2003 A6 & 2004 A4

[Tony Hoffman]

I work on a few in my shop, and there are a few common things.

The multitronic transmissions have issues with trans fluid getting into the
TCU. This is insude of the transmission case. When it does start giving
problems, and it will if it has not already been dealt with, you have two
options. One is to have the TCU rebuilt, the other is to replace it
altogether. I've had them rebuilt in the pase, with varrying success.
However, the rebuild is covered by warranty, just the inconvenience of the
car being down can become an issue. There is a significant price difference
between the two options. On a side note the Multitronic (CVT) is the only
automatic transmission I could see myself living with on a daily basis.

As mentioned, oil leaks. You did not mention which engine and trans are in
the A4. Make sure the timing belt/water pump service is done at 75k
intervals max on the V6's, and the factory says you can go 105k on the 1.8,
but I recommend 75k on those as well. Seen several under 100k with stripped
teeth/bent valves.

In difference to one of the other posts, none of my customer cars have had
issues with head gaskets, very few have breather system issues, one with a
bad power steering pump (which the customer later admited was run low/noisy
for some time by his daughter). None have had bad cats, but the cat code
will come up (and is falsly replaced at times) if the rear O2 sensors go
bad.

However, they are somewhat dificult to work on, as mentioned. Also,
definately coil pack/misfire issues.

Make sure you take care of the oil changes, and use the bigger oil filter.
If you cant' get your local quick lube to carry them, buy them yourself and
carry them in with you. I prefer the Mann filters, as they are one of the
main OEM suppliers for Audi.

Make sure you have the sunroof drains cleaned out. There are four of them
on a sunroof, and if they plug you won't know till you have some bad
control modules :(

Oh, and congratulations on the purchases of them.

HTH,
Tony

On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 2:41 PM, Paul Staupe <staupe at gmail.com> wrote:

> I purchased a 2003 3.0L A6 with 100K miles on it and the multitronic
> transmission a few months ago.  My wife was so impressed that she bought a
> 2004 A4 quattro with 63K miles on it yesterday, so now we're an Audi
> family.
>
> Are there any suggestions that we should be aware of for either vehicle?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul