Weird Shifting problems

**Grangalan** · 10-29-2008 02:09 PM

After some searching I am still having an issue tracking down what the problem is. I am suspecting air in my Slave cylinder/lines but i figured i'd ask everyone here.

My shifter is extremely notchy and takes some force to get into any gear. The shifter is aligned properly and i greased up the Linkeage/Joints. Basically when the car is off it shifts into the gears fine. However i have a very hard time getting it into any gear when car is on. Reverse is impossible to get into gear, it just whines and grinds a little. The funny thing is, when the car is off and i put it into gear and THEN turn on the car evern when i press the clutch ALL the way down and try to put it into neutral, it locks me out of putting it into neutral like i dont have the clutch pushed in.

That is what makes me think my slave cylinder is being a prick. Since even when i have it pushed in it's locked out me putting it into neutral.

Also a note, when i have the car off and put it into 1st, then start it the car actually goes forward just ever so slow even with the clutch all the way pushed in, almost like the clutch is just barely touching the PP and moving the car forward... HELP! hehe

oh and the shifter stabilizer bar, how do i tighten the part that bolts to the tranny? i can barely fit up there, i thought it was a socket , but 15mm is too small, and 16 mm is too big, is it allen/Hex? if so, what size

**sCeRaXn** · 10-29-2008 03:20 PM

Sounds like the SAC mechanism has ran all the way out on your pp. Looks like its time for a new clutch.

**Grangalan** · 10-29-2008 03:24 PM

the clutch is a faily new RS4 clutch, this happened all over sudden.

oh and the stabilizer bar, how do i tighten the part that bolts to the tranny? i can barely fit up there, i thought it was a socket , but 15mm is too small, and 16 mm is too big, is it allen/Hex? if so, what size

**haus4** · 10-29-2008 04:12 PM

if your having problems getting into gear, ie grinding and having to force the shifter into a gear, it most of the time means that ur clutch isnt fully disengaging. I could be ur slave, but normally you would have a soft/weird clutch feeling. Unless theres something your not telling us, im assuming its the clutch. I just did my slave and master, bc my pedal got really soft and was like butter to push down, then wouldnt come back up after it hit the engagement point. So now my clutch is a lot better, its still a little pick if i shift quick, so im guessing its just wear and tear on the clutch.

Since you said ur RS4 is pretty new, did u also put in a new throw out bearing?

Go over everything that is weird and different then tell us.

also wat is the stabilizer bar your talking about? I probally seen if or removed it doing the slave. but im not sure wat your referring too. Are you talking about the bracket that holds the mount? There are a lot of Torx and allen bolts on our cars. It could be a 6 or 8mm allen key.

**sCeRaXn** · 10-29-2008 04:19 PM

Ive heard of them going out rather quickly. I think those pp's are sorta hit or miss as far as reliability is concerned. I have a Vast RS4 pp/ceramic disk so im hoping it lasts me a while.

I think that bolt is an allen head, but i cant remember the exact size. I have JHM shifter bushings and his kit uses a regular bolt so i cant remember what the stocker is. Is the bar loose or are you just making sure its tight? I honestly think its the clutch man. When the SAC mechanism backs all the way out itll cause the clutch disk to stay in contact with the pp. Also, when it went out on my car i was just driving regularly and went to shift to 3rd and it wouldnt go in. Turns out the sac mechanism popped all the out somehow...so its not always something that happens over time.

Talk to the guys at JHM and theyll know whats up. Theyll also give you a good deal on a clutch while they have you on the phone. You can kill two birds with one stone lol. Good luck man.

**e46eater** · 10-29-2008 06:19 PM

I have the same exact thing happening to me right now down to the exact word. Well the car is at the shop right now, and they we are going to change the slave cyclinder first, before we decides to drop the tranny and pull out the clutch. because my tranny was rebuilt 20k ago and we change out the clutch too. The cost of the slave cylinder and labor will be $260. and If that doesn't, work dropping the tranny and replacing the clutch will be around $1,300. Im sorry to say but audi by far has been the least reliable car ever.

**DefiantS4** · 10-29-2008 07:29 PM

I don't know if I would call that clutch fairly new, it was installed 3 years and 11 months ago. It was a complete RS4 clutch kit from AWE with new throwout bearing. Slave cylinder was replaced with a new one from ECS at the same time. Considering that you have at least 50K miles on that clutch by now and just recently installed K04s, it's not a bad idea to replace it. It definitely does sound like the clutch is the issue.

**Grangalan** · 10-29-2008 08:22 PM

the engine was just out and everything looked fine. the slave cylinder is brand new as well. Bleeding it again tomorrow to see what happens. Theres plenty of slop on the shifter due to the bushings. I've gotten all gears to work (though notchy) except reverse which basically just makes the whiney buzzing sound when i try to put it into that gear.

I'm pulling my hair out if the engine has to come out again 3 weeks after it being out. I'm about to just sell the damn S4 and drive my jeep .

**2k1.5blacks4** · 10-29-2008 09:58 PM

Take a look at your clutch master cylinder my buddy had very similar issues with his 2000s4 and he took out his his slave cylinder, brake master cylinder and clutch master cylinder. He decided to replace them all just as preventive maintenance for the future. His clutch master cylinder was defiantly fubar. So you might want to check that little guy out. Good luck!

**DefiantS4** · 10-30-2008 01:49 AM

How are you bleeding the slave cylinder? I remember when I replaced it my left leg got quite a workout from pumping the pedal so much. If you start the car and pump the pedal like mad for a few seconds, can you then get into gear? That'll tell you right away if its an issue with the hydraulic fluid and/or cylinders.