Audi A6 2.7T Torque Converters

[audispeed08]

Hey my dad has a 2004 Audi A6 2.7T with 66,000 miles that is automatic and his check engine light just came on a few days ago. The dealer said that he needs to replace his Torque Converter and they were going to charge him $3,200 for to fix it/replace.

Is this a common thing to go on the A6?

Isn't 66K soon for something like this to go?

Is there a cheaper way to fix it?

Any ideas or thoughts?

Thanks

[Affinitive]

Unfortunately the torque converters used with the 5HP-19 (01V) transmission were a common problem. Though the problem was mainly isolated to the 01 - 02 model year cars. There was a manufacturing defect with ZF (the company who makes this transmission) which seemed to affect mostly just the 01 - 02 model year cars. There is a new updated torque converter to cure the issue. An 04 model should have already have the latest updated converter but I have heard of a few isolated cases where even the new updated converters fail as well.
The issue is a small seal inside the converter, which is supossed to hold hydraulic pressure to lock the clutch inside the converter under certain driving conditions, will fail and the clutch won't lock up. There is a Service Bulletin about this.
Driving around with this issue will ultimately lead to transmission failure as the fluid gets contaminated with excessive clutch particles (since it slips when it's supossed to be locked). Though, with 66K on the ticker, it needs service soon anyways.
The cost of the torque converter itself ranges anywhere form 950 - 1200 green jelly beans. Don't waste your time and money with aftermarket or "rebuilt" torque converters in this case. By the time you add up the converter, 9 - 10 liters of fluid (should be about 10 liters since 2.7T A6's have a secondary tranny cooler also), pan gasket, filter, other misc. parts, labor and tax, it quickly gets to be well over 2 grand. Soooo, in the real world and considering how long it really takes to do this job (not 12 hours like "book time), 3200 sounds a bit ambitious, even for a 2.7T car.

Did they include any other "little thing" with that estimate???

After the repair, you'll notice a slight improvement in mpg and slightly better throttle response mainly at highway speeds, well, not so much throttle response but rather better response in power transfer to the wheels........

Also, after the repair, set the transmission coding to 01032 instead of 01002. Think of it as the "Dynamic Sport Mode" that Audi/VW will never admit can be set on US/CDN market cars. It's not a huge improvement. The car will finally shift the way it should. Some people may know about the "Paul Waterloo's A8 trans coding tweak". It actually works for most all 5HP-19 and 5hp-24 trans controllers with tip tronic. Though, controllers using the 7 digit coding like yours should be being an 04 (0001032) seem to be real "finicky" to accept the coding change. Sometimes you just have to try several times using the latest vagcom version or beta version................

blah blah blah
sorry to be so long winded

good luck

C

[asm72ecko]

try searching, there are a ton of posts about this.

In short:

Yes it is a problem, I'm getting mine done this weekend actually.

And don't take it to a dealer, they will rip you off. Find a transmission shop or if you upgrade, the place that you get it from could do it for you. It shouldn't be more than $1600 for parts and labor for the upgrade. Try 517trans.com, I am getting mine from them.

[2.slowT]

I have posted so much on this. Try a seach. I have replaced mine and all my research is in a thread. I chose 517

[akaudi6]

Is 517trans installing the converter or just selling it to you? I just received a quote from torquecoverter1.com and the quote was about $280 with S&H?

[TozoM8]

Is 517trans installing the converter or just selling it to you? I just received a quote from torquecoverter1.com and the quote was about $280 with S&H?

They send you one and you have to send back your old one. Bring it down to Chicago and I change it for you for $1200 including fluid.

[Audisciple]

my tranny just went out due to this problem and is also pulling side for incorrect gear ratio , I was quoted 2750 -3000 to rebuild is that a fair price ?

[lmganda]

They send you one and you have to send back your old one. Bring it down to Chicago and I change it for you for $1200 including fluid.

I am in Chicago, will you change mine? I don't seem to have any noticeable symptoms, but they tell me the torque converter needs changing. Three shops have said it is not a problem with the electronic system.

lmganda

[MCargill12]

I feel like shops that think torque converters are bad throw the car on the lift, turn it on, and give it gas and if all 4 wheels dont spin at the same speed/time/whatever they automatically think its a torque converter.

[ddillenger]

I feel like shops that think torque converters are bad throw the car on the lift, turn it on, and give it gas and if all 4 wheels dont spin at the same speed/time/whatever they automatically think its a torque converter.

A diagnosis of a bad/failing torque converter is usually the result of the following DTCs:

P0741
P1624

Basically, the lockup clutch is no longer functioning efficiently, as there is still slip detected after the tcu requests lockup.

I don't think anyone would diagnose a failing converter by lifting the car.

[MCargill12]

Alllllright my point proven wrong. Thank you ddillenger. lol

A diagnosis of a bad/failing torque converter is usually the result of the following DTCs:

P0741
P1624

Basically, the lockup clutch is no longer functioning efficiently, as there is still slip detected after the tcu requests lockup.

I don't think anyone would diagnose a failing converter by lifting the car.

[ddillenger]

[Scotty@Advanced]

I feel like shops that think torque converters are bad throw the car on the lift, turn it on, and give it gas and if all 4 wheels dont spin at the same speed/time/whatever they automatically think its a torque converter.

That's the dumbest diagnostic test I've heard of.

[varul]

Hello.my name is adrian and i have2002 allroad audi. Anybody around stafford virginia who can give me a price to replace torque converter? And where i can get the part from? Thank you

[Scotty@Advanced]

I've got a few conveter options.

AAM Torque converters

I searched far and wide to find a company that updates the seal as well as the friction lining in the clutch.. Most converter companies re-use the factory friction lining.

[4ringking]

I have seen the Audi A6 come in with a faulty torque converter fault P0741 and or a driveabilty issue. Stalling at a stop or shutter while driving on the highway. Most of these vehicles have had the faulty torque converters replaced with newer units.

[AllWorld]

They send you one and you have to send back your old one. Bring it down to Chicago and I change it for you for $1200 including fluid.

Still in Chicago? I may need this done soon.... price still the same?

[AllWorld]

I've had that weak reverse gear or slow to engage delay when shifting drive to reverse or reverse to drive with no codes for months. now I get the p0741 - kind of think the fluid level was not corrected after having the timing belt and water pump done - but never had any other trans codes or issues - right before the code came I got a clunk like a hard shift - it happened on 2 different occasions then the code. with these symptoms - do you think just TC or entire transmission job? I was thinking about Level10 products. Any thoughts? Also - I did replace the filter and fluid to see if level was the issue - code came back after about 10-15 miles. No clunking (yet) maybe a higher than normal rpm before shifting between 1-2...