Audi's MultiTronic Gearbox

[Bitzer]

Our B7 A4 Quattro tiptronic wont creep uphill at all, only on the flat. Not sure how different the Multi is.

[DarkMatter]

Max M4X WW said:

My parents have a 1 month old B8 A4 2.0 TDi Multitronic, its done a couple of thousand miles.

When reversing from cold up a slight incline you have to press the throttle quite a bit to get the car moving, with a lot of revs. Usually auto's start to creep quite easily with little revs.

Does this sound normal? They took it back to the dealer but they said it was normal. They don't think it was quite the same when they first got it.

Sounds like it does the same as my B7 A4 2.0 TDi Multitronic, I assume it is normal. I think that if you put it into reverse and allow a couple of seconds before you accelerate it will start moving with less revs - maybe this is what your folks did when they first got it.

[Scamp's Walker]

Hi

Seriously contemplating an '08 model 2.7tdi A6 Le Mans Avant with multitronic. Need to travel an hour to view it so wondering after reading this topic whether there is any point. Are there issues with this age...are all cars effected. Car has full Audi service history and gearbox oil changed at 41,000 which was 1,000 miles ago.Any point in me checking the car out with Audi/main dealer that serviced it last. Really want to buy the car but VERY apprehensive!

[truck71]

DarkMatter said:

Max M4X WW said:

My parents have a 1 month old B8 A4 2.0 TDi Multitronic, its done a couple of thousand miles.

When reversing from cold up a slight incline you have to press the throttle quite a bit to get the car moving, with a lot of revs. Usually auto's start to creep quite easily with little revs.

Does this sound normal? They took it back to the dealer but they said it was normal. They don't think it was quite the same when they first got it.

Sounds like it does the same as my B7 A4 2.0 TDi Multitronic, I assume it is normal. I think that if you put it into reverse and allow a couple of seconds before you accelerate it will start moving with less revs - maybe this is what your folks did when they first got it.

Yep that's normal on these piles of ste, worst gearbox I've ever had the misfortune to expereince in a car. Got it for another miserable 2 years sadly, never again. Ahh that's better.

[K12beano]

truck71 said:

DarkMatter said:

Max M4X WW said:

My parents have a 1 month old B8 A4 2.0 TDi Multitronic, its done a couple of thousand miles.

When reversing from cold up a slight incline you have to press the throttle quite a bit to get the car moving, with a lot of revs. Usually auto's start to creep quite easily with little revs.

Does this sound normal? They took it back to the dealer but they said it was normal. They don't think it was quite the same when they first got it.

Sounds like it does the same as my B7 A4 2.0 TDi Multitronic, I assume it is normal. I think that if you put it into reverse and allow a couple of seconds before you accelerate it will start moving with less revs - maybe this is what your folks did when they first got it.

Yep that's normal on these piles of ste, worst gearbox I've ever had the misfortune to expereince in a car. Got it for another miserable 2 years sadly, never again. Ahh that's better.

Now, now, Mr Truck, don't sit on the fence! Tell us what you really think!

My A6 (with Multitronic box just re-built) seems to be even more noticeably sluggish from cold in reverse - it might be just my perception but from cold it's not the most nimble in drive given an incline. It now has nearly 106k on the clock and has been like it since I bought it with 5k on the clock.

Interested to hear the tip that it should be allowed to sit for a couple of seconds, but what's the physics behind this? Am curious now!

[DarkMatter]

K12beano said:

Interested to hear the tip that it should be allowed to sit for a couple of seconds, but what's the physics behind this? Am curious now!

Well it may be that I imagined that waiting a couple of seconds helped, but I had this idea in my mind that the delay allowed the clutch to engage or the belt system to re-position itself to the reverse position - I really haven't a clue how these things really work

[K12beano]

DarkMatter said:

I really haven't a clue how these things really work

I had a clue once, but I was better off without it!

Slightly O/T but a mate pointed out that if I hold my clutch in for about 30 seconds on my bike (Beemer K1200S) that first gear will engage much more smoothly. It's not until someone tells you stuff like this that you stop and think about what you're doing....

[Barkychoc]

K12beano said:

silly: I had a clue once, but I was better off without it!

Slightly O/T but a mate pointed out that if I hold my clutch in for about 30 seconds on my bike (Beemer K1200S) that first gear will engage much more smoothly. It's not until someone tells you stuff like this that you stop and think about what you're doing....

Cos the gearbox shaft is spinning while its in neutral with the engine running. When you pull the clutch in and wait the shaft slows down / stops so the gear is easier to engage.

[shavrovas]

Hi,

I drive 2005 Audi A4 B7 2.0L TFSI with CVT.

2 months ago I started to get check engine light on for 2-3 days and then gone for week and so on and last week the cel went on permanently.

The reason for this is the:

18201 - Transmission Output Speed Sensor 2 (G196): No Signal
P1793 - 000 - - - Intermittent

I have searched the forums and mostly found people with B6 and B5 having this problem and I think only 1 guy with B7. What all of those have people have in common is that they all have flashing PRNDS lights and in my case those are not flashing. The car is working perfectly with no transmission problem what so ever.

I have 2 questions:

1. Can I change just the sensor or is it integrated into TCM and I need to change the whole thing.
2. Can I keep driving with this error or am I hurting my tranny with this?

Thank you

Edited by shavrovas on Friday 27th January 19:12

Edited by shavrovas on Saturday 28th January 07:35

[bimmer528]

It appears very difficult to find info on the 3.0 petrol A8 multitronic, all the stories seem to be on lower powered A4 and A6 models?

I am just really worried now that i have bought mine. It was registered on Novembr 11 2005, so i believe it will still be the dreaded 6 plate clutch.

I don't in anyway drive fast from the start or put lots of exceleration in.

I just want to know what is the best way to look after it, seeing as it has 94,000 miles (albeit with full Audi main deaer servicing).

[Bitzer]

bimmer528 said:

It appears very difficult to find info on the 3.0 petrol A8 multitronic, all the stories seem to be on lower powered A4 and A6 models?

I am just really worried now that i have bought mine. It was registered on Novembr 11 2005, so i believe it will still be the dreaded 6 plate clutch.

I don't in anyway drive fast from the start or put lots of exceleration in.

I just want to know what is the best way to look after it, seeing as it has 94,000 miles (albeit with full Audi main deaer servicing).

It does appear that even with a regular oil change (every 40K), the CVT box can go regardless. But then this is the internet, and you wont hear of the 95% that have been running with zero maintenance!

[Clyde 05]

I've got a March 2010 A3 Sportback (1.6) which has just started suffering. I took it into a dealer who confirmed the problem but advised there was o fix as of yet. Don't think I'll be buying another multi-tronic VAG for a while.

[Bitzer]

Clyde 05 said:

I've got a March 2010 A3 Sportback (1.6) which has just started suffering. I took it into a dealer who confirmed the problem but advised there was o fix as of yet. Don't think I'll be buying another multi-tronic VAG for a while.

The A3 doesn't have a multitronic, it's a DSG.

[Clyde 05]

Sorry but what's the difference? I thought the dsg as VW refer to it was the same as the Audi multi-tronic / s-tronic.

Edited by Clyde 05 on Wednesday 1st February 15:54

[Bitzer]

DSG is s-tronic, now FWD and AWD VAGs.

Tiptronic is only available on Quattro models, and is a conventional torque convertor auto.

Multitronic is a CVT box and only on Audi FWD vehicles.

[gibbo37]

bimmer528 said:

It appears very difficult to find info on the 3.0 petrol A8 multitronic, all the stories seem to be on lower powered A4 and A6 models?

I am just really worried now that i have bought mine. It was registered on Novembr 11 2005, so i believe it will still be the dreaded 6 plate clutch.

I don't in anyway drive fast from the start or put lots of exceleration in.

I just want to know what is the best way to look after it, seeing as it has 94,000 miles (albeit with full Audi main deaer servicing).

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I had exactly this car which I bought at just over 3 years old with 60,000 miles on from a private seller, which had to have the clutch plates replaced at a cost of £1,200.
I was amazed that what was a nearly £60,000 car only three years earlier, could suffer with these issues and how Audi couldn't have cared less despite a full main dealer service history.

I sold the car soon after having it fixed.

[beat101]

I just put a deposit down an an A6 2.7 tdi 2007 with the multitronic transmission. Should I be concerned or is the car likely to have the updated version which is less prone to problems? I will be taking out an extended comprehensive warranty on the car but I cannot be sure that the oil was changed at the 40,000 mile interval. Would this invalidate any claim should an issue arise?

[5678]

Apologies in advance as I haven't re-read the whole thread for an answer... Currently looking at a new A6 (C7?) with the Multitronic box, is this still the same box that suffers from the issues in this thread?

[bimmer528]

gibbo37 said:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I had exactly this car which I bought at just over 3 years old with 60,000 miles on from a private seller, which had to have the clutch plates replaced at a cost of £1,200.
I was amazed that what was a nearly £60,000 car only three years earlier, could suffer with these issues and how Audi couldn't have cared less despite a full main dealer service history.

I sold the car soon after having it fixed.

Out of interest, what warning signs did you encounter. Mine seems nice and smooth, whether in manual or auto/sport but at 95,000 i drive every mile wondering when, not if.

[gibbo37]

bimmer528 said:

Out of interest, what warning signs did you encounter. Mine seems nice and smooth, whether in manual or auto/sport but at 95,000 i drive every mile wondering when, not if.

Mine would judder when pulling away, it wasn't that bad to start with and got worse with time. It would be fine first thing in the morning but as the oil warmed up it juddered every time.
If yours is behaving itself I'd leave well alone.