Hi all!
I have a 1997 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8 Automatic (love It). My car seems to not get into gear when drive is selected. Once the rpm is raised the gear kicks and jerks the car. after the initial jerk in first gear the car works wonderfully.

I also notices it is more frequent when its cold and the engine just got replaced.
The issue started right after the engine was replaced.
any ideas?

thinking it could be:
first gear
low oil pressure
TCM
saferty sensor

 

It sounds like low Transmission fluid,transmission fluid needs to be changed/replaced and topped off. TCM could be faulty.

Check ATF level,condition and pull the TCM from under the passenger side floor and check to see if there has been water there and check its connections for corrosion.

Scan it with a Vag-com

 

Thank you. I will definitely do the Oil flush to see if that helps. I am just wondering why would only affect the first gear?

 

Don't confuse engine oil with transmission fluid,you need to flush/replace the Automatic transmission fluid.

Engine oil level,condition, will never cause your transmission,to jerk or slip,only transmission fluid,would cause this issue.

 

My son's 96 does the same thing, he has a very slow leak in the transmission and eventually it gets low enough to cause it to not want to go into gear until it either warms up a bit (and the level goes up) or until you raise the rpms and get it to pop into gear. His is a combination of 200K + miles, previous owner neglect, and low fluid level every 8 ot 10 months. Wait till you experience trying to fill the transmission, there is no dip stick or fill tube, and you have to do it thru the pan with the car on jackstands, and the engine running. Not a fun job at all.

 

Ditto. And you will get very, very oily.

 

not fun when you ignore it and have to replace the tranny to lol. my trans oil pump failed along with the front bearing then all the gears went. take care of it lol

 

Must be a common failure. That's what happened to my 96 A4 at 220,000 miles. Pump got sloppy, took out the front main seal. Red fluid and smoke everywhere!

 

yup yup lol same prob. it sounds pretty common tho most of my buds with audi go threw the same thing