2006 Audi A4 2.0T shifts hard from 2nd to 3rd gear

[Seanyjonny]

I just recently purchased a 2006 Audi a4 90,000 miles and i noticed when i drive it the first few times it shifts from 2nd to 3rd gear it shifts pretty hard. After doing 2-3 times its fine and shifts normally. Though every so often it will shift hard and when slowing to a stop it seems to shift slightly hard when its downshifting. Called my local shop whos done work on the car and asked about transmission service but he said it has lifetime transmission fluid. Said he could do it if i liked for 4-$500, fluid, filter, etc. Just posting to get opinions or wondering if anyone else might have the same issue.

[gonemtbiking]

Don't believe the "Lifetime Fluid" statement. It is pretty much agreed here that a 50K-75K service interval for the fluid/filter/gasket/plugs are recommended.

Most say use OEM Fluid. I did it myself and used ZF Lifeguard 8 which is the OEM supplier. You will have to to some research into which fluid you need (There was an original yellow/gold version G055005A2/Lifeguard 6 that was upgraded to a Blue G055162A2/Lifeguard 6+ along with a TCM flash, then the Blue was upgraded to a Green G060162A2/Lifeguard 8 without a flash). Blue and Green can be interchanged/mixed but yellow to green requires a flush.

This company sells everything that is needed at a outstanding price: thectsc.com

[rjpiselli]

my b6 a4 with the 5spd tiprtronic was doing a very hard shift from 4th to 5th when I would slow down and the car would downshift. There are valves on the valve body (thingy under trans pan) that, to my knowledge, control the pressure of the trans fluid during shifts from one gear to the next. I changed the valve that is known to go bad, called an n91. the valve was $100. I of course put new filter/fluid back in and voila; easy smooth shifting.

not a terribly hard job to do, really.

edit: not sure of the similarities/differences between b6 and b7 trans.

[Seanyjonny]

Thanks for the advice. So is $4-500 an average price for a transmission service on this car? If so ill go ahead with it, if not ill shop around. Also i am not too mechanically inclined, my previous car was a 1997 Toyota camry. I did alot of work, routine, and preventative maitenance on that car but this is a whole other world.

[PenTico]

I also had rough 2nd and 3rd shifts. This was remedied with apikol rear diff mount and 034 trans mount then new fluids in the rear differential and transmission/front diff using Redline fluids. All this made for smooth shifts up and down and overall a much better driving experience.

[mtroxel]

Thanks for the advice. So is $4-500 an average price for a transmission service on this car?

Yes. You can spend $300 just on fluid and filter - aftermarket. Closer to $500 if you buy Audi brand fluid and filter.

[Sales@DriveAuto]

Yeah, none of these fluids are lifetime - most have a 75-100k mile service life (obviously oil is 5k). Also check your engine/trans/diff mounts for wear/breakage - that can be a contributing factor to the jerkiness.

[doughboy17]

Search and use Audi fluid unless your tranny has already been "converted."

[philip_g]

Search and use Audi fluid unless your tranny has already been "converted."

terrible advice.
buy the fluid from ZF without the audi logo for 1/3rd the price.
don't listen to the fucking audi fanboys that tell you the dealer fluid is the only one, the same fluid is sold by the trans mfr.

[B72011]

Where /how do you buy directly from ZF?

[B72011]

Don't believe the "Lifetime Fluid" statement. It is pretty much agreed here that a 50K-75K service interval for the fluid/filter/gasket/plugs are recommended.

Most say use OEM Fluid. I did it myself and used ZF Lifeguard 8 which is the OEM supplier. You will have to to some research into which fluid you need (There was an original yellow/gold version G055005A2/Lifeguard 6 that was upgraded to a Blue G055162A2/Lifeguard 6+ along with a TCM flash, then the Blue was upgraded to a Green G060162A2/Lifeguard 8 without a flash). Blue and Green can be interchanged/mixed but yellow to green requires a flush.

This company sells everything that is needed at a outstanding price: thectsc.com

Did you recently order from these guys.. I tried to contact them thru their site ZERO responses...so I was wary to send my $$.

[philip_g]

Where /how do you buy directly from ZF?

directly isn't exactly what I meant, but www.thectsc.com
many have ordered from them.

or go to the dealer and spend 60-80 bucks a qt, I don't care.

[mtroxel]

Lots of shoot-from-the-hip, and downright pissy, advice here. I'm not aware that ZF sells trans fluid.

If you don't want to research this and/or are nervous about it, just go to ECS and make sure you get the right fluid for your trans.

[philip_g]

Lots of shoot-from-the-hip, and downright pissy, advice here. I'm not aware that ZF sells trans fluid.

If you don't want to research this and/or are nervous about it, just go to ECS and make sure you get the right fluid for your trans.

are you fucking stupid?
http://www.zf.com/na/content/en/unit..._parts_us.html
do you think audi makes fluid magically and sells proprietary fluid?

he needs to research and make sure he gets the right fluid. It's probably lifeguard8 but if he gets the wrong fluid it'll be bad times. There will not be enough color left in the existing fluid to identify it.

[mtroxel]

Sheesh......

[blacka4]

get the fluid from a reseller like ECS or whom ever you want. You don't have to go right to the dealer for the fluid as long as it meets ZF spec's you will be fine. buy what ever fluid you can afford.

[B72011]

I know the fluid, its G060162A2---I know Febi/Bilstein now sells it (a recent development.) I know the CTSC has it listed on their site--what I was asking "gonemtnbiking" specifically was if he purchased it from them recently? I'm simply trying to ascertain whether or not they are delivering? I know they used to a long time ago when I contacted them--they responded. I should have purchased then, but was lazy about it. They no longer have a contact email page, so again, I am wary about sending $$. I guess I could order and then if it doesnt show, make a claim via CC or Paypal (my likely move.)
When people mentioned them, CTSC, I was wondering if they were delivering product still? They're the best deal in town for factory ZF fluid.
If people split a case of 12L--its like $130 total--a smoking deal.

[gonemtbiking]

I know the fluid, its G060162A2---I know Febi/Bilstein now sells it (a recent development.) I know the CTSC has it listed on their site--what I was asking "gonemtnbiking" specifically was if he purchased it from them recently? I'm simply trying to ascertain whether or not they are delivering? I know they used to a long time ago when I contacted them--they responded. I should have purchased then, but was lazy about it. They no longer have a contact email page, so again, I am wary about sending $$. I guess I could order and then if it doesnt show, make a claim via CC or Paypal (my likely move.)
When people mentioned them, CTSC, I was wondering if they were delivering product still? They're the best deal in town for factory ZF fluid.
If people split a case of 12L--its like $130 total--a smoking deal.

I did not order from CTSC only b/c they were out of stock when I ordered. My fluid came from FCP Euro which was still a good deal @ 26.99 a bottle. Amazon sells it too with prime http://www.amazon.com/Sachs-Auto-Tra.../dp/B00CJ36ETC

[doughboy17]

terrible advice.
buy the fluid from ZF without the audi logo for 1/3rd the price.
don't listen to the fucking audi fanboys that tell you the dealer fluid is the only one, the same fluid is sold by the trans mfr.

Actually, if you do perform research, you will discover that many people have had challenges when converting to the "comparable" ZF fluid. In the end, all I can say is that my ATF fluid replacement went well using the Audi brand fluid.

Flykitts is active on this forum and provides good advice. Do you consider him an audi fanboy?

[gonemtbiking]

Actually, if you do perform research, you will discover that many people have had challenges when converting to the "comparable" ZF fluid. In the end, all I can say is that my ATF fluid replacement went well using the Audi brand fluid.

Flykitts is active on this forum and provides good advice. Do you consider him an audi fanboy?

From what I understand the ZF fluids are the OEM supplier (also why they come in the same bottle just different labels). Some ppl may have had issues going from Lifeguard 6 to 8 without the TCM recode.

[B72011]

I did not order from CTSC only b/c they were out of stock when I ordered. My fluid came from FCP Euro which was still a good deal @ 26.99 a bottle. Amazon sells it too with prime http://www.amazon.com/Sachs-Auto-Tra.../dp/B00CJ36ETC

Thanks for the calm, rational response. Appreciated. I think I wil try and order thru The TCTSC and if nothing shows up in 10-12 days, cancel the order--they have such a great price difference from everyone else--it seems worth the risk.

[evolution2147]

I don't know the differences between the b6 and b7 5 speed but I used valvoline max life synthetic atf on both my b6's. I found the manufactures specs on it and it meets the VW/Audi spec. You can buy a gallon at Walmart for $16. This resolved both slight shifting issues on each of the cars.

The only OEM fluid I would use is the CVT fluid.