Auto to 6 speed questions.

[Jimmyz0rz]

Having OCD I was curious if possible to switch an auto over to a manual completely. (No auto stuff on the cluster, and if it was possible to have the legal parts sich as registration changed to manual so insurance would know its now a manual).

I had a B5 S4 6spd Stage 3- (k04s very lackluster fueling) before and wish i never got rid of it, ended up with a CC and hated it. I recently found a Dealership that was willing to take a hit and buy my CC for a cheap B5 S4. Only downfall was its an Auto. Also got a CEL and it mentioned something about the Torque converter so I assume thats going bad. So if it would just be better to swap a 6 speed in then I would rather do that if possible to get everything changed over.

[rollerton]

Other than the options codes on the sticker and the way the VIN# was originally spec'd by Audi, everything can be done 100% so there would be no trace. But, those are just technicalities, they matter to nobody in general and don't affect insurance or anything as far as anyone has ever proven.
The VIN# of the car as listed and recorded by the manufacturer tells what kind of car it was originally and a couple small details. But the options codes in the trunk, owners manual or wherever list specifics to the particular chassis and there's nothing you can do about that. And it doesn't matter.
If you do the swap even close to correctly it will be as manual as Audi could make it in every way.
There's nothing specific to the cluster or anything else mechanical or electronic that would leave a trace of Auto trans. Parts are parts, and the electronic ones are usually universal in that they include Auto options coding or can be reprogrammed to operate either way.

[Jimmyz0rz]

Well I've never done this before. And if o swapped I was curious if the 6speed ECU will get rid of the "P,N,D,1,2,3,4" or if i have to find a Manual cluster to rid of those? Or does the ECU do that?

[rollerton]

Like I said, the cluster and ECU are generally not specific to a manual or auto car, you simply change the coding to make the cluster behave the way you want. I'm not 100% about each ECU on the B5. Some of them may not have the programming for both auto and manual, but typically you need a manual 'file' written to the ECU and then like the cluster you just change the coding to manual.
Sounds sort of complicated but it's very not complicated.

[erykv1]

Like I said, the cluster and ECU are generally not specific to a manual or auto car, you simply change the coding to make the cluster behave the way you want. I'm not 100% about each ECU on the B5. Some of them may not have the programming for both auto and manual, but typically you need a manual 'file' written to the ECU and then like the cluster you just change the coding to manual.
Sounds sort of complicated but it's very not complicated.

Yes, rollerton is correct.

Once the TCU is disconnected the cluster automatically will switch to display "press clutch pedal to start" or something along those lines it just needs to be coded to remove the auto trans from the CANBUS. After that all that needs to be done there is to flash the correct file to the ECU.

[Jimmyz0rz]

Well i appreciate the info i guess i just need to find parts and get started with the project. Although any ECU programming I will find and pay someone else to do.

[AlexHurley]

When I swapped my b5 to a 6 speed the cluster display changed by itself. besides the ECU, you'll also need to recode the abs module which can be a real bitch if you were in a hurry and ripped some shit in the steering wheel wiring... because to recode the abs module you'll most likely have to do a steering angle calibration, which is pretty much impossible with a fubar wired steering wheel.





So now i live with permanent lights on my dash.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

When I swapped my b5 to a 6 speed the cluster display changed by itself. besides the ECU, you'll also need to recode the abs module which can be a real bitch if you were in a hurry and ripped some shit in the steering wheel wiring... because to recode the abs module you'll most likely have to do a steering angle calibration, which is pretty much impossible with a fubar wired steering wheel.





So now i live with permanent lights on my dash.

What wiring do you have to do with a steering wheel in a swap? I don't think there should be any.. You shouldnt even have to touch the steering wheel unless you want to swap a six speed one in w/o the buttons.

[AlexHurley]

What wiring do you have to do with a steering wheel in a swap? I don't think there should be any.. You shouldnt even have to touch the steering wheel unless you want to swap a six speed one in w/o the buttons.

Yes i swapped in a manual wheel. to be honest, i don't know exactly what i f'ed up but there's a coil of white wire inside there among other stuff and I mesed something up to where i can't do a steering angle alignment.

That's about as much as I know about it, I haven't looked back.

[MarlinFoundNemo]

Yes i swapped in a manual wheel. to be honest, i don't know exactly what i f'ed up but there's a coil of white wire inside there among other stuff and I mesed something up to where i can't do a steering angle alignment.

That's about as much as I know about it, I haven't looked back.

You may have broken the clock spring. I had to do a SW alignment after putting the column trim on, and you need vagcom to do it all. It was a PITA, but got it figured out eventually. I'd say find a good steering angle sensor, replace the old one, and do the alignment. There's a few threads out there that tell you how to do it for the most part.

[FlyboyS4]

What wiring do you have to do with a steering wheel in a swap? I don't think there should be any.. You shouldnt even have to touch the steering wheel unless you want to swap a six speed one in w/o the buttons.

My recollection, now a few years since doing it, was that the wiring for the TIP buttons was left disconnected. There's a wire or two that do swap over to the MT wheel.