Transmission control module HELL.

[B7PhiGam]

Hey guys,

I have been searching like mad, not seeing any cohesive answer to this. My buddy has a 2007 A4 2.0 Auto. Starting a few weeks back, hed get in and go to start it and the car wouldnt crank, everything else lite up though. Leave it a while, then it would start without any issues. This continued until it became more frequent. Took it into the stealership today and they said its a bad TCM. Car only has 64K on it. Multiple places I have read that Audi of America has an 8year and 80,000 warranty on the TCM? Is there truth to this? Stealership wants $3700...

I told him he should have bought a 6 MT like a real man, he didnt think it was as funny as I did.

Thanks for the help in advance.


UPDATE: Audi of Miramar, San Diego is replacing the TCU under warranty at no cost. So that is awesome news!

[80sGuy]

Is your buddy's car a CVT?

[B7PhiGam]

Is your buddy's car a CVT?

No it is not.

[B7PhiGam]

Bump. Anyone? I guess this is a uncommon problem?

[bman005]

TCM or ECM? ECM is covered under the 8/80 federal emissions warranty. TCM is not. 3700 seems way too high for either one of those to get replaced. What else do they wanna do?

[yellowsnowman]

I had my transmission control module go out after a very very spirited drive (fucking CVT). Stealership threatened to void my warranty since I had an aftermarket suspension and wanted to charge me $3k+ but they did it under warranty after I agreed to let them change my breaks and a few other things

[80sGuy]

^^Yeah, I'm pretty fookin' paranoid right now after reading all the issues on older generation B7's with CVTs. I have an '08 with only 26,000 miles and the warranty had expired a month ago and I'm starting to hear a very low whining sound whenever I decelerate (foot off the gas pedal). The thing is, this happens in neutral also and it doesn't change pitch though, it is most noticeable while coasting down between 30-40 mph (1500-2000 RPM), other than that, the car drives and shifts fine. Not sure it was caused by hitting a curb while turning in to a parking lot which also created an impact bubble on the right/front tire and causing a slight 'pull' to the right, but I got new tires and an alignment shortly after. Really, I don't know wtf is going on since nothing comes up in searches other than idiots reply that it's either the "mother-in-law" or the "bitch gf" making all the whining noise.
I'm just hoping it's something else and not the transmission, but again, something else on an Audi is no joke when it come to labor rates!

[Audi_509]

UPDATE: Audi of Miramar, San Diego is replacing the TCU under warranty at no cost. So that is awesome news!

Was your friend still under warranty or does the TCU have a extended warranty?

[B7PhiGam]

Was your friend still under warranty or does the TCU have a extended warranty?

Apparently the TCU has a similar 8 year, 80000 mile warranty as the ECM... so it was covered under warranty. His car is out of warranty though having 64K on it.

[Audi_509]

^ Good to know. Thanks.

[zimmy92]

I've been saving up for a year now to try and fix my TCM. Of course, the dealer wanted an arm and a leg. Interestingly, my symtoms didn't get worse over the year. I am now waiting to get my car back and here's what I've done so far:
•I found a friend who owns a used car dealership
•Had him contact the dealer and got the part (originally quoted $1300) for $719.20 with my friends wholesale discount
•Used the same friends 3rd party mechanic who has done previous work on my car for CHEAP. He has the car now to install the new TCM. Before I actually went and bought the TCM, this mechanic got in there and tried actually repairing the TCM but was not able to. He says he's only going to charge me about $100 for labor.

I will update this with the results. I really hope this works..

UPDATE:
Finally... no more TCM issues. the guy charged me $240 in labor total for putting in the new TCM and changing my ATF fluid. No CEL, no Limp mode either. I guess a total of $960 isn't that bad if you're not in warranty and the dealer is charging you over $2k. btw... does anybody want a TCM thats shooting p0706? lol

[B72011]

Where is the TCM located actually? Not inside the actual trans right?

[80sGuy]

Looks that way. Here's a great DIY with pics!
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...TF-Replacement

[Mr. Merk]

ECM, TCM, EBCM, Catalytic converters & fuel pump control modules are all usually covered under the FEDERAL 8/80. For any brand

[marklar182]

Where is the TCM located actually? Not inside the actual trans right?

Usually it is under the front Passengers side carpet, or under the passenger seat carpet.

[zimmy92]

Usually it is under the front Passengers side carpet, or under the passenger seat carpet.

I thought that was only b5/b6?

[swoardrider]

Link below may or may not help. Either way the ZF parts catalog has good info in it:

http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/u...9A_Catalog.pdf

[zimmy92]

ECM, TCM, EBCM, Catalytic converters & fuel pump control modules are all usually covered under the FEDERAL 8/80. For any brand

Yeah they can refuse to cover those things if you did not have your car serviced by them regularly. I did not want to drive out an hour and a half and pay around $100 for an oil change that I could do myself at home for a fraction of the price and in 20 min or so. Hence, they didn't cover my TCM.

[Mr. Merk]

Hah, BS. What part if Federal Mandate do they think they can hold hostage. I work at a dealer, that is sooooo much shit!! Hahaha

[zimmy92]

Hah, BS. What part if Federal Mandate do they think they can hold hostage. I work at a dealer, that is sooooo much shit!! Hahaha

so, explain to me why they refused to cover, even though I brought up the Fed8/80. According to the dealer, since I did not have my regular maintenance done by the dealer, they can assume that the part failed "possibly" due to the fact that scheduled maintenance was not performed by a certified Audi technician. There are multiple grey areas in the Fed 8/80 and those grey areas will always favor the dealer (naturally) such as the definition of an emissions part, performance part, maintenance part.

Also:
"What Reasons Can the Manufacturer Use to Deny a Warranty Claim?

If your vehicle is within the age and mileage limits for the
applicable emissions warranty, the manufacturer can only deny coverage
if evidence shows that you have failed to properly maintain and use
your vehicle, causing the part or emission test failure. Some
examples of misuse and malmaintenance include the following:

* vehicle abuse such as off-road driving or overloading; or

* tampering with emission control parts or systems, including
removal or intentional damage of such parts or systems; or

* improper maintenance, including failure to follow maintenance
schedules and instructions specified by manufacturer, or use of
replacement parts which are not equivalent to the originally
installed parts." (http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/warr95fs.txt)

"Improper maintenance, including failure to follow maintenance schedules and instructions specified by manufacturer.. " According to AoA, they can assume that if I have not had maintenance performed by an Audi authorized technician, then the instructions specified by the manufacturer were not followed.

[Mr. Merk]

OK, give up & take it in the ass.

[Mr. Merk]

Let it be known. Engine oil changes may effect an electronic module!

[zimmy92]

I got it done for around $900 from elsewhere. Works fine now. Yeah, sucks to have to pay $900 but it's better than more than twice that. I knew what I was getting into when I bought an Audi..

[80sGuy]

^^If you decide to keep the car for a while, why don't you head down to your local dealer and purchase a Fidelity Powertrain Warranty, they don't cost that much. All you need to do is have the car inspected by the dealer at fee of about $160 and price out the warranty based on its terms.