RS4 3rd Gear Grind?

[Auditude2.0T]

My dad's RS4 grinds third gear around 60% of the time in normal driving. The car is in perfect shape, only mods is a Milltek Exhaust. The car is pampered, always warmed and cooled etc... What should i do? I think dealer time.

[ieatfishburitos]

It's most likely from some young kid taking it out and ragging on it!

Of course take it to the dealer, or you could try tapping the car three times with a magic wand and see if that does the trick. I'm betting the dealer has better success.

[Auditude2.0T]

It's most likely from some young kid taking it out and ragging on it!

Of course take it to the dealer, or you could try tapping the car three times with a magic wand and see if that does the trick. I'm betting the dealer has better success.

Someone on Audiworld claimed that the dealer says in "normal" which i think is absurd for a 73k car.

[pOrKcHoP07]

Does your dad complain as well or is it just you...might be driver error.

[Syrus5o]

Just get some redline transmission fluid. That grind will go away and shifting will be better than it ever was. Something about audi/vw syncros? or whatever it is. Redline fluid is the savior.

[TonyD]

Sounds like a synchro.

[Cargo8]

shift slower. My friend has the same problem with his s5 and other friends have experienced on s4 and rs4. It is because the revs haven't dropped enough and there is still torque in the gearbox. it's always that 2-3 shift, you just gotta shift slower...

[haus4]

it depends on wat your dad says, when it grinds and how bad, since he knows the car the best. Go to the dealer and see what they say, then you can always change the tranny fluid for your own piece of mind.

[Auditude2.0T]

He is the one that noticed it, he just told me to post it since he is busy. He said even slow shifts it has a tiny bit of a grind. How hard is it to change the transmission fluid??

[Tiluleshpingen]

is he and you pressing the clutch all the way?

[B18b1ex]

If I was your dad, I would put the stock exhaust back and drive into the dealer and explain the problem. If it's grinding it will only get worse! It will not fix itself.

[ieatfishburitos]

If I was your dad, I would put the stock exhaust back and drive into the dealer and explain the problem. If it's grinding it will only get worse! It will not fix itself.

Why take the exhaust off? The dealer can't deny service for having a different, unrelated component.

[91gl]

it does it more now that it is cold right? change your fluid to Redline MT-90 GL-4 and continue every 20k miles to change it from now on. that should do the trick

[40valve]

it does it more now that it is cold right? change your fluid to Redline MT-90 GL-4 and continue every 20k miles to change it from now on. that should do the trick

is there a DIY out there? I'm still so unfamiliar with this car.

[Glassnpowder98]

Sounds like the same exact problem I'm having in my A4. It only happens if I drive the car hard for an extended period of time and the grinding lasts for about three days and magically goes away. However, it has happened a few times and I think it might have caused permanent damage because it will randomly grind now.

Why take the exhaust off? The dealer can't deny service for having a different, unrelated component.

I also suggest taking off the exhaust because a month ago I tried to bring my car in for this problem and was told that I voided my powertrain warranty because of an aftermarket intake and aftermarket DV. I know this is the biggest bullshit known to man and I'm currently in the process of writing a nice letter to as many Audi Execs as I can find addresses for. I have already met with the dealership, filed a claim over the phone, and met with the regional service manager. Their claim is that the warranty states any modifications to the engine will void the powertrain warranty. Their interpretation of the warranty is illegal based on the Magnusson-Moss act which states that the company must prove that the aftermarket piece caused the original equipment to fail.

So, I suggest taking your exhaust off before bringing it to the dealership to avoid the situation that I'm in. But you never know, they might take an adult that bought a 70k a little more serious than a 23 year old driving a measley a4... Little do they know, this 23 year old won't take no for an answer

[91gl]

is there a DIY out there? I'm still so unfamiliar with this car.

not that I know of. Take it to an independent shop. I go to quattrohaus in Newark NJ for all my work. They specialize in all high performance euro cars but their forte is Audi and Audi Rally Cars.

[ieatfishburitos]

I also suggest taking off the exhaust because a month ago I tried to bring my car in for this problem and was told that I voided my powertrain warranty because of an aftermarket intake and aftermarket DV. I know this is the biggest bullshit known to man and I'm currently in the process of writing a nice letter to as many Audi Execs as I can find addresses for. I have already met with the dealership, filed a claim over the phone, and met with the regional service manager. Their claim is that the warranty states any modifications to the engine will void the powertrain warranty. Their interpretation of the warranty is illegal based on the Magnusson-Moss act which states that the company must prove that the aftermarket piece caused the original equipment to fail.

So, I suggest taking your exhaust off before bringing it to the dealership to avoid the situation that I'm in. But you never know, they might take an adult that bought a 70k a little more serious than a 23 year old driving a measley a4... Little do they know, this 23 year old won't take no for an answer

I think exhausts are viewed a little differently than changing intakes and tossing on a diverter valve. It could be they are a bit more sensitive to turbocharged engine modifications, since they have the ability to create so much hp. I could be wrong, just my thoughts.

[sakimano]

73k on an RS4? that must be the highest mileage RS4 in America...

couldn't he also need a new clutch at that mileage?

Someone on Audiworld claimed that the dealer says in "normal" which i think is absurd for a 73k car.

[vinny.dtw]

73k dollar car...

[40valve]

not that I know of. Take it to an independent shop. I go to quattrohaus in Newark NJ for all my work. They specialize in all high performance euro cars but their forte is Audi and Audi Rally Cars.

Rather do it myself. No trustworthy shops around here.
I mean it should be the same or similar to B5 right? Just drain and fill ...I just don't know the location (partially because I didn't look yet).

[sakimano]

73k dollar car...

ahhh...lightbulb!

thanks

I'm going to start a high mileage RS4 thread...what do you think will be the highest?

Jack

(last name Thread)

[B18b1ex]

Why take the exhaust off? The dealer can't deny service for having a different, unrelated component.

Look he might win, but if the dealer says that your exhaust is allowing your car to produce more power than it had from the factory. They can make the claim, you can fight, but the hour to switch saves weeks or months of BS.

[Auditude2.0T]

So i think we are going to put the Stock Exhaust back on and take it to the dealer. If they dont find a problem then tranny fluid next.

[AuditudeA642]

Hey everyone. This is my car. The car grinds third gear 60% of the time in normal driving. The car is in perfect shape, well taken care and i have been driving manual for 25 years so i dont think thats the problem. Could it actually be the synchros? anyone else have similar problems?

[SoCalRS4]

It can easily be the syncros, you have a high hq awd drive car and really even hard driving periodiclly could allow this to happen if not driven correctly, it really doenst matter weather you cool the engine down or warm it up to be honest. And no im not saying you dont know how to drive stick but I can tell you I know a lot of people that have driven RS4's yet cant really get the driving style correct on it until 5k miles worth of driving. I will tell you though that unless it shows to be a audi malfunction any repair will be at your cost. However the more it grinds the less time you have obviously so I would take it in right away to get that checked out.

[bloodstar57]

It can easily be the syncros, you have a high hq awd drive car and really even hard driving periodiclly could allow this to happen if not driven correctly, it really doenst matter weather you cool the engine down or warm it up to be honest. And no im not saying you dont know how to drive stick but I can tell you I know a lot of people that have driven RS4's yet cant really get the driving style correct on it until 5k miles worth of driving. I will tell you though that unless it shows to be a audi malfunction any repair will be at your cost. However the more it grinds the less time you have obviously so I would take it in right away to get that checked out.

+1 My friend had the same thing on his 06 2.0t(fixed under warranty); they replace the syncros and the entire 3rd and 4th gears. Also went to test drive a 05.5 S4 yesterday and the 3rd and 4th gear would grind 70% of the time. Take it in and they will mostly like change it.


PS. AuditudeA642 I know for a fact Anchor Audi service has a good Transmission Guy that did my friends car.

[zx9]

Someone on Audiworld claimed that the dealer says in "normal" which i think is absurd for a 73k car.

It's not normal. That's Audi's routine response whilst the car is under warranty...Raise hell.

[91gl]

It's not normal. That's Audi's routine response whilst the car is under warranty...Raise hell.

yea, you cant be passive and collective when they start BSin you that it is normal. Raise hell and threaten to write a letter to Audi of North America. IF they dont bite, write that letter and make those calls. This is a 70k dollar car and it is "normal" to grind gears. Please, this is getting ridiculous now. First we need to add oil every number of miles like it is some kind of old run down toyota, now its "normal" for our transmission to grind gears.

[sakimano]

well said.
what's the oil problem? I have heard about A4's guzzling oil, but not V8 S4...is this prevelant? Dealership should top it up for free if so. I had a low oil light once and they fired a quart in for me in 5 mins (and washed it). That was many miles ago, so I thought it was a one off, but just wondering if this is a real problem.

this gears thing...that wouldn't be something I'd tolerate. get them to change it. They will. Fact is the dealer loves doing warranty work...they just bill Audi North America. Audi North America is the problem, not the dealer.

yea, you cant be passive and collective when they start BSin you that it is normal. Raise hell and threaten to write a letter to Audi of North America. IF they dont bite, write that letter and make those calls. This is a 70k dollar car and it is "normal" to grind gears. Please, this is getting ridiculous now. First we need to add oil every number of miles like it is some kind of old run down toyota, now its "normal" for our transmission to grind gears.

[nimski62]

well said.
what's the oil problem? I have heard about A4's guzzling oil, but not V8 S4...is this prevelant? Dealership should top it up for free if so. I had a low oil light once and they fired a quart in for me in 5 mins (and washed it). That was many miles ago, so I thought it was a one off, but just wondering if this is a real problem.

this gears thing...that wouldn't be something I'd tolerate. get them to change it. They will. Fact is the dealer loves doing warranty work...they just bill Audi North America. Audi North America is the problem, not the dealer.

Yes, a lot of our cars burn oil, and dont bother taking it in for warranty, because there is an Audi of NA bulletin stating its normal for these cars to burn 1qt/1000 miles, which is just an excuse in my eyes for them not to replace motors left and right.

[SuperAvant]

well said.
what's the oil problem? I have heard about A4's guzzling oil, but not V8 S4...is this prevelant? Dealership should top it up for free if so. I had a low oil light once and they fired a quart in for me in 5 mins (and washed it). That was many miles ago, so I thought it was a one off, but just wondering if this is a real problem.

this gears thing...that wouldn't be something I'd tolerate. get them to change it. They will. Fact is the dealer loves doing warranty work...they just bill Audi North America. Audi North America is the problem, not the dealer.

Yeah burning oil is one of the most common known issues with the V8

[PetrolDave]

Yeah burning oil is one of the most common known issues with the V8

The Audi V8 in both S4 and RS4 form (and Q7, etc...) is designed to use a thin oil and to have clearances that mean burning an apparently large amount of oil is normal - the engine is designed that way. Only when the oil consumption exceeds the 1qt/1000 miles is there a problem.

Personally, having had two V8 B6 S4s and a V8 B7 RS4, I've never had an oil consumption issue. Yes in the first 5000 miles oil consumption was approaching the 1qt/1000mi value, but in the next 5,000 miles it halved, and in the next 10,000 miles it dropped to almost zero. I check the oil level in my RS4 every week, and it hasn't dropped in the last 5,000 miles. My secret - I run-in the engine bearing in mind that when just built the several thousand parts that comprise the engine will need time to bed-in and work as designed - old fashioned mechanical sympathy, but with the occasional ragging to knock off any edges.

[jerrym]

i think its the driver.

[boravr6]

i actually notice some grind in my 3rd gear. Not all the time though. One day i can drive spirited and get a grind.. some days it doesn't. It will also do a small grind when im driving in a more casual manner.

After seeing this post i made an effort to try and duplicate the grind with varios styles of driving and trying to shift at various RPM from 3k - 6.5k ish.....

Nothing!

Only conclusion i can come up with is when i do get a small grind, it must be me not pushing the clutch in all the way.

I too say driver error.