Having put up a post singing the praises of my A4 Cabriolet, it was bound to happen

Christmas tree lights on the dash, failsafe gearbox mode. On research this is a common fault with the multitronic (CVT) gearbox on these cars. The Gear selector lights PRNDS start flashing on and off, and you drop into a failsafe mode, which gives a big "clunk" when you go to pull away, but quite driveable after that, but you can lose Reverse.

Fault codes diagnosed as a valve solenoid issue - which equals @ £2000 for parts and labour at a main dealer, so working with my Audi indie (SJB Autotech in Basingstoke - good people) we tried first changing the gearbox oil - was due anyway. This didn't help.

Gearbox Oil has to be changed on every 40,000 miles in the service schedule - so not sealed for life

Researching more on the Audi forums, and with advice from my indie next thing to try was having the gearbox ECU repaired/reconditioned. A new one of these is @ £900, reconned £300. Audi in their wisdom placed the ECU inside the gearbox where the oil goes, so I guess over time the heat and activity in there causes breaks in the silver soldering.

So back into SJB for gearbox oil drain (at least it had now had a good flush) back cover off the box and remove the ECU. Replacement back from mender in three days, and all problems solved

General advice is to go for the tiptronic gearbox that doesn't appear to have these issues, but the multitronic appears to be just fine for me. You get gear change buttons on the steering wheel - early version of paddles, and being CVT the changes are very smooth, almost imperceptible. My Auntie had a DAF @ 30 years ago - very different beast with same idea  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Last edited by Joe90 on 20th Jul 2012 11:27am. Edited 1 time in total

change the battery tim, you know you need one..  ... - .- -.




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That was the first job I had to do after I got the car, and just after a double hernia operation too!! .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Im looking at getting an A5, but definately not an auto. Reformed

Aren't these Audi things just expensive Skodas ?!?

Good work fella, the Citroen C2/3 sensomatic have a similar kind of issue but that does require lots of new parts and lots of fiddly time in a small engine bay  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

@ kingpleb

"expensive Skodas"

Yes, a bit like face-lifting the original L322  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Sure is

Though it was a quote from a friend who worked for the 4 rings at the time many moons ago  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.