04AudiA8L

Hey Guys,

Recently I've been hearing a "squeaking" noise coming from the transmission when up-shifting. I brought the car into my local Audi dealership and they're telling me the ATF needs to be flushed.

Total cost: $1875.00 plus tax. I find this to be ludicrous considering when I bought the vehicle I was sold on the fact that Audi developed a "lifetime ATF" that would NEVER have to be changed.

I follow the maintenance schedule of my car to a "T." I think Audi should be on the hook for this service given their original claim (which is obviously false).

I understand there have been service bulletins about this very issue and Audi has (reluctantly) even replaced entire transmissions that failed as a result (just like Porsche quietly replaced entire 996 engines as a result of a faulty RMS).

Any thoughts? Do I have any ground to walk on?

MP4.2+6.0

Car is out of warranty. And, yeah, that's what Audi says about lifetime. That's what many car manufacturers say. Net, I think you would just waste your time.

If you have the "hoot", STFA. Lots of posts on it. It nets to you need the new and improved "blue", big bucks fluid. If you buy it yourself/do it through a decent independent who knows Audi's, you can save some money. It will still be over $500 just given the fluid price, plus I think the filter is embedded in the (plastic?) pan now and both get replaced w/ the gasket.

Return For Deposit

Lifetime = warranty period.

That's the German translation.

MP4.2+6.0

to manipulate the fixed maintenance cost stats in their favor.

Nah, they would never think of that...

Brown Water

Indy shop. Labor was $200, fluid about $500.

GnatGoSplat

$500 fluid is quite pricey. Would it hurt longevity to use Mercon SP instead? I believe that is Ford's rebranding of ZF Lifeguard 6 that they use in their 6HP26s (whereas the new blue stuff is ZF Lifeguard 6 Plus).

MP4.2+6.0

But the baseline fluid is the non-blue stuff to start with (except in the W12 and presumably the S8). Seems like you basically have to pay up the 5x if you want to get there on the "hooting" issue the Audi TSB covers for shift related noise.

Only other idea is an old Saab TSB that points to an additive product you can get at some auto stores or on line. Found it with on line searches for my 5HP 24 C5 4.2 tranny. Don't have name handy. Chrysler also had slip issues on its 4 speed when it was new (way back when) and likewise used an additive pack that caused its fluid to be separate type labeled for years.

Net, I think either you stick with the original 4.2 stuff (or its equivalents from Pentosin or others) and pay much less and still have clean fluid and filter, or you do the blue change at a lot more $$, but also know it was one of the things Audi and ZF decided were in order on the meaningfully higher torque W12 or S8. And, who knows what they do on the Bentleys (yet more torque given the turbo's).

skankpile

yep... ditto..

I'm keeping far-far-away from the dealer..

Brozee

I love my audi, and thats the extent of it. I hate the parts, the dealers, the gouging, unreliability and everything. But the car is damn good. I just bury the rest in the back of my mind.