So the automatic transmission on my 1999 a6 2.8q is shifting weird. It does everything fine from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd, but once in 3rd it will most of the time go to around 3k RMP before it shifts into 4th (same thing happens with 4th to 5th). Even when I let of the gas it takes it a while to realize that it has to shift up. On my old a4 b5 2.8q automatic the transmission would shift at around 2k RPM unless I was pushing it... Also, when in tiptronic mode going from 1st to 2nd it will shift by it self at 2k RPM even when I don't push the shifter to upshift. All other gears in tiptronic don't do that, they work just fine. I was thinking that I might need to have the oil changed, but just wanted to ask and makes sure that it is not the transmission going bad? It shifts nice and smooth its just that from 3rd gear up it shifts at really high rpm for some reason (this happens most of the time). Let me know what you guys think is the reason for this.

 

1st thing is to get it scaned for codes that will tell you for sure if the problem is in the tranny.

if you dont have a scanner then disconnect the battery over night. this usually will reset the TCM which usually gets wonky after a while.

how many miles are on the car? if its got around 80k or 150k get the oil changed and the filter changed. NO flushing just oil change.

 

I do have some codes, coolant temp sensor and oxygen sensor driver side pre cat. The car has 150k on it, so I will probably get the oil changed. Gonna have to find a shop to do it for be since I dont have a vagcom and a pump to pump the oil back into the tranny.

 

how did you scan the transmission for codes without a vag-com? the generic code readers only read engine codes and not tranny codes.

try disconnecting the battery and keep the car in ON position but not starting it until the high pitch sound goes away. or leave it on ON for 3 mins turn it off and start and let it idle to operating temp.

so with 150k you havent changed the oil once?

 

I just bought the car less than 2 months ago. I didn't scan the transmission for codes, just saying that I have some engine codes...

 

If it's holding it that long and between 3-4 and 4-5 I would say something is wearing out. does it jerk/shift hard when it up shifts?

Maybe Not a shift solenoid It's possible 2 of them are bad but not probable.

It could be a clogged filter but even at 150K that's a lot of crap to be clogging it. and if you have that much crap in a sealed transmission where is it coming from

Listen to it shift (Radio off) especially in the morning do you hear any whining or other sounds?

I say in the morning because the fluid expands when hot, it actually expands a lot so as it warms up it may almost have enough.

 

This filter can get completely blocked by 100k, it's pretty common on the 00 generation of the A8's. My filter was changed for the first time at 114k and it was probably 80% plugged. It's basically just a metal screen. The filter doesn't' so much get plugged with dirt and debris as it gets plugged with sludge from never getting the fluid changed.

My 93 Volvo 850 had the same symptoms as your A6. I drove it that way for another 50k and it never got better or worse. I traded it in for the A6 so who knows what happened to that car. Had 334k miles so I assume it met the crusher. We changed the fluid several times but it made no difference. I'm not saying you should ignore this issue. I would have it checked out, we ignored it in the volvo because it developed the symptoms at 270k so we just didn't care.

Probably sticking selonoids or low fluid as mentioned above. But get it checked out. Preferably by a reputable Audi or Euro car shop. Not Jimmy's Transmission.

 

I will probably get the transmission serviced. Got quoted $250 for filter, oil, gasket, and the service which I think is a good price. It takes like 9 quarts of oil and it aint cheap :P. I found the guy on vwvortex and he owns a vw/audi shop close to my house.

 

$250 is very reasonable price ... Over $300 when I had my tranny svc 1 yr ago.