Re: quattro-digest V4 #3230

["Daniel Adams" <adamscs@interserv.com>]

>> At first I thought the problem only occurred when the motor was warm
(i.e.
>> driven from work).  But now I think anytime the car gets above 45 mph,
>> therefore going into top gear, shortly after being started that the
anomaly
>> happens.  The true sign is when the motor shoots up 500-1000 rpm higher
>> going into overdrive.  At this point I know the transmission is in the
>> bizarre state.  Now it requires high rpm to shift up to the next gear and
>> shift down if you let the revs go too low (2500 rpm).  Since this problem
is
>> not reproducible the dealer had no solution and proposed that it is a
>> computer problem.  They suggested a temporary fix of restarting the car
>> (therefore, computer).  This does resolve the problem for that instance
of
>> the problem.
>
>So after you've shifted from 3rd->4th once, the RPM's shoot way up every
>time it shifts?  (trying to clarify)

The first time that I reach 45+ mph, the tranmission shifts into overdrive.
If the motor shoots up 500-1000 during the engagement of the lock-up, I have
a problem.  At this point the transmission shifts in reverse.  The motor has
to rev to over 3500 rpm to shift up.  Dropping below 2500 rpm causes the
transmission to shift down.  The downshifts are harsh given the speed of the
car for that gear.  I have driven it in this mode for 30 minutes without a
change.  Restarting the car remedies the problem until next time.

>If it usually seems to involve that 3rd->4th shift what you might try is
>driving with the shift selector in "3" instead of "D" and see if that
>changes the way it behaves.  If it does, then you could well have some
>problem related to 4th gear--I don't have my manual handy but I can look
>into what sorts of valves/sensors are related to each gear.  The
>transmission computer has a number of failsafe modes, but I also think
>that it has a few 'contingency' modes, where if it senses something
>wrong (i.e. something sticking) it will try to correct the problem--that
>could be what is happening.  Have you had your dealer check the
>transmission computer for error codes?  I'm pretty sure that it stores
>error codes (not positive though...it seems that it would, considering
>every other *#$ computer in the car does).


With the car in "3" I won't have this problem until I need "D" or 4th for
highway driving.  I drive over 45 mphs 30 seconds after leaving work.  It
takes 5-10  minutes to reach this speed leaving my house.  Therefore, I
think the problem is related to the tranmission being warmed up.  FWIW, the
problem started in the summer in Hot South Carolina.

The dealer noted that the transmission had an error code, but commented that
it was inconclusive.  Actually, he indicated that a new computer would fix
the problem (not to mention my wallet).  Does anyone have a means to read
transmission error codes?

>> On Monday, I had a transmission service (filter/fluids) and this has had
no
>> impact on the situation.  I have also, found that leaving the car in
sport
>> mode (requires higher rpms to shift) and babying it that first time it
>> shifts into 4th decreases the frequency of the problem.  But I feel that
>> there may be a valve sticking or torque converter problem.  Any ideas
would
>> be appreciated.
>
>When the fluid was changed, did you (or whoever) notice anything bad in
>the fluid?  Metal shavings?  Springs?  Teeth?  Cat hairs?  Also, you
>might give the new fluid a chance to work into things; if it seems to
>get a little better in the next few hundred miles, you might try
>changing it again (i.e. if something got gummed up, keeping the fluid
>clean will help clean stuff out).


No shavings or Cat hairs!!  But I have only put about 250 miles on it so
far.  I may try it without the sport mode set on Friday.

regards,
Daniel