and where to get a good rebuild kit and manual... thinking of trying to fix it myself.
Appreciate the help.

 

Synchros?
How did it happen?

 

More details.. All fwd gears sounds a little hard to do.. Did you break them individually? or did you bend something sooo bad it tossed everything out of whack?

 

Maybe tough but somehow I did it.

I know this has been coming for several months. The tranny started slipping, I guess, cause it began hitting the rev limiter if pushed hard on 1-2. Another problem I noticed is that in 3 while cruising at say about 60, if I let off the gas and coasted the revs would drop all the way down to very near idle. Almost like the tranny just disengaged. I'd have to get back on the gas slowly cause it would rev real easy until the engine speed met the proper trans speed and suddenly grab the gear back. This only happened in 3 though.

I got on it a bit from a stop and did hit the limiter and backed off. About 3 miles later I exit the highway, stop at the end of the ramp, and then NO GO in forward at all. Reverse still seems to grab properly.

Could this be something electronic? I realize that I have some major mechanical problems for sure, but to loose all gears at the same time? How about a broken band?

The car and trans have 176,000 miles on them and I've put 'em all on there. Never did anything to the tranny except top off the fluid every couple years! Think I did pretty well with the A4 based on what I've seen from others. I have the time and alternate transport, so not in a real big hurry to get her back on the road. I was planning on trying the rebuild myself later this summer, but I guess the car wants it now. ;-)

I know my way around an engine pretty well and do all my own work, but have to admit I've got a lot to learn about automatic transmissions. Any info on a good manual and rebuild kit is appreciated. I guess I'll probably try to rebuild a little stronger than stock since that's where the motor is.

TIA for any help/advice.

 

You never replaced the filter and it lasted over 175k miles?

 

Yep. Done this with 2 cars, the first one, a Lumina sedan, over 210,000 miles before I sold it. Never changed the tranny fluid or filter. These were both new cars and lots of highway driving.

The way I see it, either replace fluid and filter quite regularly according to manufacturers recommendations or never change them at all. There is no in between. I wouldn't say it's Gospel, but has worked for me.

I bought a truck with about 100,000 miles on it. Don't know the maintenance history before I got it. I drove it for about 10,000 miles with no problems. Decided it'd probably be a good idea to replace all fluids. No sooner than I replaced the tranny fluid and filter it started slipping. Heard lots of stories of the same thing happening to others.

There is a great debate about which way to go. I just know my experience and what has worked for me.

 

well its pretty obvious to me that lack of service has caused hte tranny to fail. its not electronic.

 

I'm pretty damn impressed it lasted that long. But then there's also the very rare case of a guy living 90+ while lighting up a full pack of smokes everyday since his teens. I'll still keep changing mine...

There's been discussion about changing the fluid on a maintence neglected tranny. They agree with you on the change it reguarly, or not at all, because the new fluid acts as a solvent for the encrusted dirt and build-up throughout the tranny.

I don't know anything to help with your problem, but I thought it was interesting that it pushed 175k out without a pan drop.