Audi DSP Automatic (reply)

[markmasi@juno.com (Mark Masi)]

On 2/25/97 Brendan Andrews wrote:

> I am about to buy an Audi A4 1.8T. After driving the car on two =
> occasions I asked the dealer to confirm my suspicion that the DSP =
> automatic transmission will not start in 1st gear, it always starts in
=
> second       <snip>
and their interpretation correct and is there anything you can do about =
> this, by way of replacing part of the electronics which govern the =
> transmission?
Brendan, I don't know about changing the electronics, but one thing you
might want to try is test driving the A4 with the automatic shift lock in
"4" rather than "D".   I use "4" over "D" for driving around town.  This
locks out 
5th (which IMO is not needed in speeds under 45mph) and holds the 
lower gears longer.  I cannot say for sure if this starts the AT in 1st,
but
even if it does it will shift out almost immediately.  One thing it does
do
is give a much better feel and the engine will not lug as it sometimes
can
in "D".  

You didn't mention if it was a quattro model you were testing.  If it
wasn't
the load on the AT would be different, so your results might be different
than mine.  (Also I drive the 2.8, but I think the trannys are the same.)

Let me know what you think.....and good luck!

Mark Masi
96 A4q 2.8

"Specialization is for insects."  -(?)