3.0 Gear Engagement Effort

[infamous_panda]

I have been driving my current 2003 A4 3.0 for about 2 years and 20K now (almost 100K total). One of the first things I noticed was the effort required and time for the synchros to engage any given gear was noticeably more than the A3 I previously drove. This is especially try for 1st and 2nd and it doesn't matter whether its warm or cold. I have since gotten used to it.

Recently I drove a friends 2008 RS4 and the shifting feel was very reminiscent of my A3. Much smooth actions, minimal resistance, and a very confident engagement.

I wanted to ask other B6 3.0 owners out there if their experience is similar and if this is just a fact of life for this model. Any ideas out there to improve the shift action? The transmission oil was recently replaced with no noticeable effect. I entertained the idea of a short shifter for the decreasing the throw but in my mind that would probably things worse.

[a4audi4fun]

2005 A4 3.0 - my experience is the 1st to 2nd shift is notchy when I back the car out of my garage and take off with a cold engine. Once things have warmed up I find the shifting very smooth and easy to engage shifting up or down. My 2008 A4 2.0T has the same 1 to 2 notchiness when cold but once things warm up (2-3 mins) it's very smooth as well. It is a different feel than the 3.0 but I put that down to the mechanics of the different transmissions and the lower mileage on the 2008. I've never driven a manual A3 so can't make any comparisons with your transmission.

If you are getting difficult shifts you might want to consider a change of gear oil and see if that changes anything.

[BCsniper]

If you are getting difficult shifts you might want to consider a change of gear oil and see if that changes anything.

The transmission oil was recently replaced with no noticeable effect.

...people should really read the whole post. I see this kind of thing very often. My experience I'd say is about right on as yours. My 1st to 2nd shift is always "notchy" or just lacks almost any smoothness. And like previously said the sifts can be worse before the car has warmed up. Once it is warm most of the other shifts can be smooth, but it does take more effort to do so. Back when I had my '98 A4 I had perfectly smooth shifts, and didn't have any feelings like I do now with my 3.0. A JHM shifter is on my want-list, and I'm hoping this will at least help with the ease it takes to shift

[T0M3K]

I got the same issue as well. I had my transmission swapped out and new(er) experiences same problem. Sometimes it is difficult to get in first gear, then I have to go into second first and the ride it to first.

[vortexjunkie]

.. A JHM shifter is on my want-list, and I'm hoping this will at least help with the ease it takes to shift

I would go with the Trio Package instead of just the shifter. Really will make a huge difference with your shifting
http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalo...98ce6d711fe54c


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[road_tripper]

mine has always been a bit difficult to put into first from a stop. I think it must be very sensitive to the shifter geometry changes; sometimes it's smooth shifting; then I turn a corner, try to downshift into second, and it just doesn't want to go into gear smoothly. I think it's my old motor mounts letting the engine/tranny move around, because sometimes everything shifts perfectly smoothly.

[BCsniper]

I would go with the Trio Package instead of just the shifter.

Yeah when, I said the JHM shifter, I meant the whole trio package. No point to buy anything but the whole kit.

Sometimes it is difficult to get in first gear, then I have to go into second first and the ride it to first.

Same story here

[vortexjunkie]

Yeah when, I said the JHM shifter, I meant the whole trio package. No point to buy anything but the whole kit.

Lol...just checking:D


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[dougyfresh]

I have been driving my current 2003 A4 3.0 for about 2 years and 20K now (almost 100K total). One of the first things I noticed was the effort required and time for the synchros to engage any given gear was noticeably more than the A3 I previously drove. This is especially try for 1st and 2nd and it doesn't matter whether its warm or cold. I have since gotten used to it.

Recently I drove a friends 2008 RS4 and the shifting feel was very reminiscent of my A3. Much smooth actions, minimal resistance, and a very confident engagement.

I wanted to ask other B6 3.0 owners out there if their experience is similar and if this is just a fact of life for this model. Any ideas out there to improve the shift action? The transmission oil was recently replaced with no noticeable effect. I entertained the idea of a short shifter for the decreasing the throw but in my mind that would probably things worse.

The 2002-2003 A4 3.0 6spd uses an 01E 6spd transmission. Same transmission in the B5 S4. Sounds like your 1-2 shift collar and/or syncros are not working properly. I suggest searching the B5 S4 forum for similar issues and see if that will help you pinpoint root cause.

[BCsniper]

^^
This is what I have thought, but I do find it odd how common this problem is. Is it just from a history of past owners and sloppy shifting or is it something else?

Also, isn't the 01E in the 3.0 a little different. I read that the gearing is different from the B5 S4's. Many say that the 3.0 has better gear, well as far as the spacing goes (this may be so, but as a 6MT 3.0 owner I'm not crazy about the spacing myself)

[ikoflexer]

Same here. Recently got this A4 3.0 from '03 and this is the first thing I noticed was that it requires some amount of force to put into 1st. 2nd and up is a bit smoother. I got Amsoil gear oil and had it replaced at the mechanic (just because I can't lift up the car levelled) and even asked to mechanic to drive it for a bit and tell me if in his opinion there might be something wrong with the gear box. He said it's fine. Even with fresh oil going into first from stop is anything but smooth. Seeing all the other people with the same experience makes me less worried. Seems to be just the design of this transmission. I don't think you'll be able to fix it with a different stick. That will not change the design of the transmission.
Just my 2c.

[dougyfresh]

^^
This is what I have thought, but I do find it odd how common this problem is. Is it just from a history of past owners and sloppy shifting or is it something else?

Also, isn't the 01E in the 3.0 a little different. I read that the gearing is different from the B5 S4's. Many say that the 3.0 has better gear, well as far as the spacing goes (this may be so, but as a 6MT 3.0 owner I'm not crazy about the spacing myself)

Everything I have read says it is the exact same transmission.

[rollerton]

I actually find the shifting in my 3.0/ 6spd pretty smooth. It's no worse or better than any VAG car I've owned as far as the feel of it.
110k on mine, original clutch, shifts fine, I have zero problems shifting from 1st to 2nd or down into 2nd. But I don't think I EVER shift into 1st when I'm moving, not sure what the point of that is. From a stop 1st gear is easy.
My only real complaint is the gear changing/ clutch experience in the 3.0 is less than ideal because the engine revs seem to hang a little bit. When you get the RPM's up and shift from 2-3or 3-4 you CAN'T shift fast because the rpm's are always still at like 4k by the time you get into gear..clutch releases kind of high too.

[seanf86]

I got the same issue as well. I had my transmission swapped out and new(er) experiences same problem. Sometimes it is difficult to get in first gear, then I have to go into second first and the ride it to first.

I would check out the clutch slave, my 1.8 5spd has the exact same issue as your describing and I have a feeling its the slave

[rollerton]

Everything I have read says it is the exact same transmission.

I think the trans is technically the same, as its the 01E, but they fixed the 1-2 shift collar and the ratio's are different* at least from the failure prone S4 version. They didn't just take the S4 01E trans and keep using it- there were changes from the B5 6spd up through the B7 6spd, even though the trans is what we consider the same since they're fairly interchangable.

[Charles.waite]

The 6-speed on the 2004+ 1.8t. 3.0 and all B7s is the 02x or 01x. The 01E was in the early B6 3.0s and the B5 S4.

The 01e is widely regarded as a more durable transmission than the 02x or 01x. Having said that, they ALL have failure prone 1-2 shift collars.

The b6/b7 S4s use the 0A3 trans.

The transmission subcode (what you find on the PR code list for your car) is what differentiates the revisions of the basic trans code. Just like we all have AMB engines, but there are different PCV renvisions, I think the transmissions had different subcodes defining the final drive as well as possibly internal changes like beefier shift collars.

My 02x in my 2004 6-speed is a GJW. Not sure what that means. I have really poor shifting as well. Its very hesitant downshifting, even when I try to match revs. I also get a sort of clunking/rubbing when it slots into gear. I would like to think a JHM full package is in my future, but its $500 for the whole thing not including install. Do you have to drop the trans to install the solid linkage? If not, I would think this would be a pretty simple DIY...

[Ill 3.0]

Also difficult to shift into second gear in my car, 2002 3.0 72k miles. The good news is its been like that for a long time for me (years) and does not seem to be getting worse. Somewhat more difficult when cold. I had more trouble with first gear for a while but that has improved with changing to the JHM shifter. I attribute that to adjustment though obviously. Second gear difficulties did not improve and I've learned to deal with it for now. Trans fluid change also had no noticeable change for me.

[infamous_panda]

Thanks everyone for their input.

It's unfortunate to see how common this seems to be. It's really too bad, but even my wife's 2000 Jetta has a more consistent feel throughout the gear range. I'm curious to anyone's thoughts on what the cause(s) for 1-2 difficulty is, and possible solutions.

The JHM kit while on my list, I don't think will do much to improve this problem. I am intrigued by the motor mount suggestion or possibly a snub mount.

[BCsniper]

snub didn't change anything in my case. New mounts all around (motor, tranny, diff) will probably settle the car some but I kind of doubt it will have much effect on how the trans operates.


and I've been wondering why your sig says 2003 3.0T. You got a custom turbo setup? Or have you swapped a B8 S4 engine in there and didn't tell anyone? (...sarcasm in case anyone coudn't tell)

[A4QuattroV6]

I have a 02 with 01E, I also have the JHM trio kit and it helps shifting a lot. My shifting is much smoother and more solid and feels 10x stronger. I think there was just a group buy that ended with a great deal on rebuild kits, sucks I couldn't get in on it cuz I have to do all my front control arms. From what I understand the rebuild kits come with updated collars so that the problem does not occur again. I think the next best deal since the group buy is over comes from JHM. I think they list the rebuild kit with composite for like 1300.

Also to whoever asked if the transmission needs to be dropped for the updated linkage and it does NOT need to be dropped. Also for anyone considering doing any of these, I highly reccomend doing it all at once. Linkage, rebuild with new synchro's, AND new clutch and flywheel. I did not do the linkages at the same time and wasted quite a bit of $ in doing so.

[Peterjk4]

Everything I have read says it is the exact same transmission.

Agreed

I also had this issue, living in central PA the winter morning starts sacred me because I had to wait up to 1-2 mins before I could shift into 1st without a whole lot of effort. And of course once it warmed up no problems.

At that time the car had 54k I was in school and had access to a lift. I changed the transmission fluid to Redline, the problem was almost if not completely fixed.

[vortexjunkie]

^where in central pa

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[infamous_panda]

I changed the transmission fluid to Redline, the problem was almost if not completely fixed.

Upgraded the clutch and replaced the flywheel last year and had Redline put in. I had thought it had improved things but just prior to that it was difficult to shift to any gear for the couple of weeks I was driving with a damaged flywheel.

and I've been wondering why your sig says 2003 3.0T.

The car is supercharged. The previous owner installed a PES G3, upgraded intake, exhaust, swaybars and other misc items. The car is de-badged and it's certainly no S4 but I have been toying the idea of replacing the emblems and adding the 3.0T as a little inside joke. Sad, but that's really the scale of the mods I am looking at these days...

Maybe next year I'll look into the JHM setup and other upgrades.

[MrKleen03]

Agreed

I also had this issue, living in central PA the winter morning starts sacred me because I had to wait up to 1-2 mins before I could shift into 1st without a whole lot of effort. And of course once it warmed up no problems.

At that time the car had 54k I was in school and had access to a lift. I changed the transmission fluid to Redline, the problem was almost if not completely fixed.

Sometimes I have this problem when Im at my dads up in philipsburg.. Maybe not 1-2 minutes tho. My downshifts to 1 or 2 are almost always slightly delayed

[A4QuattroV6]

Sorry my mistake looks like Advanced Automotion still has the lowest price on the Rebuild kits...
http://www.advancedautomotion.com/ad...d631fd&x=0&y=0

[A4QuattroV6]

Sometimes I have this problem when Im at my dads up in philipsburg.. Maybe not 1-2 minutes tho. My downshifts to 1 or 2 are almost always slightly delayed

Theres your problem right there, Downshifting into 1st or 2nd, your asking for problems. Thats what brakes are for, and they are cheaper to fix than the transmisson.

[rollerton]

I'm starting to feel pretty lucky- or my standards/ expectations are lower than everyone else's- my car shifts pretty nice. No grinding, no clunky-ness at all.

[Charles.waite]

Theres your problem right there, Downshifting into 1st or 2nd, your asking for problems. Thats what brakes are for, and they are cheaper to fix than the transmisson.

I'm sorry what? I get downshifting into first is generally tough, but second? That's not normal. I dont "engine brake" my car, and I would agree that it's bad but having to downshift into second is a very common occurrence for me. There are these things called hills. It's impossible to go up them at safe speeds in anything but first or second. At lest the ones near me (Seattle) are VERY steep and in residential areas where if I'm in the power range in 3rd gear I'm driving way faster than is safe.

[mitch_gach]

I have the same problem in my A4. 1st and 2nd are tough. Nothing a true driver can't handle though.

[A4QuattroV6]

I'm sorry what? I get downshifting into first is generally tough, but second? That's not normal. I dont "engine brake" my car, and I would agree that it's bad but having to downshift into second is a very common occurrence for me. There are these things called hills. It's impossible to go up them at safe speeds in anything but first or second. At lest the ones near me (Seattle) are VERY steep and in residential areas where if I'm in the power range in 3rd gear I'm driving way faster than is safe.

My bad, late night stoner response didn't really read throughly or think my response through just assumed u were engine braking. I know how those Seattle hills are tho cuz Im actually from Redmond.

I wish they had a recall for this, and i dont understand how they couldn't since this was a problem on all B5 S4's with 01E and continued on to B6 models. Too bad that group buy just closed too I would love to have a rebuild kit lying around for the day my car decides it doesn't want to go into 1st.