2004 A3 S-line 2.0 diesel - No power after gear change when already in highest gear

[DG1979]

Hello – I am hoping for some help as I am new to Audis and I’ve recently purchased an automatic 2004 A3 S-Line 2.0 diesel with 150,000 miles. The main issue I have when the car is in automatic mode and I am trying to accelerate when I’m already going fairly fast. To add some context to that. I drive on the motorway to get to work and I only really notice the issue during this time. Generally it’ll happen if I’m already in the highest gear and need to overtake or attempt to change lane which requires some level of acceleration. Instead of accelerating, the car just revs but there’s no power. The car does feel like it’s changing gear but it sounds very sporadic. I’m no expert but I understand the kickdown should ensure that the car is in the correct gear to cope with the sudden acceleration?

Whatever speed I’m doing at the time doesn’t increase and if I don’t keep my foot flat on the accelerator the car starts to lose power. But by doing so the car is then at maximum revs. Worryingly, it’s not temporary either. I need to stop the car and switch off the engine before it seems to stop. I’ve tried switching the car to manual and using the paddles to change down a gear or 2 but this does nothing. The display shows the gears going down but the engine doesn’t behave in a way that would suggest it’s actually doing anything, it just keeps revving excessively. As I’ve mentioned. The only way to stop it happening is to stop the car completely and turn the engine off. This doesn’t happen every time (thankfully) but as you can imagine, once is enough during rush hour on the M3!

I plan to take it to a garage but I wondered if anyone has experience anything like this before and what the potential cause could be. It would be helpful to be armed with some knowledge ahead of any trip the mechanic.

This is my first time posting so I hope I've given enough detail on the issue

Thanks in advance.

[cliffcoggin]

It sounds to me like a slipping clutch. Whether the cause is mechanical wear of the friction material or an electrical control problem I don't know. Has the gearbox oil been changed? At your mileage it should have been done twice already.

[DG1979]

HI @cliffcoggin thanks for the reply. I purchased the car from a friend who assured me that the service history was up-to-date......turns out, it isn't so I don't believe it's been changed for sometime. I've booked it in for a service on Friday. 

Thanks again

[cliffcoggin]

Hello Darren.

With friends like that, who needs enemies. I hope you have deep pockets as gearbox/clutch problems can be expensive.

[Adrian Cox]

Hi Darren I have the exact same problem with my a3 sports back 2l TDI auto 57plate ,did you have any luck with problem ,as I'm about to give it to my mechanic to investigate,so any info would be appreciated