Mr. Z

It has been a while since I last posted -- and much longer since I've posted regularly. Too many non-Audi things going on. A quick search of AudiWorld will reveal the triumphs and tragedies of my '97 A8 ownership.

Well, last Thursday night, the transmission decided to die -- right out of the blue. Pulling out of a gas station, it gave me a light thump or two, but went back to driving OK (I keep it in "3" unless I'm going 60+ on a freeway). Then, about 5 miles down the highway (at about 40+ mph), it starts hopping between gears and goes into limp mode.

Indy repair shop says that it is a 2nd gear issue. I don't have specifics or codes, but they said something about slippage. They say their 3rd party tranny shop wants $4,250 minimum and $5K+ if we get into TC or VB. (NOTE: tranny was supposedly rebuilt 3 years ago before I bought the car, but receipt is vague on details). My shop says swapping in another tranny is ~$1,100. Also of note: they say when they drained the tranny, it had 2-3 qts of fluid (which is high?).

I still owe about $8K on the original car loan. The ABS may need a new controller (wheel sensor keeps showing bad, but apparently benches fine). Engine definitely needs a tune-up. Adding insult to injury, I just put good money into new head gaskets and related work about 2 months ago.

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!

Thoughts? Options? Sympathies? :-(

icsamerica

Sell it on ebay. You'll end up out of pocket 6k. Fix it and your out of pocket 11k to 13k and you still have a 97 with a transmission few know how to fix right. Save up and consider a face lift.

alextimmons

<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/auto_transmission/autotranservicing.html">Transmission</a></li></ul>

Mr. Z

He said they warmed up the car, put it up in the air and then pulled the plug to drain fluid "until it dripped." Could you overfill the transmission by 2-3 quarts? If so, what would happen?

PaulW

Even after 1 year of S8 ownership, it's worth so much less than I paid for it.....and probably less than my loan value for the next year.

PaulW

If it was milky and like anti freeze...that could be the case. I think it would be obvious.

Mr. Z

I'll ask, but I'd think they'd mention it if the fluid was funny.

Mr. Z

Cash flow and, considering the credit crunch, the terms of a new loan for the facelift definitely come into play. Doubt they'll loan 100% of book nowadays, so I could have $6K OOP on the '97 + $2K toward the new car? And that assumes no issues for 6 mos. to a year on the new car, too.

Would love to move up a few years, but...

tozoM8

There is no way to overfill it by that much, maybe 1/2 qt.

JimTheBarber

If you don't have the codes, you have no idea how to validate what the shop is telling you.

And, a rebuilt transmission, from ZF themselves, is like $2700 plus shipping. Remove old and add new tranny, maybe $1K tops.

Find someone else...and yes, you do have my sympathies ...