[s-cars] Galled First Gears???

[bob.rossato at att.net]

There is a third noise which may, or may not be, related to item b) below, but
is completely different sounding.  My '95 S6 developed a 1st gear noise
sometime over the winter (only noticed it this spring when I finally rolled
down the windows again) that is sort of a whine/groan.  The closest I can
equate it to is the noise from straight cut gears, such as reverse.  It
definitely goes away in 2nd, so it's not pinion bearing related.

Whether it's another manifestation of a galled first gear, or simply a first
gear synchro bearing gone bad I don't know.

The only other car I've heard this on is Paul K's S6.... and come to think of
it he did drive mine a couple of times before this happened so I'm going to
blame him.  Yup, that's what I'm going to do.

Bob


> Earlier, Tim Radbourne wrote:
> >
> > I have just joined the group.  Purchased a 93 S4 with 140K.  Has one
> > problem that I wasn't too worried about when I bought it, but am more
> > worried now.  It has a noise/growl when accelerating in first gear.
> > Otherwise the tranny sounds fine.  I am wondering if this is the galled
> > first gear problem discussed here?
>
> There are two different problems that have been more than occasional
> with the 01E 5 speed transmissions in the UrS4/S6 cars.  These are:
>
>   A)  '92 and some '93's had pinion gear bearing problems.  I've not
>       had this happen to an Audi so no 1st hand listening on this.
>       It should be a whine that varies with road speed, in othere words
>       it will sound the same at 30 MPH in 1st as it does in 2nd gear.
>
>   B)  1st gear becomes galled on one or more teeth on the main shaft.
>       There are pictures of a failed 1st gear in the middle of this page:
>         http://www.elektro.com/~audi/01E/ind5.html
>
>       This will sound like a kid's bike with playing cards sticking into
>       the spokes.  A definite clicking noise that gets faster as you pick
>       up speed in 1st gear.  You probably can't hear it in any gear other
>       than 1st, and you will probably only hear it when accelerating.
>       To hear this more clearly when it's faint, roll the windows down
>       and drive next to a solid wall of a building or something.
> >
> > Can I drive it like this?
> > For how long?
>
> For either problem, you can drive it until it gets so noisy you can't
> stand it.  Driving with a failing pinion gear bearing will also ruin the
> front ring and pinion gears, and may mess up the teeth on 4th if it's
> really bad and you drive in 4th a lot.  Driving with a galling 1st gear
> will get noisier and noisier when you are driving off in 1st.  Eventually
> the metal particles from either problem will affect other bearings in the
> transmission.
>
> > Is there anything I can do without pulling the tranny?  (Should I do a
> > tranmission oil change and oil analysis?)
>
> You can't do anything with either without taking the transmission apart.
> Changing the oil won't make it better, but clean oil will help keep
> metal particles from going through other parts of the transmission.
>
> This is the Audi God's way of telling you it's time for a 6 speed upgrade
>     :-)
>
>     - Charlie
>
>
>   Charlie Smith   charlie at elektro.cmhnet.org  614-471-1418
>   http://www.elektro.com/~charlie      Columbus Ohio   USA
>   http://www.elektro.com/~audi     photos & technical info
>
>   95 S6 Quattro  -  24 PSI, RS2 6 speed, and other features
>   97 Dodge Ram   -  40 PSI, 4x4 w/Cummins turbo diesel
>
>
>
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