My '97 A4 Z28 will go for a week or two normal driving with SES light on and no lock-up - you can hear and feel it. Then, the next week the converter will lock and the light goes out. The car is stone stock, 115,000 original miles, with not too many driveability problems (except for spark-knock on anything less than 93 octane and octane boost). I changed the ATF and filter at about 80K ( yep, running a little behind there), installed Hurst Hot Shift (before I was observant enough to read the label disclaimer saying "Not for use in comp. controlled transmissions").
The problem is that with any SES codes the car won't pass state inspection. Now my wonderful state of NC maintains a database on this, which means you can't just skip the inspection ($250 ticket mailed to you) or fudge the procedure (can't get your buddy to check the boxes off and overlook the car). My mechanic says rebuild the trans. with new converter and valve body included. Is there a simpler (read: cheaper) fix? The current trans. shifts fine; there was no debris at all in the pan at the service. Any ideas would be great!!!!!!!!!

 

There are lots of possible codes for the tranny including a couple that deal with the TCC solenoid. Pulling the code would eliminate a lot of guessing.

Go to Shoebox's code listing, and click on the tab for OBD-II Transmission codes.

http://shbox.com/1/Dtcs.htm

 

Code brought was an 1870 - Trans. component slipping,etc. Am going to try to drive the car slowly around town in "Drive" to re-establish sufficient history without slippage to go back for another attempt at inspector. Would like to avoid rebuild if possible in light of previous good service but I realize that eventually, with continued use, the rebuild (upgrade??!!) will be inevitable.
Thanks for the link to Shoebox.