2010 S4 DSG Mechatronic Failure - Repair Kit Available?

[aedmon6]

I joined the "mechatronic" club this weekend. On my birthday. After buying the car just a few months ago (from a private seller with fewer than 30,000 miles and with a clean bill of health from the local Audi dealership). At this point, I'm trying to figure out the best way to fix it. Based on what I've read online: replacing the mechatronic unit runs around $3,000 to $5,000, but Audi recently released a repair kit than fix the problem for $1,200 to $1,500.

The Audi dealership closest to me says they've never seen this issue before, a repair kit is not available, and the unit needs to be replaced for $4,000. A second Audi dealership that's a little further away says that the repair kit can fix it, but that it's going to cost over $2,500 (which seems to be way more than others have paid.)

Has anyone else found themselves in a similar situation? Is there any reason the two dealerships are giving inconsistent information? Also, should it make a difference that an "electrical short" was given as the reason the current mechatronics unit failed?

Any insight or observations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[LINDW4LL]

I've read a few stories here of people using the repair kit with success already. It can be purchased for $279 from GenuineAudiParts. Here it is on ECS, with pictures (but they have it priced at MSRP:https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...it/0b5398009d/

I'll let others chime in with further info and experiences.

[sebgreen]

Sounds like one dealer does not have the training/experience to carry it out and instead of just admitting that, they are treating you like an idiot saying the repair kit is not available - bit insulting really. Ask them to look online at the kit which is clearly available.

What is the actual problem your gearbox has. The mech repair kit won't solve all problems.


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[chaos2984]

Sounds like one dealer does not have the training/experience to carry it out and instead of just admitting that, they are treating you like an idiot saying the repair kit is not available - bit insulting really. Ask them to look online at the kit which is clearly available.

What is the actual problem your gearbox has. The mech repair kit won't solve all problems.


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This but with this addition unless they are trying to sell you an entire trans. The dealership has to guarantee the repair for 12/12 so maybe they are selling you the entire mech unit for a better repair that will repair 99.9% of them instead of 60-80% with the harness (made up numbers just as example) But So they don't have to deal with bad reputation of come backs and not being able to fix things. But I would confirm your problem first before you order parts.

[RudyH]

What made you determine the mech unit has failed? If there was an electrical short, it is different then I would say 99% (maybe 1% had it happened but nothing I read) then anything that occurred here so it's hard to give you an opinion.

Even for a mech unit replacement, I didn't pay that much in Canadian funds for it to be fixed - you can likely do it for less. Granted it's the generic symptoms we see

[aedmon6]

What made you determine the mech unit has failed? If there was an electrical short, it is different then I would say 99% (maybe 1% had it happened but nothing I read) then anything that occurred here so it's hard to give you an opinion.

Even for a mech unit replacement, I didn't pay that much in Canadian funds for it to be fixed - you can likely do it for less. Granted it's the generic symptoms we see

Thanks for the quick responses. My symptoms are identical to the ones others have listed: started the car and saw "TPMS" and "Gearbox Malfunction" error messages. It also said that rear gear was unavailable (which was true) and that the car was safe to drive (albeit with some shifting issues).

I gingerly drove it to the nearest Audi dealer and, after poking around on here, warned them that it could be a mechatronic issue. On Monday, the dealer indicated that the mechatronic unit was likely to blame. On Tuesday, the dealer confirmed that "the fault in the mechatronic is an electrical short." (This is the same dealer that says that it hasn't seen a 2010 with mechatronic issues before and isn't aware of a repair kit).

Could the "electrical short" mean that: (1) the problem is different than what others have encountered even though the symptoms are the same; and/or (2) the repair kit would not be helpful?

[RudyH]

I would almost get a third opinion, as that electrical short part is where I think a lot are hesitant to say for sure.

Very likely I would at least try the mechatronic repair kit. For me it worked perfectly anyway. It was around 4 hrs of labor, DSG fluid is required to top up (or replace if you are getting close to that mileage)...
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4...ion/ES2697203/

Dealerships here in Canada are also not acknowledging that Audi has a repair kit available, but there is one and it works.

[aedmon6]

I would almost get a third opinion, as that electrical short part is where I think a lot are hesitant to say for sure.

Very likely I would at least try the mechatronic repair kit. For me it worked perfectly anyway. It was around 4 hrs of labor, DSG fluid is required to top up (or replace if you are getting close to that mileage)...
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4...ion/ES2697203/

Dealerships here in Canada are also not acknowledging that Audi has a repair kit available, but there is one and it works.

Thanks, guys. One more clarification from Dealer #1. He has apparently located the repair kit but says it's only for circuit board replacement. In my case though, the fault is with the transmission control module - and he says the repair kit won't help with that.

Any reason to distrust this explanation? If not, $3,600 doesn't seem unreasonable to replace the mechatronic unit.

[sebgreen]

Your car is a 2010 - do you have an extended warranty? Why are you taking it to a dealer?

In my experience a independent specialist will be much more knowledgable & carry out a better job. That's my experience anyway.


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[djt81185]

I would almost get a third opinion, as that electrical short part is where I think a lot are hesitant to say for sure.

Very likely I would at least try the mechatronic repair kit. For me it worked perfectly anyway. It was around 4 hrs of labor, DSG fluid is required to top up (or replace if you are getting close to that mileage)...
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4...ion/ES2697203/

Dealerships here in Canada are also not acknowledging that Audi has a repair kit available, but there is one and it works.

Is there a right up on this repair? Also you had a confirmed mechatronics failure before hand?

[aedmon6]

Your car is a 2010 - do you have an extended warranty? Why are you taking it to a dealer?

In my experience a independent specialist will be much more knowledgable & carry out a better job. That's my experience anyway.


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That's a really good question. No extended warranty, so I reached out to an independent shop that's seen this before. Just waiting to hear back from them about potential cost(s) of repair.

I also reached out to Audi USA after a friend mentioned that they sometimes help in situations like this. I gave them a bunch of information on Thursday. They asked for more on Friday. Just now, they said there's nothing they can to do because the car's out of warranty. (Which was frustrating - they could have saved us both a lot of time by saying that from the start.)

[audis4444]

Bumping kind of an old thread..

Just curious if more people have tried the repair kit?? I have been getting the fluttering of RPM's some days, and mostly just when im in 7th gear, and sometimes the harsher 1st gear like someone is learning how to drive a stick for the first time. Just curious if that can all be solved with the repair kit? Or if I should get the whole mech unit replaced.

Thanks!

[11s4]

There was a vendor on here a little while back selling a brand new mechatronic unit for $1799 Canadian.
I believe shipping was included.