Audi Tiptronic failure

Tropheus

I have a 2003 Audi Allroad which currently has just under 250k miles on it.

At 215k miles (about 3 years ago), the gearbox started slipping. It needed a full overhaul at a cost of €2k. 35k miles later and it's slipping again. :mad:

I would have thought that a recondition at that price would have had me free of gearbox problems for at least another 100k miles which would be likely past the end of life of the car.

Has anyone else had a auto gearbox reconditioned and had it fail after a relatively low number of miles? I'll contact the company that reconditioned it and see how I get on.

Spending the first €2k was a tough decision given the relative value of the car at the time. Definitely not worth spending another €2k on it as it would be close to twice the value of the car now.

FUBO

Is that a DSG gearbox did u change the oil in it by any change

bazz26

I'd say it's the older multitronic box given the vintage of car, they are notorious for giving major trouble.

ION08

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd say it's the older multitronic box given the vintage of car, they are notorious for giving major trouble.

Yeah DSG only came out in 03 and only on the top spec Audi TT and R32 Golf, so definitely a multitronic.

Notorious they may well be but 215k miles is good going.

It sounds like the car may be at the end of its life, the cost with reconditioning the gearbox a second time or replacing it would not make financial sense on an 03 Audi with over 250k miles.

You may just have to cut your losses

Tropheus

Cheers guys. Was on to Autotranz and they will take a look on Tuesday. Sounds like a clutch pack has broken up. Once I have a diagnosis and cost I'll have a decision to make. It will be a pity if I have to scrap it as the car is great in other ways and certainly doesn't look like it's covered 250k miles. The engine has been bullet proof (I've owned it from new). It's losing a bit of oil at the moment, but that's just rocker cover gaskets that need to be done.

BTW, it's a Tiptronic gearbox.

tossy

AS OP said it's a tiptoronic - multitronic boxes were for FWD (cough spit ) Audis

grogi

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd say it's the older multitronic box given the vintage of car, they are notorious for giving major trouble.

I would guess allroad =quattro. Those did not come with multitronic.

ION08

completely missed the "Allroad" part

steveshort

I have a car that had the clutches replaced by auto tranz last year. The car had barely done 5000 km and the box was giving trouble again.
When I contaced them by phone I was told they would check there records and ring back, im still waiting 3 months later, and my e mails where ignored.

gctest50

If it failed again it ( or cooler , converter ) wasn't flushed out clean maybe

The (old) metal dust mixes up with the oil and causes all sorts of havoc with the little solenoids n stuff

If the pressure goes high, it'll happily drive the belville-washer-type rings out through the side of the (clutch) housing. Much joy

galwaytt

Tropheus wrote: »

Cheers guys. Was on to Autotranz and they will take a look on Tuesday. Sounds like a clutch pack has broken up. Once I have a diagnosis and cost I'll have a decision to make. It will be a pity if I have to scrap it as the car is great in other ways and certainly doesn't look like it's covered 250k miles. The engine has been bullet proof (I've owned it from new). It's losing a bit of oil at the moment, but that's just rocker cover gaskets that need to be done.

BTW, it's a Tiptronic gearbox.

I know someone who bought a span new Tiptronic box for their '99 S8 for €4.5k from Audi, fitted, c/w 5 yr warranty. better value than a rebuild imho

Tropheus

The car is with Autotranz since yesterday so should get an update today. They need to remove the gearbox to assess the damage.

I really want to understand why it failed so quickly after €2k was spent on reconditioning. They mentioned that "the clutches are prone to failure", but that isn't good enough. If they told me that when I was spending €2k on the original job, I probably wouldn't have bothered. I'll also need some reassurance that any further work will last longer than 35k miles. Not hugely confident I'll get answers.

Tropheus

gctest50 wrote: »

If it failed again it ( or cooler , converter ) wasn't flushed out clean maybe

The (old) metal dust mixes up with the oil and causes all sorts of havoc with the little solenoids n stuff

If the pressure goes high, it'll happily drive the belville-washer-type rings out through the side of the (clutch) housing. Much joy

My thoughts exactly.

Tropheus

Gearbox was removed and stripped. One of the forward clutches broke up as suspected. Autotranz have no idea why, but suspect it could be high pressure in the gearbox. I'm told that this was replaced at the refurb 35k miles ago as it's normal to replace both forward clutches.

Cost to replace the broken clutch only and a few seals will be €1,100 + VAT. Will only give a guarantee on the replacement clutch not anything else. Although in great condition, an Allroad with 250k miles is realistically only worth about €1k.

Leaning towards taking a chance and getting it done. It would kill me to scrap it. If I got another year out of it I'd be doing ok.