A4 B6 CVT Fluid change - DIY ??

[sloweryucf]

So below is the "tool" that audi uses for the tranny fluid change on a CVT. I called my local dealership and they want $500. No thanks! Anyone done this on their own? Looks like a check valve and a threaded end piece to prevent spillage. The fill plug is a check plug so wouldn't that prevent leakage anyway?

[sloweryucf]

aw, come on!

[A4donkey]

I am also after this .
Would there be any filter to changed together as well.

[UnkleGatsby]

i just changed my oil and need to do my trani. We need awnsers!!!

[A4donkey]

DIY experts please......

[lookaught]

They want $500 for the tool or $500 to change the fluid?

[A4donkey]

Some said the B7 cvt uses newer version of hydraulic pump (from 2005 on)than B6 cvt which eliminates the B6 cvt common fault .
So if that is true can we replace the B7 oil pump to our B6 too?
But anyway I am still searching hard for the CVT fluid change DIY.........

[A4donkey]

diy pls...........
special tools for the drain and fill nuts?

[TCHUN003]

I have 65k on my car and the cvt is going to die any minute now

[topcat]

$500 is way too much. I paid $240 at my dealer and the other dealers around were about same price. You'll need access to vag-com too to monitor temperatures to do it correctly. I didn't have my filter changed, but that shouldn't add that much.

[TCHUN003]

i don't know why, but I went in for a complimentary check up and my service lady ordered a tcm for my car for free and is going to fix my tranny....I was like okay haha. I have 66k on the car. Btw she is probably the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen

[A4donkey]

003 what was your (A4) problem? or is that a recall issue or something.

[TCHUN003]

003 what was your (A4) problem? or is that a recall issue or something.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...&highlight=cvt

[jc_333]

We need to see pictures TChun003 of the service lady :D

The CVT gearbox has two filters one inside and another by the oil cooler. Inside filter is very cheap around USD15 but requires gearbox to be stripped to install. Its not a must change from Audi and they class it a strainer but to me still a filter. The other filter by the oil cooler is much easier to change but will cost around USD300.

The CVT problem on B6 is very common so I advise all owners to change your oil more often around 40,000kms max. I will change mine every 30,000kms or yearly to avoid any damage to the TCM as its a very expensive part! Its not really the pump (valve body) that dies so easily but the Transmission Control Module which has like 6 sensors built in.

I've just finished my complaint case with Audi AG and they agreed to provide the TCM for free. I just paid for labor as my car is out of warranty but thats no excuse for a inferior part that fails so easily.

J

[sloweryucf]

The tools is like $300. I called a indy shop and they will do it for $250. $100 in labor for something I have no idea how to do? I'll take it!

[A4donkey]

Anybody still using the stock fluid over 60k mile without a change ?
I just need a photo for the location of the drain and fill plug, can any body post one up?

[Charlescrs6]

when I had to get a new TC when my CEL went on i was told the trannys were "closed" or something like that and you couldn't flush them??? that was from the Service manager

[A4donkey]

Service manager =/= Technical manager......

[a4maverick]

I had my tranny replaced around 35k under warentee, it was getting to be dangerous to drive with the hesitations at traffic lights. Since then no problemes what so ever.

[sloweryucf]

when I had to get a new TC when my CEL went on i was told the trannys were "closed" or something like that and you couldn't flush them??? that was from the Service manager

They are closed but you still have to change the fluid out (flush, whatever you wanna call it). Service Managers don't know sh*t.

[A4donkey]

Just changed @31k mile, fluid still pretty clean though, but worth to do it.
Pretty easy just drain and fill, took 40min. (4L)
I am wondering if I can have DIY next time.

[jc_333]

Any pictures of the oil that was drained from the gearbox?

J

[A4donkey]

I did not take pic, but the colour is very similar to the new oil, seems like it can last for another 30k miles.

I saw the whole process, it really depends on the skills, 4L that's it, some ppl will use 4.5 L while fluid may accidentally spew when filling. (any one use more than that is a waste)
And you need a special drain plug socket and jack up high enough to work with.

[Charlescrs6]

They are closed but you still have to change the fluid out (flush, whatever you wanna call it). Service Managers don't know sh*t.

thats what I was thinking, I'm probably going to bring it to a tranny specialist in the next month or so to have it done.

[blasterman]

I too need to change my fluid. Called Audi dealler and said it would cost $450 WOW! Anybody use another tool/pump to do this? I too would love to see a DIY for this.

[sloweryucf]

I too need to change my fluid. Called Audi dealler and said it would cost $450 WOW! Anybody use another tool/pump to do this? I too would love to see a DIY for this.

Yeah, my dealer quoted me something ridiculous like that. Got an indy shop to do it for $250 including fluid (which isn't cheap). They had the tool to do it with.

[jc_333]

I got the ETKA files for the CVT oil change but where can I host them? All are PDF files.

J

[blasterman]

I know this post has been dead for a while, but just wanted to give an update. I recently order the VAS tool and will be replacing the CVT fluid soon. I have been reading the Bentley manual for the procedure and it is fairly involved. I will also have to purchase the full version of VAG-COM. so far this is the list of tools/ items needed:

VAS 5162 CVT Filler system
VAS 3357 Triple square socket driver
Audi CVT fluid 5 liters
VAG-COM
Bentley Manual

I have also noticed on other post about the filter, but Bentley does not mention anything about replacing either filter (inline or in pan)

The cost so far has been about ~300.00 . I know it is pricey, but I will have the tools to perform this service. I will try to take pics and maybe write-up a DIY once I perform this fluid change.

[jc_333]

Its not a must to change the filter inside the gearbox as thats a very big job indeed. The inline filter also doesnt have to be changed either.

You should drain the cvt fluid and inspect it for any flash. If any there may be problems with your gearbox and only after then will you know what to change if any.

J

[SixGear]

you dont need the vag tool for the fluid, its really useful but its not necessary.
you will need a vag-com though.

heres a lil info......
1) buy a bentley manual for this car/transmission!

you will need about 8 bottles of CVT fluid to fill the tranny up from dry. its actually 7.50L or something.
for a flush, you will need about 6 bottles of CVT fluid.
you can ONLY use audi's cvt fluid, which costs anywhere between $15-$25 per bottle. i get mine for $15 each from my local audi dealer.

its recommended that you replace the aux filter (external oil filter), but that baby costs $350! so you can blow some air through it from a compressor, not too much though.

theres no way to replace the internal filter. you can replace it, but that means stripping the tranny down into 3 sections (tranny, valve body, tcm) which also means that the tcm will need to be re-flashed and have the forward and reverse adaptions done too, so you will be pretty much SOL with driving your car for a month or 2.

you CAN NOT just drain and fill these transmissions, whether its a regular auto or a cvt! this is not a manual transmission!
you must drain the fluid completely then fill the tranny with 3-4L's of oil then start the car and let her IDLE upto temp, do not rev the car. the tranny fluid has to be between 35*C and 45*C. once the temp has reached this point you can pull the check/fill plug.
if there is oil dripping out then it is ok and put the plug back in.
if theres no oil at 35*C then put more oil in until it starts to run out, then put the plug back in.

do not pull the plug out before the temp reaches 35c else you will loose alot of cvt fluid from the tranny.
if you put oil in the tranny after 45c then you will over fill it and it will foam up and cause alot of problems.

the bottles that the cvt fluid come in are designed to be pushed into the transmission check/fill plug and be filled straight from the bottle.

this is not an easy diy by any means. the cvt transmission is very sensitive. the slightest mm of foreign material in the valve body and your f*cked.

$450 for a cvt fluid flush is very cheap!!!
unfortunately, no where around where i live will touch a cvt transmission. i replaced my cvt transmission with a 2007 model 2 weeks ago, done it in my garage.
i have also done 2 flushes and topped them up numerous times.

my last cvt tranny (was a 2003) lasted 112k miles. i currently have 13k miles on my new cvt.

but this is not an easy thing to do by any means.

hope this info helps, some what.

[damionphillips]

Anyone in Dallas capable/reliable to do this?

[AudiHubby]

Did anyone have any luck actually performing this? I'm hoping to do this next week on my wife's CVT.