Help with Tiptronic Issue

[scorp965]

I recently purchased my B5 S4 (2001.5 Avant), and had it fully inspected at an Audi dealership, prior to picking it up, and driving it 1200 miles home. On the trip, I noticed no issues, and the inspection found only stored computer codes for bad bypass valves, and bad catalytic converters (both replaced before I bought the car). Now that I have it here in Southern California, I am driving in stop and go traffic, rather than a seemingly endless cross-desert interstate, and have noticed an issue with the tiptronic.

When the car has to shift down from 2nd gear to 1st gear, it does so roughly, it seems to jerk the car. One time, when driving around a turn in my neighborhood at low speed (but accelerating out of the turn), there was a loud clunk - this has only happened the once. Most of the issue is the slight jerk from 2nd to 1st gear. I have tried searching the issue, it seems volkswagon tiptronics from the same year range have a similar issue, that can be fixed with a software flash - is this something that also affects S4 tiptronics?

The car is 100% stock, with 75k miles; I noticed, when going through records for the car, there was a mention of the PO taking the car into the dealership to have the transmission shifting checked out, shortly after he purchased the car. Apparently, the dealership found nothing (when it was under extended warranty).

I would really like to bump the power up slightly in this car with a Stage 2 upgrade, obviously, this makes zero sense if there is an issue with the transmission. Can anyone tell me if this is normal, and if so, is there a reflash that can fix it? How reliable are the S4 tiptronic gearboxes? I am not talking about holding 400hp, but rather, how do they stand up as the miles go on, and what service is required? I had the dealership flush some fluids, but they didn't recommend (or even mention) the ATF fluid.

[00s4slvr]

I have had a4 2.8 and now i have a 00 s4 and always have had that problem. The tranny for some reason always clunks. Sometimes even when i upshift from 2-3 or 3-4 it clunks and when i downshift from 4-3 or 3-2 or 2-1 i will get a clunk. I think its normal for the tranny to do that.

[obijohn22]

mine does that too. it does'nt seem like they would have designed it that way, i do not think it is right, but many of them seem to do it. I have not heard of any failures related to this problem. hopefully someone will chime in and give more info.

[Scott Long]

Mine doesn't clunk, ever. I have 78k miles on it. 2002 S4.

[ThePaintballGuy]

Mine only does from 2-1 occasionally. But most of the time I just throw it in neutral and cost to a stop. Saves gas. HAHA

Josh

[scorp965]

I am relieved to hear other cars have the same symptoms, I didn't notice this in any of the cars I test drove, although I drove primarily 6spd cars.

Does anyone know if revised (or tuned) tiptronic software can eliminate, or reduce, the feel of this 'clunk'?

[raketeS4]

semi-common problem for TIP S4's... doesn't seem to be any sure way to fix it, but aftermarket transmission and differential mounts might help

[lonestar22]

mine does the 2-1 clunk but only when its in tiptronic, it doesnt do it if i manage to get it into first at a higher speed though

[MacDaddy]

its your mounts, mine does it too. I've replaced the snub nose mount with a APR one and it helps quite a bit, and then i replaced my rear diff mount, and it still clunks, so it must be the carrier mounts.

it only started clunking when it abruptly engaged into reverse due to a slow solenoid. I live with the clunk now, and wait for reverse to fully engage before putting my foot of the gas.

despite what the dealer says, change the fluid, all of it, and the filter at the same time. changing the fluid and not the filter can cause the old filter to plug up and starve the tranny for oil, thats why dealers don't like to change the fluid.
99% of the problems are caused by lack of fluid maintenance, something which came around when maintenance became free under warranty, coincidence? i think not.

[KryptoniK01]

I agree 100% about the fluid/filter change. I used to have the clunk but after the switch to a 2002 TCU w/tip chip, and a trans fluid and filter change the car has not made a clunk since. Other than still not shifting quite as fast as I would like my tip runs very smooth now.

[ThePaintballGuy]

I see you have an 01 S4 and a 02 tip chip? Or am i reading that wrong... also does anyone have a write-up as to how to change the oil and filter in your trannies (tip tranny of course)?

Josh

[KryptoniK01]

I see you have an 01 S4 and a 02 tip chip? Or am i reading that wrong...

My car is essentially a 01.5 running a GIAC Chipped TCU from an 02.

There were definitly different transmission software versions over the years, or at least different audi part #'s for the TCU. This makes me think they may have made tweaks to the original code at some point. The one I have now is the latest part # that you would get if you were to walk in and buy a replacement from Audi.

I'm sure you can find the fluid/filter proceedure if you search around here and Audiworld

[ThePaintballGuy]

OK, thats what I figured but I was just asking. THanks!

Josh

[MacDaddy]

a full flush is a bit of a pain on these cars, you have to diconnect the cooler line on the passenger side of the car and put it into a bucket, then i got my friend on a drill pump to pump new fluid into the transmission while running the engine untill the fluid started coming out of the cooler line clean, immediateley shut off the engine (to prevent wasting the fluid) re-connect the cooler lines, run the engine and start up the drill pump again, once fluid starts pouring out the fill plug its full and you can re-install the plug.

some people fill up the tranny while the engine is off, doing this will underfill your transmission as the torque converter holds fluid inside of it while the engine is running. if your fluid is lower when the engine is running the pick up on th transmission filter won't be submerged and you can cause transmission damage, especially under acceleration, braking and cornering.

[00s4slvr]

anyone that has a tip chip for sale for a 2000 s4 pm me!!

[S4 in_lowplaces]

Weird, i though audi dealer ships didnt touch the ZF tranny's anymore. They say if the tranny isnt filled properlly it will damage it.

Theres a difference in "Flushing" and "Changing" the tranny fluid. if you flush it, you'll need to remove the tranny lines.

Changing your Auto tranny fluid. jack the car up. On the tranny oil pan there are two holes. A big one 17 MM allen and a small one. Grab your 17mm allen place it in the big hole with a big pan unde neath. Grab a breaker bar and lossen it, fluid will pour out. Then lloosen the smaller one to drain the rest of the fluid. Remove all 27 torx bits from pan, replace gasket, and filter. Chech the magnets in the tranny pan, if they ook like shia pets that ='s bad. if they dont your good. screw in the small plug back in and start filing tranny. It will over flow. put the cap on. Turn car on for a few minutes. turn off. stick tube back in and start pumping again. Bam your done. Its super easy.

Tranny fluid change you need 5 liters
Tranny fluid flush you need 9 liters

ecstuning.com and purems.com have the best prices for the ATF

dont forget to torque everything back down.

oh and the clunking, yea it happens every now and then.

[S4_NE]

My tip makes clunks as well, 4/5 5/4 mainly, but i had the trans serviced wile the car was getting K04's instaled. http://www.blauparts.com sells a kit for the trans service with directions on how to do it.

[MacDaddy]

It will over flow. put the cap on. Turn car on for a few minutes. turn off. stick tube back in and start pumping again. Bam your done. Its super easy.

thats exactly what i just explained you DO NOT want to do. fill the pan with the engine running otherwise there will not be enough fluid in the transmission to fill up the torque converter and properly submerge the oil pick up.

as soon as you turn off your engine the fluid in the torque converter drains back into the pan.

thats why transmission dip sticks say "check while engine is running and in park"

[obijohn22]

My srvice manual states that you should be filling the trans as you are shifting from reverse to drive. Back and forth obviously with the car running. it takes 2 people to do correctly. one in the cock pit and one underneath with a fluid pump. fill until it runs out and cap it off.

[samtimtom]

I get the clunk on the 2-1 downshift occassionally. It is usually in a "CA stop" type scenario where you don't come to a complete stop and then you start to accelerate again. It is like the transmission gets confused and drops to first quickly. I found that in tip mode I can downshift into first while still over 2K RPMs or over +/-10 MPH this does not happen. The clunk was less noticeable after I had the fluid flushed and new filter about 10K miles ago...but it still happens. I don't have tip chip, but did the recode to enable manual downshift from 2 to 1 and ability to hold 1st gear...best TIP mod.

[MacDaddy]

My srvice manual states that you should be filling the trans as you are shifting from reverse to drive. Back and forth obviously with the car running. it takes 2 people to do correctly. one in the cock pit and one underneath with a fluid pump. fill until it runs out and cap it off.

I installed the re-installed the plug while oil was still pouring out, its always better to have your tranny slightly overfilled rather than underfilled.

[S4 in_lowplaces]

thats exactly what i just explained you DO NOT want to do. fill the pan with the engine running otherwise there will not be enough fluid in the transmission to fill up the torque converter and properly submerge the oil pick up.

as soon as you turn off your engine the fluid in the torque converter drains back into the pan.

thats why transmission dip sticks say "check while engine is running and in park"

Did some reaseach on this and you are correct. Thank you for calling me out on this one. guess i need to go back refill my tranny.