Multitronic CVT Issues - Repairs

[fahrer]

Hi,

Drive an A4 B8 2010 with Multitronic CVT, stock, since 3 years and have reached 42k miles on it.
Had very little issues with the car and want to keep it for another 3 years to ca. 100k miles.
Have read in the past that the older CVT's, B6 & B7 had often issues and some needed complete replacement.
So far I could not find any reports from anyone driving the B8 having major CVT issues.
I am concerned that once the warranty runs out, the CVT fails on me, leaving me with a ca. $10k repair.

Did anyone have major CVT issues with the B8, during and out of warranty, what did it cost?
If not, how many miles did you put onto your B8 Audi CVT yet?

Thanks for your feedback, it is appreciated.

[formula1guy]

I don't have any info on cvt repairs particularly on previous gen cars. Despite my pleas to go quattro, my wife chose a cvt car for herself and although I'm not crazy about the drive, it has been issue free and she's at 77k +. The only issue she's ever had with her car was standard oil consumption. I think you should be ok to 100k as long as you aren't stomping on it all the time (that's where the cvt doesn't seem to be very robust from what I've heard).

[Comp4k]

I have APR Stage 1 on my CVT since 1.5k miles. I now have 46k miles and no problems to report.

[BettaJetta]

I have APR Stage 1 on my CVT since 1.5k miles. I now have 46k miles and no problems to report.

Serious? I tried to get the APR stage one on my CVT several months ago. APR Germany wouldnt do it. Said I would eventually have problems because of the TQ.

This really sucks because I organized a Soldier chip tuning day for military and DOD civilians which drove from all over Germany to attend,,,,and as the organizer, I couldnt do it!

I really would love to enjoy APR on the Autobahn.

[eveleth]

Serious? I tried to get the APR stage one on my CVT several months ago. APR Germany wouldnt do it. Said I would eventually have problems because of the TQ.

This really sucks because I organized a Soldier chip tuning day for military and DOD civilians which drove from all over Germany to attend,,,,and as the organizer, I couldnt do it!

I really would love to enjoy APR on the Autobahn.

Thats badass. i used to be statoned in Heidelberg... where'd you have this event?

[WngoA4]

I'm running APR Stage 2 on my 2012. Have about 15-20k miles on it with no issues. Plus EuroCode crank pulley installed when it came out.

[haroulli]

I have a 2010 A4 36.6k Miles Stock and i haven't had any issues. However, i have heard and worry about the same thing. I had a faulty coil pack which made the engine misfire under acceleration and i swore it was the CVT giving up.

Time will tell, I guess extend the warranty to be safe if you are really worried.

[junchen]

Our b8 Cvt is different from b6 and b7,as we have 8 plated clutch, instead of 7 plates. This is to improve reliability.

Am on 86k kilometers with stage 1. No problems so far.

@bettajetta apr used to have problems with cvt for their 1.8t map and they pulled it from their sales. It appears from my correspondences with the apr dealer in my country that apr has resolved the Cvt issue. The map should be available for Cvt now. U can check again with your dealer.



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[Comp4k]

Serious? I tried to get the APR stage one on my CVT several months ago. APR Germany wouldnt do it. Said I would eventually have problems because of the TQ.

This really sucks because I organized a Soldier chip tuning day for military and DOD civilians which drove from all over Germany to attend,,,,and as the organizer, I couldnt do it!

I really would love to enjoy APR on the Autobahn.

interesting, I would contact someone at APR to find out what's up.

[BettaJetta]

I held the event in Darmstadt. Im living in Darmstadt now. The bases have closed in Darmstadt and Heidelberg too.

As far as the software, I went to a friend in Stuttgart and he raised the limiter from 210KPH to 260KPH.

without enhanced software, the car tops out at about 240KHP which is about 150MPH.

Its great from the autobahn but a little more wouldbe great. I will drive the car until summer and then ill visit my Stuttgart tuner and do a small enhancement. Its too late for me to visit APR Germany because or the killer deal my buddy gave me.

The APR day in Darmstadt was great. We had folks drive from Schweinfut, Ktown, Ramstein, Wiesbaden, Stuttgart and a few other. Since now one was familiar with the Darmstadt are, I was able to ride copilot with every test run which included sever Gold R's (stage 2+) :)

Loved them all!

Thats badass. i used to be statoned in Heidelberg... where'd you have this event?

[fahrer]

So I want to update this thread. As I was concerned about the reliability of my Multitronic CVT. Now at 44k miles almost 4 years old, it showed signs of failure, tranny slipped on driving up on my driveway, car lost power and rolled back to the street while I was having the foot on the throttle, plus a "Gearbox Malfunction" dash error. Brought it to the Audi dealer and they are replacing the transmission with a re-manufactured - all new guts, on factory warranty.
I guess I will be getting the extended (Fidelity) warranty for 45-60km miles extra as I don't think the MT can be trusted to last more than 50k miles.
Would anyone know if getting a factory re-manufactured tranny is OK, or should Audi have put in a new transmission? What is their policy on such?
Thanks.

[Frinkferta]

Wow! That is too bad..such low miles..

[fahrer]

So there is a positive outcome.

1. No refurb tranny available in the whole US, so brand new tranny is shipped from Germany, takes 10 days, but have a loaded 2014 A4 quattro as loaner :)
2. My service rep told me that Audi now adds 12k miles & 12 months of warranty onto the replacement transmission after the factory warranty has ended, so 62k/5years overall miles transmission warranty

Moral of the story, if the MT goes, have it happen just before the factory warranty ends, I lucked out...

[Burrito]

Glad to hear you got a new brand new tranny. Ive been paying super close attention to the tranny in my new car but I suppose its one of those things that just happens without warning.

[fahrer]

Glad to hear you got a new brand new tranny. Ive been paying super close attention to the tranny in my new car but I suppose its one of those things that just happens without warning.

There were some additional signs:

- In the last few weeks, the car lost its forward creep when standing on a traffic light and getting off the accelerator and no brake, despite no hill, it just didn't move forward by itself
- In D mode I noticed just more lags and also kind of jumps which usually are more in the S mode when it emulates gears, I guess something was slipping in the tranny
- During our snow days here, I have parked my car on the icy driveway to find it later rolled or slid backwards down on the street. Can't say for sure if it was because of the ice, as I thought I put the parking brake on or if the transmission didn't hold the car in it is place

Overall it was hard to tell until the day I couldn't drive up the driveway and got the dashboard error, as the CVT always feels a bit different and you get used to some gradual changes and consider them as normal.

[80sGuy]

I have a B7 with 39,000 miles and it is currently in the shop due to hesitating, kicking, jerking, slipping - mostly from a stop to accelerate position. The trans fluid was changed 8,000 miles ago. Currently waiting for my tech to update. Got a nice 2014 loaner and the new transmission seemed pretty smooth and responsive but overall it is still a CVT. Still love my B7 if it weren't for the damn CVT.

[fahrer]

Just want to add, if you are looking for extended warranty, either Audi labeled (certain low mileage necessary) or by the same company (Fidelity), Troy Dietrich provides very competitive quotes for it.
http://www.FD-Warranty.com

[80sGuy]

That's the warranty I use to cover the repairs.

[80sGuy]

So I want to update this thread. As I was concerned about the reliability of my Multitronic CVT. Now at 44k miles almost 4 years old, it showed signs of failure, tranny slipped on driving up on my driveway, car lost power and rolled back to the street while I was having the foot on the throttle, plus a "Gearbox Malfunction" dash error. Brought it to the Audi dealer and they are replacing the transmission with a re-manufactured - all new guts, on factory warranty.
I guess I will be getting the extended (Fidelity) warranty for 45-60km miles extra as I don't think the MT can be trusted to last more than 50k miles.
Would anyone know if getting a factory re-manufactured tranny is OK, or should Audi have put in a new transmission? What is their policy on such?
Thanks.

As far as I know (for the B7s) there are no NEW transmissions. They fit new internal parts to the outer casing which is in fact new but they cannot labeled the term new. As for comparison, if your new transmission did not make it pass through 40,000 miles then what difference does it make? I just had a newly re-manufactured CVT box fit in at a total installed rate of $6300 paid by Fidelity. My original NEW transmission, which was serviced just 8K miles ago with new fluid couldn't survive more than 39,000 US miles.

[JeriQo]

good info on this thread... so its pretty much a hit or miss. im still deciding between platinum or gold from FD

[Jacon]

I think the conclusion is that the CVT is still a POS and you shouldn't mod it.

[JeriQo]

I think the conclusion is that the CVT is still a POS and you shouldn't mod it.

thanks for the very helpful insight.
i guess i drive a piece of shit car.

[Stopa.A]

It really does seem to be hit or miss...

I had my CVT stage 1 for somewhere between 5k-10k miles with no issues and now at stage 2 for close to 5k miles and no major issues.

i've had a few misfires here and there so I'm probably going to need a new coil pack. Tranny seems fine though

[JeriQo]

It really does seem to be hit or miss...

I had my CVT stage 1 for somewhere between 5k-10k miles with no issues and now at stage 2 for close to 5k miles and no major issues.

i've had a few misfires here and there so I'm probably going to need a new coil pack. Tranny seems fine though

ive been doing alot of research here and other audi forums.. from what it learned, its 50/50. its either you have a problem and get the tranny replaced or you dont.

[80sGuy]

I wouldn't risk it.

[Jacon]

thanks for the very helpful insight.
i guess i drive a piece of shit car.

no, just a piece of shit transmission

Really? 50/50?

You're willing to risk modding a drivetrain where the transmission has a 50/50 blow up rate? If I told you APRs software had a 50/50 success rate for not grenading your engine, would you still mod your ECU? Your trans is just as important as your engine and you're willing to risk it?

Sure, be my guest. Gamble away $4000 for a new trans. Good luck.

Let me say it again: It's not a matter of IF your CVT will grenade, it's a matter of WHEN.

[JeriQo]

no, just a piece of shit transmission

Really? 50/50?

You're willing to risk modding a drivetrain where the transmission has a 50/50 blow up rate? If I told you APRs software had a 50/50 success rate for not grenading your engine, would you still mod your ECU? Your trans is just as important as your engine and you're willing to risk it?

Sure, be my guest. Gamble away $4000 for a new trans. Good luck.

Let me say it again: It's not a matter of IF your CVT will grenade, it's a matter of WHEN.

i never said anything about modding. where are you getting that from?
why would i purchase an extended warranty if im just gonna void it?

[Jacon]

i never said anything about modding. where are you getting that from?
why would i purchase an extended warranty if im just gonna void it?

I'm inferring that, so sorry, but for anyone else thinking about modding a CVT...don't.

[WAF]

If you guys really want to mod and like the B8 trade it in for one with quattro.

[JeriQo]

yeah 0 performance modding for me, just aesthetics. i might as well get an S4, its gonna cost as much as modding a cvt. im well aware i didnt get this car for speed

- - - Updated - - -

If you guys really want to mod and like the B8 trade it in for one with quattro.

agreed!

[WAF]

I'm not trying to be an ass, i'm not saying anyone's car is no good just to avoid problems and overall performance that would be my suggestion. If cosmetics is your thing have at it, just be careful on some of the mods as you guys are aware of some differences in limitations. I'm sure you guys can do most if not all the suspension mods and a few of the drivetrain mods to improve it as a DD. I totally agree with just jumping to an S4, personally i wanted to get an A4 as the fuel mileage was a concern when i bought my car and would be close on performance after a tune. Also kinda thought i didn't deserve an S4 and to learn with the A4 and work my way up as this was my first new car an audi. Either way happy modding.

[Bavuma]

Hey guys I got b7 multitronic it changes to all gears but when I put it on D drives in 1st gear ONLY it doesn't change to other gears like 2,3,4,5,6,7... The diagnostic doesn't show any faulty codes... What can be the fault Any help please.