katee.19

I'm new to this completely so bare with me. I just bought a 2000 2.7t a couple days ago an whithin hours after the check engine light came on. Complete surprise as it starts perfect an runs like a champ. Well I took it to my friend an jiffy lube the next day, both of them checked with the hand held device an it popped up the p0741 (torque converter). The next day we took it in to my mechanic even though he doesn't tend to work on audis or transmissions an he looked it over an said it doesn't look to be the torque converter but the module? I'm not sure what that is but I am nervous to take my car anywhere else than someone I trust cause of shady people. Especially since Audis are expensive to fix. We dropped it off at a tranny shop my mechanic suggested an they won't be able to even look at it till monday. My question though is has anyone else been through this with their car? What are some signs I mat have noticed with either possibility..? Any advice is appreciated!

georgeb944

This is a fairly common problem on Audi Tiptronics, especially on 2.7t cars. What has happened is that there is a seal in the torque converter that has failed, keeping the torque converter from going into lockup mode. The transmission control unit then senses the failure, and tells the engine control unit to turn the CEL or MIL light on. This was probably a failure prior to your buying the car, and the previous owner or dealer reset the CEL with the knowledge that it would come right back. Replacing the torque converter is about $1500... If you have the VCDS program with the right cable, you can turn off the CEL without resetting the readiness codes, in case your state inspection requires an OBDII hookup to pass. My own A6 2.7t has run this way since the failure at 130K, now has 270K miles, and other than that failure, has been a reliable car.

katee.19

How important is it to get fixed right away? Or is it something that I can still drive an wait till I notice the car actually driving funny?

georgeb944

It can wait, depending on other factors like state emissions inspections, etc. For example, here in New York State, an annual inspection sticker cannot be issued if the CEL is lit or if the OBDII readiness has more than one test that has not been completed. The workaround for that requirement, at least for me, is to use VCDS to access the transmission control unit, erase the fault code (which, in turn, turns off the CEL), leaving the readiness codes set, and I have an inspection sticker for yet another year. I have been doing this for the last 8 years and 140K miles. YMMV.