2009 Audi A5 Serious Problems

[AlbB8A5]

What’s up guys, if anyone’s has any suggestions on what they think my problem could be please let me know. I have a 2009 Audi A5 3.2 6 Speed Automatic.

So let’s begin with my engine swap. I swapped my 186k mile motor out for one that has 47k miles. Engine was good everything checked out fine just one thing they had to use the same intake manifold from my last motor. Reason for the swap was because my engine would misfire consistently. I changed spark plugs, coils, Injectors, nothing worked therefore the last option was an engine due to my mechanic telling me I had bent valves due to carbon build up.

Whatever, I agreed cause I had multiple mechanics tell me it’s more worth getting a used motor rather than fixing the one I had. Not a problem.

I picked up the car about 2 days ago. Turned it on @ 20 degrees Fahrenheit meaning the car should cold start but that did not occur. Instead the RPMs stayed at about 800 which is normal idle. No cold start RPMs none of that. Engine sounds healthy though.

Moving on, I put the car in drive took about 3 seconds to engage D. I thought ok so the car hasn’t been driven in over a month that I had it at the shop so maybe that’s why. Regardless I put the car in reverse and it doesn’t engage at all. I drive the car home, I parked it. Yesterday comes, I turned it on let it warm up for about 20-30 minutes. I put the car in drive and same thing happened, as a matter of fact took longer than 5 seconds.

I pulled off, 1st to 2nd was a weird shift, 2nd to 3rd just slipped, 3rd to 4th slipped and missed 4th went back to 3rd got a transmission malifuntion. So I turned off the car and back on. I pulled off again went through 3rd gear then while approaching a stop light I’m obviously slowing down watching the gear changes, car went down to D2, then as I came to a complete stop went to D4-D5 and back to D4 took about 5 seconds and went down to D1 and I felt it. Ended up parking the car.

Today came, I decided to head back to the shop. Turned the car on at about 8am. Starting moving at 8:45 BARELY, it didn’t want to engage any gear. As a matter of fact I made it 2 blocks away from my house and it just didn’t want to move. It went into D1, I press the gas all I would get is revving but the gears would switch D2-D3 and boom “transmission malifunction” light. I turned it off turned it back on, I put the car in reverse, no reverse neither just revving. Then odd enough, I got a different transmission malifunction this time “No reverse gear”. Called the shop, they sent the tow truck.

Any ideas on what my problem could be? I understand that the transmission still has 186k miles but trust me when I say, I never had issues like this with it. NEVER. If anyone knows anything or has any suggestions please let me know

[etphonehome]

it sounds like your trans in low on oil. i had that happen in my g35 when the trans didnt have enough oil in it. i dont know if you did any damage to your trans by driving it around for 3 days tho.

[AlbB8A5]

I forgot to mention that I also asked the shop to do a transmission oil change. They told me it was too dangerous to open the transmission and do that because it could cause more damage since it’s high mileage but what they said they could do is, add oil. So I agreed since a mechanic is the one recommending a solution to my order, therefore that’s what they did. Now I don’t know if that caused damage or what

[findalex]

It shouldn't be "too dangerous" to do a drain and fill the transmission fluid. There's usually a drain plug and a fill plug specifically for that purpose. Some people say you shouldn't do a transmission "flush" because that might clog up the lines/valve body, but a drain and fill is usually all you need anyway.

The transmission fluid level is important. Too much or too little will cause damage. You can't just add transmission fluid. You need to add it, run it to a specific temperature, then drain off the excess to leave the perfect amount in. How familiar is this garage with Audi vehicles?

I think you have the TipTronic 6-speed, probably made by ZF. Here is their official instruction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRrgmfM8VlQ

After you change the fluid, you also need to reset the transmission via VCDS and then do a specific test drive to let the transmission adapt to the new fluid.

[A6sport]

Findlex, is correct in most of what he said, but I totally agree with your Tech in not wanting to touch the tranny. With the miles, tips are very sensitive and if you remember Audi's "lifetime fluid" you know what I mean. You change that fluid and the result could/would be disastrous. I'm driving my 9th Audi car in the past 30years 8 were slush-boxes . My winter car is a 1998 C5 A6 with nearly 275k on the clock and has never had a tranny service. I'd never touch! "Let sleeping dogs lay." Lol-

[AlbB8A5]

Well now since they did “add fluid”, what should I do? Tell them to flush it and just do the whole process correctly? Cause I don’t know why in the world the tech would say “I can just add fluid it’s not good to touch it cause of the mileage” when a tech should know that tranny fluid is supposed to be a certain amount at a certain temperature and all that good stuff.. my transmission was perfectly fine, when it was less than 40 degrees 3rd to 4th would slip a tiny bit but as the car warmed up it was perfect. But now? Now the transmission is completely out of sync from Reverse to Drive to Sport and Tiptronic

[etphonehome]

at the very least i would have some drained out to get to the correct level. and see how your trans reacts. worst case, you need a trans rebuild. have you called your shop since they added fluid?

[3g_bishi]

Probably something unplugged. Any engine light? Have them put it on the scanner and see what codes come up.


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[AlbB8A5]

So basically here’s the run down guys. I appreciate everyone’s responses by the way. Anyways, the mechanic told me that when he put the car on the lift it was all wet by the transmission and the transmission was low on fluid. Makes no sense because I brought the car there with the tranny working fine, they’re the ones that “added” fluid which I guess through the level off and messed up my transmission. They did a fluid flush and filled it up again, still nothing.

Wasn’t worth the rebuild, I purchased a used transmission from the same car I got the engine from with 47k miles so fingers crossed hopefully everything checks out when I get it back, I’ll keep everyone updated.

Again with the utmost respect to everyone that responded, I really appreciate it guys

[findalex]

Maybe you should work with another mechanic from now on.

From what you've described, it seems like your original mechanic broke the transmission and you had to buy another one because of their negligence.