CVT issue, jerking, limp mode, codes read

[Dixit]

I have a 2004 A4 1.8T CVT. Twice now the car say at a light has the PRNDS flashing and the car basically starts jerking if you try to accelerate. If I turn it off and back on, it basically clears it. Then it happened again about 1week later.

I put my VAG COM in and read the codes and the only one that came up was the tranny and here the two that came up
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 02: Auto Trans
Controller: 8E0 910 155 F
Component: V30 01J 1.8l5VT USA 3130
Coding: 0001001
Shop #: WSC 04926
2 Faults Found:
17137 - Shift Solenoid 1 (N88): Circuit Failure
P0753 -- 007 -- Short to Ground - Intermittent
17135 - Shift Solenoid 1 (N88): Open or Short to Ground
P0751 -- 000 -- - - Intermittent

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tried to search around for what these two mean and didnt really find anything. But from the sounds of it this is either a problem where the solenoids are getting stuck due to maybe bad oil or the CVT oil has to be changed (car has 55k on it now). Or Im thinking maybe the Valvebody is basically going bad. This is what Im thinking from my car knowledge I have from working on cars for 10-15yrs. But not sure if this is something else.

Let me know what yall think or have seen.

Dixit

[eg6siR]

sounds like the solenoids have failed.. what you need to do is drop the tranny pan and replace them and see if it fixes the problem. if replacing the solenoid dosnt fix the issue then maybe your TCM is going bad.

[karlitooo]

PRNDS are blinking on your dashboard?

my problems were:

The engine exited like if you changed a gear of the car..



I had a similar problem with some defautls code found with VAG

A specialist changed a captor inside the multitronic and now all is ok..

[Dixit]

I dont have to drop the cross member on this car do I? I was reading somewhere that trying to get the TCM out requires the cross member to be dropped or something, I assume that means the TCM they are referring to is inside the tranny. Ive also read the TCM to be in the passenger side footwell, but not sure where this one is on this model.

So back to the solenoids, how hard is that to remove? If I drop the pan are they just fairly visible solenoids that you just replace or you have to drop the valvebody entirely to get them out.

Thanks again
Dixit

[eg6siR]

So back to the solenoids, how hard is that to remove? If I drop the pan are they just fairly visible solenoids that you just replace or you have to drop the valvebody entirely to get them out.

Thanks again
Dixit

all you have to do is drop the pan and there will be 6 solenoids looking you right in the face near the back of the tranny, one of them is the EPC solenoid and there are 5 shift solenoids. i forget the order but im sure someone can tell you which is which, or just buy the new one and swap it out they are color coded but i forget the colors.

[Dixit]

Cool. Thanks. So should I go ahead and buy all 6 (do I erplace this EPC one or leave it be?) or do I just buy one of them. From the codes seems to say its shift solenoid 1, and that makes sense since the problem happens in when sitting at stop or just beginning to move.

Any idea what these bad boys cost?

Dixit

[A4donkey]

If the fault code said " Short to ground" , I would think if the metal ppt (contaminant) within the tranny is high enough to cause the fluid become conductive and occasionally short circuited some of the sensor.

Since the fault can be reset by turn the key on and off, and it is more likely due to the flow of the fluid carrying the conductive contaminant around the sensor part or something similar.

Always try the cheapest first, I would try to flush the CVT fluid once see if this help then consider something else dearer.

[Dixit]

A4donkey, I would agree with you there, Ive been trying to find out what the deal on changing this CVT fluid is, and there doesnt seem to be much except everyone saying only the dealer can do it. The 12pt triple square socket is not that bad to remove, I have tools for those. But cant seem to find a clear answer on what the fluid type is, except I saw somewhere the fluid is like $30/qt which seems wrong to me as some say it takes 5qts and some saying the dealer did the fluid change for $200.

If someone knows the exact fluid type that would be good to know. I think a few threads ive found seem to show how its done.

Dixit

[A4donkey]

CVT Fluid Part no: G052-180-A2
4-4.5 Litre MAX include overfill flood back.
Drain,
Pump 3 Litre thru the fill hole,
Fire up engine, pump the rest up untill extra flood back, keep the engine run for 3-5minutes, tighten the fill plug, Done !!!

don't forget to post up if your problem fixed.

Good Luck.

[TCHUN003]

I have a 2004 A4 1.8T CVT. Twice now the car say at a light has the PRNDS flashing and the car basically starts jerking if you try to accelerate.

This is the exact problem I had and when I went to the dealership they said it was definitely the tcm. After they replaced it, the symptons when away and now my car is perfectly fine.

[inaforest]

i hate when i'm jerking and go into limp mode D:

[Dixit]

Interesting talked to the dealer to get the parts and he saying there is no solenoids in the CVT, he says he dont see anything in his diagram and there also is no pan persay to drop. Not sure if he didnt know what he was talking about but he kept insisting that he thinks Im talking about a normal 5spd Auto, not the CVT.

So if he right, then I guess my first course of action is to flush out the fluid.

Dixit