A6 gearbox contamination not picked up by Audi dealer service

[JimA6]

Hello. I am new , but have been a following the various threads posted here for a while. Your advice is really appreciated.

My A6 2013 automatic TDI 2.0 was stalling. Its done close to 100,000 miles. So I took it to an official Audi dealer to have this resolved and a minor service two weeks ago. They did a software reboot - still not solved stalling.

I took it back to Audi after two weeks to have it fixed again on Thursday. This time they found that there was coolant contamination in the gearbox. If below 50 parts per million coolant contamination, they can flush the gearbox and repair. Since its already 150 parts per million - the whole gear box plus pipes needs be replaced. 

Do I have any legs to stand on. Should Audi dealer have picked up this issue early and still be in position to repair not replace?

My insurer only covers accident not this type of mechanical failure. Is scrapping the car the only option at a huge loss?

Thank you for your help - I really don't know where else to go.

[Magnet]

Hello Jim,

I’m sorry to hear of your issue. 

To try to put this into context, it isn’t the Audi dealer’s fault that your gearbox fluid is contaminated with an unacceptable concentration of coolant, but you could argue that they should have picked this up on your first visit, if (in caps) the concentration would not then have been over the acceptable limit. 

I don’t think you should lose sight of the fact that 150ppm is only 0.015%. What we don’t know here is the transmission fluid supplier’s maximum acceptable moisture content as supplied out of the container. It surely cannot be totally free from moisture, so there must be an average value, and a tolerance on that value. 

So, at 50ppm it’s OK to flush and refill. At 150ppm it’s not, and it’s a scrap gearbox, and even car! Um? 

If this were mine, I would decide to give the flush and refill a go - surely worth a gamble - not a cheap as chips job, but....

Prior to that, I would want to investigate whether there was indeed any leak of coolant into the box fluid - possibly via. the oil cooler? 

Would I use the Audi dealer. I don’t think so, in preference to a trusted localish automatic gearbox specialist. 

Hope some of the above may be of help. 

Kind regards, 

Gareth. 

[JimA6]

1 hour ago, Magnet said:

Hello Jim,

I’m sorry to hear of your issue. 

To try to put this into context, it isn’t the Audi dealer’s fault that your gearbox fluid is contaminated with an unacceptable concentration of coolant, but you could argue that they should have picked this up on your first visit, if (in caps) the concentration would not then have been over the acceptable limit. 

I don’t think you should lose sight of the fact that 150ppm is only 0.015%. What we don’t know here is the transmission fluid supplier’s maximum acceptable moisture content as supplied out of the container. It surely cannot be totally free from moisture, so there must be an average value, and a tolerance on that value. 

So, at 50ppm it’s OK to flush and refill. At 150ppm it’s not, and it’s a scrap gearbox, and even car! Um? 

If this were mine, I would decide to give the flush and refill a go - surely worth a gamble - not a cheap as chips job, but....

Prior to that, I would want to investigate whether there was indeed any leak of coolant into the box fluid - possibly via. the oil cooler? 

Would I use the Audi dealer. I don’t think so, in preference to a trusted localish automatic gearbox specialist. 

Hope some of the above may be of help. 

Kind regards, 

Gareth. 

Hi Gareth, thank you. Would a local (non Audi dealer) be able to do the software works post flushing the gearbox? Does it needs to have a software reset? Someone previously mentioned, for a donor gearbox, it would need software works. After flushing, or donor gearbox, would a local dealer be able to handle the Audi software part? What do I need to ask local deal to check their Audi software tools? Appreciate your views sir.

[Magnet]

Hello Jim,

I really wouldn’t worry too much about the detail at this stage, and simply concentrate on finding yourself a trusted localish automatic gearbox specialist - I was not suggesting a local garage. When you have found them, you can ask all such questions at that point - before committing. 

Ask for recommendations at local car sales sites if you are struggling to find anyone via an online search. 

Kind regards,

Gareth.