CVT - reality check?

[wand106]

Hi Guys,
I've recently bought a 2004 A4 2.5TDI saloon with CVT - then I decided to google audi CVT!

I'm seeing lots of people with issues with this gearbox, failures at 40k and below very expensive repair bills etc, one audi guy saying that most failures occur with the B6 A4's and just wondering if anyone actually is running these upto big miles without issues? My car is at 61k and the CVT seems faultless, silky smooth so far, sometimes a bit unpredictable but I'm still getting used to it.

I'm seriously wondering if I should sell it on before the problems begin? Maybe I need a reality check, are they really this bad?

Any advice?

Thanks

Wayne

[aragorn65]

Check out my Horror CVT Story post.

[wand106]

yeah I saw that, I was going to say bad luck, but I don't think it is luck, I think their maybe some technical problem with the CVT's but its hard to say what. Probably worse for you as you are in Philippines, so you have limited choice for servicing; at least the car is still running.

I was hoping that I would get some people posting to say how their A4 had done 100k and all was ok or even 80k with no CVT issues, the problem is when browsing forums is that you tend to see all of the people with problems and not the good 'uns which is quite biased I think, hence the reality check!

[aragorn65]

Check this out I got it from AUDISSIMO
EDIT:

The main problem is that a multi plate clutch worns out abnormally, this is unwanted feature of the first generation CVT's. Obviously Audi has been made some kind of mistake about design torque. Audi says, that the first generation CVT is dimensioned for 280 Nm torque, in real, it doesn't manage even 210 Nm torque (which is in 1.8T). The CVT with 7-plate multi plate clutch is used e.g Audi A6 2.7 TDI, which generates 380 Nm output torque. Further information available in link below: Audi World Site > Company > Comfortable long-distance specialist: Audi A6 2.7 TDI with multitronic

[wand106]

Interesting, so I wonder if my car being 2.5tdi has the 7 plate or 5 plate clutch, as you would expect quite a bit of torque from the diesel. Also when do the first generation CVT's end and 2nd generation start, I guess they fixed the problems in 2nd generation (you would hope)

[davidfbmw]

i also have a 2.5 tdi multi tronic with 60000 miles and wondered if the later boxes had been fixed has i haven't heard of any after 2004

[aragorn65]

My CVT juddering problem was fixed by proper flushing of the ATF and putting a new trans fluid. I had it done in a non dealer shop. The dealership recommended a transmission assembly replacement. They claimed the ATF was still fine. The replacement cost is around US$19,000 in our country!

[billecorgan]

Hi, I just wanted to post that I have a 2004 1.8T and it has the CVT. So far, so good. I have put around 15k miles on it. Currently, it has 52,000 miles. Keeping fingers crossed that it keeps working great.

[coving21]

My 04 audi 1.8t A4 took a CVT trans crap at 79K-7,000 dollars later yes you heard me correctly $7,000.00-a refurb put in at local audi dealer. (Smart that I purcahsed additional warranty however they would not cover new CVT transmission however cost me 100.00 deductible). The mechanic showed me the gears and said they should be all shiney and not dull-then proceded to tell me should of purchased a quattro, the CVT's are crap. I was so pissed since I purchased the car from the same dealership with 78,*** miles. Point is before you by an AUDI make sure you know what your getting into.

[TrevorW]

I have a 2003 A4 1.8T Convertible with 36,000 miles...

I had NO SYMPTOMS... nothing... the car has been maintained and treated immepecably.

Suddenly, the car started to shudder from a stop on a Monday. I called the dealer and they asked me if it was fine shifting manually. I tested it and ... yep... no shudder if I shifted manually. I setup an appointment for Friday (the earliest they could get me in).

The next day (Tuesday) , I am shifting manually and *** poof *** the transmission goes into neutral and I have to coast to a stop on the side of the road. Every light for every gear is lighted up and the car refuses to go into any gear including reverse.


NOTE: It died at exactly 35,999 miles.

I tow the car to the dealer and - fortunately - I had purchased a 5 yr, 90,000 mile extended warranty (the car is a 2003 with low miles).

The dealer tells me the transmission is no good, it needs to be replaced. The warranty company tells me that they won;t cover the repair until the dealer performs diagnostics on the transmission. The dealer refused further diagnostics.

So.... I tow it to AAMCO who the warrantly company said would perform the diagnostics. AAMCO says the transmission is bad (they thought it might be oil and it is not). However, the warranty company wanted AAMCO to disassemble the transmission and discover which part is bad. AAMCO (knowing that CVT transmissions are PROBLEMS) knew to look for parts first.

They had a warranty rep come out and they showed that there are no CVT parts availabale... ANYWHERE!!!

The warranty company agreed to pay for a rebuilt transmission and I was told it would take 5 days to get and another day to install.

After a week, I get a call... there are no rebuilt transmissions available!! The place who "claimed" to have one was still rebuilding it and they are waiting for a part from Germany to complete the rebuild.

I am told it will be another week.

The price for the rebuilt tranny (no labor)... $5,800.00


I have now researched and the person from the "dealership" who claims problems are rare is just flat full of it, or his dealership is somehow just blessed.

1. There are no parts available - they are breaking faster than they are making parts.
2. Rebuilt tranny's are hard to find - they are breaking as fast as they rebuild them.
3. Most transmission shops and dealers refuse to work with them (other than flat replacement) and - apparently - the mechanics and shops need special training and equipment.

In summary,

The CVT transmission gave me zero warning. It went out at 35,999 miles. There are no parts or easy to find replacements because the demand is so high. I have found several other forums where there are many, many similar claims.

Beware of the CVT and get a good extended warranty from a reputable company!