Just bought a b5 s4, tranny problems first day. Help!

[tsbpenguin]

Ok so I purchased an 01 Audi S4 with 106,000 miles from a dealership yesterday. During my test drive everything seemed to be going great, no problems that I could detect. So I bought the car. I drive the car home and it drives fine. On my way from my house to my friend's to show him the new car, i'm driving in 2nd playing around with an sti and i go to shift to 3rd and it won't go into gear. I then proceed to put it in 4th which won't go in either. I try to downshift back into 2nd and it won't go. So i pull off the road and get it back into first. So now 3rd and 4th are working again but i have a very hard time getting it into first, like i really have to push it and it clunks a little as it goes in. It will NOT go into second, at all... To get it to third i have to push the shifter to the right in neutral like i'd be shifting to 5th, let it center again, and push it forward. Doesn't really seem like a synchro problem to me as the problem would have arised during my test drives.

Any suggestions as to what the problem might be? Do I still have the right to take the car back and make them fix it or is it a done deal? thanks.

[Reich]

Look's like your clutch not disengaging properly. Do you have any problems engaging into gears vehicule stoped? If yes, you prob have a clutch issue.

[tsbpenguin]

Look's like your clutch not disengaging properly. Do you have any problems engaging into gears vehicule stoped? If yes, you prob have a clutch issue.

Yea when the car is stationary it's extremely hard to get it into 1st/reverse.

[AMC]

ok well your 1-2 synchro went bad what it sounds like and its not a cheap fix, you can DIY and get the parts and video from Jason at JHM you can get it into second but you have to FORCE it in there its a bitch

good luck and welcome to the family

[Unispeed]

take it back to the dealership man.. make them fix it!

[quicksilver_S]

2nd that. You just got it.

They should have a 30 day warranty or something and you should not pay out of pocket for it. warranty or not, the dealer you got it from should fix it.

[Dr.Duct]

2nd that. You just got it.

They should have a 30 day warranty or something and you should not pay out of pocket for it. warranty or not, the dealer you got it from should fix it.

3rd... no way I would take the hit.

[obijohn22]

Sounds like a linkage issue to me, but maybe synchros.... The dealership should handle this, I mean less than 24 hours? cmon.... good luck and keep us posted with exactly what the problem is.

[Matt@JHM]

You missed third didn't you? Most of the people that have locked up their 1-2 shift collar (i know 3 personally) missed third gear. Somehow that is how it locks up. I would go with AMC83189's advice. Good luck.

[2ndEngineS4]

You missed third didn't you? Most of the people that have locked up their 1-2 shift collar (i know 3 personally) missed third gear. Somehow that is how it locks up. I would go with AMC83189's advice. Good luck.

Add me to that list. To the OP, DO NOT take the responsibility for fixing this yourself. Take it back to the dealership. This is not something that happens from one missed gear. Very likely that the tranny showed some signs of wear from before.

[smithm5]

take it today...dont even wait till tomorrow....see if they have a keydrop lol

[esss_pho]

take it today...dont even wait till tomorrow....see if they have a keydrop lol

best advice...dont even touch it...and if they dont do it...throw a civil rant...then get lawyers involved...

[smithm5]

hell call judge judy if it comes down to it...that wont be cheap to fix....

[tsbpenguin]

Lol ok so update:
PERSONALLY (though i don't have much experience with audis), it feels like a linkage problem to me. Mainly because before when it was in neutral i could freely move it side to side, now there is some resistance in the middle. As far as forcing it into second, i guarantee i've put my full amount of force into it and it still will not go.
As for the dealership the main thing i'm worried about is when you sign the deal, you sign papers agreeing that you are buying the vehicle "as is" with no warranty, written or implied.
However, I did get in contact with the dealer who said to bring it down tomorrow (they wanted me to today but i had school and work), and they'll have a local mechanic take a look at it. So I'm assuming/hoping that means they'll fix the problem.
If it were a synchro problem i figure i would have at least felt some rough shifts in the test drives, but no it shifted perfectly every time. Then out of the blue.... Anyway i'll update tomorrow when the mechanic looks at it. Thanks for the advice everyone.

[kingofqueenz788]

By law i was told anything you buy its refundable within 2 or 3 days!

[Matt@JHM]

What you are describing is exactly what a locked 1-2 shift collar does to your 1st and 2nd gear. The syncro tolerances are too tight and they end up binding together instead of meshing. The JHM transmission rebuilt kit (if the dealership turns you away) has upgraded syncros with more open tolerances that will prevent this problem from happening again.

[AMC]

Add me to that list. To the OP, DO NOT take the responsibility for fixing this yourself. Take it back to the dealership. This is not something that happens from one missed gear. Very likely that the tranny showed some signs of wear from before.

not true, it can easily happen from one time, my tranny shifted smooth as hell b4 i raced the camaro that when i went to shift into third i grinded it and hat wass that there went my first, 2nd linkage, synchro, all from a one time thing if you loo kat the 1-2 synchro there isnt much to fuck aroun but once you smear it your fucked lol if you somewhat knowledgable on cars you should be able to do the rebuild yourself just get in contact with jay and see what happens, the kit is i belive around 1200 bucks and comes with an install video as well

this is all if the dealer wont fix it for you but i kno they wont, they want you to bring it in have their tech say yup tranny is bad and they will give you a price of a new one, last i checked the dealer wont rebuild trannys (atleast not here in CT) they will give you a very high bogus price and nail you good, if you still can see if you can give the car back within that 3 day period and search for another car...and make sure you help youself by gettin a short throw and makin sure its in gear b4 your foot is on that gas pedal

anyways good luck

[tsbpenguin]

Update:
So the bad news is that it's definitely the transmission. Needs to be rebuilt.
The good news? The dealer is bein pretty good about this all and agreed to buy the parts for the JHM rebuild kit and then I will install it myself.

So how hard is the rebuild? How long including removal and installation of the tranny? Any special tools i'll need? Tranny jack?

[smithm5]

well i would still say:

"i just bought the car 10 hours ago. The transmissions needs to be rebuilt. either rebuild it give me my money back."

i would think its pretty hard to do, and i wouldnt trust myself to do it (i dont work on cars much), but there is a video so who knows....just the time alone to learn and do that would make me want to return.

[tsbpenguin]

well i would still say:

"i just bought the car 10 hours ago. The transmissions needs to be rebuilt. either rebuild it give me my money back."

i would think its pretty hard to do, and i wouldnt trust myself to do it (i dont work on cars much), but there is a video so who knows....just the time alone to learn and do that would make me want to return.

Unfortunately it doesnt work that way u sign it over as is.

Anyway i'm kind of interested in doing the transmission, it'd be a really good learning experience, and i'm decently mechanically inclined. I don't have a hydraulic press though so that will make things tougher...

[jaybquick@JHM]

Check out these videos to get some info on what is involved and what part is broken in your trans.

P.S. They all have this collar lock up at some point.


Here are some videos from my site that you may find helpful and let you know what you are getting yourself into.

Inside the B5 S4 6-speed

The linkage for the B5 S4

1 hour and 47 minute DVD trailer video.

Good luck. Hope this info helps.

[tsbpenguin]

Ok so the dealer had called me after "searching around for prices" and said they'd be willing to give me $500 towards fixing the car. I was furious and decided to look further into my options.

In the state of Colorado a dealer is responsible to sell the car in a condition in which it can pass emissions. Emissions testing cannot be preformed with any gear not working. Thus the dealer is responsible for fixing the problem. I'm guessing i'm in for a big battle with the dealership over this but at least I have the advantage now.

[Matt@JHM]

Ok so the dealer had called me after "searching around for prices" and said they'd be willing to give me $500 towards fixing the car. I was furious and decided to look further into my options.

In the state of Colorado a dealer is responsible to sell the car in a condition in which it can pass emissions. Emissions testing cannot be preformed with any gear not working. Thus the dealer is responsible for fixing the problem. I'm guessing i'm in for a big battle with the dealership over this but at least I have the advantage now.

That may cover the 1st and 2nd syncro. Sucks to take your tranny apart for just that, but it's better than nothing I guess.

[Jsmooth65]

Ok so the dealer had called me after "searching around for prices" and said they'd be willing to give me $500 towards fixing the car. I was furious and decided to look further into my options.

In the state of Colorado a dealer is responsible to sell the car in a condition in which it can pass emissions. Emissions testing cannot be preformed with any gear not working. Thus the dealer is responsible for fixing the problem. I'm guessing i'm in for a big battle with the dealership over this but at least I have the advantage now.

What dealership did you buy it from?

[2ndEngineS4]

not true, it can easily happen from one time, my tranny shifted smooth as hell b4 i raced the camaro that when i went to shift into third i grinded it and that wass that there went my first, 2nd linkage, synchro, all from a one time thing

So do you really expect me to believe that no one ever missed one single gear on an eight year old biturbo sports sedan prior to that one isolated incident?


You purchased your car new I suppose? And no one else ever drove it except for you? You lucky guy. . . .

[AMC]

So do you really expect me to believe that no one ever missed one single gear on an eight year old biturbo sports sedan prior to that one isolated incident?


You purchased your car new I suppose? And no one else ever drove it except for you? You lucky guy. . . .

lol i never made to start an arguement but no i didnt buy my car new i wish i did, but the car was owned by a chick who leased it b4 i did and i doubt she raced it cause a normal mis shift wouldnt have broken it its a high rev misshift into third.. all the people who have misshifted their car and the gears are still good can say that it still shifts into gear pretty well with no issues. its a one time when it smears that it gets fucked up, other wise he would have felt it while test driving it

[tike0rz]

This happened to me twice when I first got the car a few months ago, but it has never happened again. If I were you I'd take it back to the stealership and have them fix it 100%.

[Docwyte]

Doing a tranny rebuild isn't really a DIY unless you really know what you're doing, have all the tools and are able to have the car down for a little while.

I'm a decent DIY and I have no desire to rebuilt a tranny, ever. $500 isn't a drop in the bucket towards a tranny rebuild. Doesn't Stasis charge something like $2500 for their rebuilt tranny?

[tsbpenguin]

What dealership did you buy it from?

Colorado Auto Finders off Parker and Ilif in Denver.

Took the car back today. Said they'll be bringing it to the shop tonight and they'll let me know either tonight or tomorrow what the deal is.

[tsbpenguin]

Doing a tranny rebuild isn't really a DIY unless you really know what you're doing, have all the tools and are able to have the car down for a little while.

I'm a decent DIY and I have no desire to rebuilt a tranny, ever. $500 isn't a drop in the bucket towards a tranny rebuild. Doesn't Stasis charge something like $2500 for their rebuilt tranny?

I know what I'm doing and have all the tools minus a hydraulic press (could pay a shop for that part). Not to mention I have a second car to drive while this one is down.

But hopefully I won't have to worry about it anyway

[audinoobs4]

wow this thread is amusing. the dealership i bought my b5 s4 from gave me a bumper to bumper 3 month 3000 mile warranty for free. sounds like the dealership is a bit shady to me. anyway GL man.

[AMC]

good luck

[ChriS4]

should've bought my car lol

[tsbpenguin]

should've bought my car lol

Trust me I wanted to. Couldn't get more than 14k before taxes though.

[RolledMySTi]

What happened to your car sound like what happened to mine. In my car the problem was a broken pressure plate. I hope it is that for you because it's a lot easy fix than a rebuild.

Either way that dealership should pay for it. They sold you a shady car.

[Jsmooth65]

Trust me I wanted to. Couldn't get more than 14k before taxes though.

When I bought mine last summer, the bank based their max loan on the NADA value of the car which was like 14k. I assume its lower now.

So if anyone is selling their car for like 20k, realize that you might have it on the market for awhile to find the perfect enthusiast.

[lrg8683]

should've bought my car lol

i was gonna say the same thign.

[tsbpenguin]

So they turned out being dicks and were only willing to give me $750 so i'll be filing complaints and probably be taking it to small claims court.



But in the mean time I got my self a couple credit cards. So I'm gonna drop the engine with the tranny and do K04s, tranny, clutch, and maybe 2.8 heads and cams while i'm at it. Not to mention all the supporting stuff (injectors, pump, etc etc). So there is positive in every bad situation.