Rough shifts at low speeds in 2012 S4 (need advice)

[ctl15]

I picked up my 2012 S4 about 7 months ago with 65k miles. I had heard about the DSG issues of course, but figured that probably wouldn't happen to me and also heard they were rare in the 2012s so I felt pretty safe going into the purchase. Being out of state I of course had no opportunity to test drive the vehicle, however I had a mechanic give it a look and test drive and didn't mention anything out of the ordinary so I figured it was good to go (obvious mistake I won't be making again).

Now, of course after buying it, I jumped right back on the highway so the entire way home the car seemed great and I enjoyed it a lot. However, right as soon as I started driving at lower speeds going up to stop signs, traffic lights, and most notably stop and go traffic, I noticed a distinct "jump" when hitting the gas. It happens when I'm slowing down to a fairly low speed (<20 mph) and then hit the gas again without making a complete stop. When I'm in stop and go traffic and constantly on and off the gas I especially notice it. It doesn't always happen, but it does very frequently. Also, in general at low speeds letting off the gas (i.e. parking lots) the downshift in general from 2-1 seems very rough without even applying the gas again. Very low speed situations like these are where it's the worst.

I had the transmission fluid replaced already to no avail. I'm bringing my car into Audi tomm. I have seen some TSBs one for the DSG and another (24as) for the Engine control module that have seemed to help other people. I'm going to discuss these with the dealer however I'm not sure they apply to my car being a 2012. Has anyone else had these issues in a 2012 and resolved them? I'm planning on moving to another country in a year and so will be selling my car then, but my fear is the transmission might go before then if something is wrong. I don't know if there is anything else I should discuss with the dealer or tell them to do to fix the issue, but if they can't I'm probably dumping the car asap as replacing the transmission or even mech unit would not only be costly regardless, but illogical given my situation.

[wwhan]

I picked up my 2012 S4 about 7 months ago with 65k miles. I had heard about the DSG issues of course, but figured that probably wouldn't happen to me and also heard they were rare in the 2012s so I felt pretty safe going into the purchase. Being out of state I of course had no opportunity to test drive the vehicle, however I had a mechanic give it a look and test drive and didn't mention anything out of the ordinary so I figured it was good to go (obvious mistake I won't be making again).

Now, of course after buying it, I jumped right back on the highway so the entire way home the car seemed great and I enjoyed it a lot. However, right as soon as I started driving at lower speeds going up to stop signs, traffic lights, and most notably stop and go traffic, I noticed a distinct "jump" when hitting the gas. It happens when I'm slowing down to a fairly low speed (<20 mph) and then hit the gas again without making a complete stop. When I'm in stop and go traffic and constantly on and off the gas I especially notice it. It doesn't always happen, but it does very frequently. Also, in general at low speeds letting off the gas (i.e. parking lots) the downshift in general from 2-1 seems very rough without even applying the gas again. Very low speed situations like these are where it's the worst.

I had the transmission fluid replaced already to no avail. I'm bringing my car into Audi tomm. I have seen some TSBs one for the DSG and another (24as) for the Engine control module that have seemed to help other people. I'm going to discuss these with the dealer however I'm not sure they apply to my car being a 2012. Has anyone else had these issues in a 2012 and resolved them? I'm planning on moving to another country in a year and so will be selling my car then, but my fear is the transmission might go before then if something is wrong. I don't know if there is anything else I should discuss with the dealer or tell them to do to fix the issue, but if they can't I'm probably dumping the car asap as replacing the transmission or even mech unit would not only be costly regardless, but illogical given my situation.

It may be the mechatronic or range sensor. There is a calibration for DSG setup. Have them out out all aspects of the DSG, including codes.

[dls11b8]

I think my car does a similar thing at lower speeds..

I assumed it is a result of the twin clutch transmission.. Admittedly, I have no knowledge of how the clutch system works, but my car 'feels' the same as if you were driving a manual at low/below idle speed and had to engage and disengage the clutch frequently..


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[cspcrx]

Some of it is normal. My 2012 DSG S4 is my first Audi and first DSG car and it took some getting used to.

[ctl15]

I presume a degree is probably normal. However what I'm feeling is far beyond that. The driving is so rough that I dread everytime I have to come to a stop cause 50% of the time I'll get a small to large buck when I hit the gas (note, I frequently come to a "rolling" stop, but nonetheless even hitting the brakes and then back on the gas [i.e. someone turns out in front of me or coming to stop light that turns green] it will do it. One other time to note is when I'm going uphill to a stop sign. I have two of these near by me I encounter frequently where the stop sign is going up hill. The car will feel like I got rear ended half the time if I don't ease into it just right. It's been driving 10k miles like this (and presumably more from before I owned it) and thus far no lights or anything but something is clearly not normal. I would hope that if this was a fatal issue to the transmission it would have died by now, but who knows. Praying there's something Audi can do tomm cause I'd really rather enjoy the car than try and sell it (probably at a huge loss).

[stradovinski]

Not sure if they use the same DSG unit, but my 2010 GTI has rough shifts in stop and go traffic. No hills down here though so I can't speak to that. Mine is always fine for a while until the car has been running for a while and everything is fully "warmed up" like after being on the highway for a while. Then when I get onto side roads again I dread hitting stop lights or traffic. It lurches from a stop and the final downshift gets very clunky. Really stands out in the school pick up line too.

Dealer blew it off for years as not able to reproduce. A different dealer finally acknowledged it but I'm outside the warranty. They said it's probably the mechatronics unit but the price is a bit steep, especially if they are wrong.

I've concluded it has to be somehow heat related because it runs perfectly smooth for a while when first starting a drive. Doesn't appear until it has run for a while but highway runs definitely seem to bring it out every time. So it could be something you never would notice on a test drive. I'm in FL too which may aggravate it if my heat theory has any validity.

Anyway sad to hear it happens to these cars too. I'm curious how common it is with the automatics since I'm starting to looks at these. I'd hate to have to eliminate so many potential options even though I'm leaning toward a manual.

[wow676]

it is the mechatronic unit that you need to replace (harsh hit from 2nd gear to 1st during vehicle stop)

[Whitee]

it is the mechatronic unit that you need to replace (harsh hit from 2nd gear to 1st during vehicle stop)

What does this even mean? Are you saying since there is a harsh hit from 2-1 that it's the mechatronic unit?


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