg">

NOLA TT

Does it do any good having it anyway?

stilljester

and make sure the car is level when you fill it.

NOLA TT

Oh... I noticed a discussion about it a few posts down :-/

TTschwing

Yes!

NOLA TT

I was really asking if it does any good for the car to have it, besides being a pain to remove everytime the oil needs to be changed.

MCPaudiTT - DEFCON 1

As mentioned before, different model years use different "keys" on the bolts. They use triple-square on newer cars. Mine is an early '01.<ul><li><a href="http://public.fotki.com/mcphill/audi_stuff/engine_and_drivetrain/transmission_oil/">Tranny oil replacement FOTKI</a></li></ul>