Manual Q5 Gearbox /clutch conundrum

[Porkerholic]

Audi Q5 2009 MANUAL 6 gear 107,000 miles FSH. I have had this car for 12 years with no real problem however this one recently came up and i must admit even with my engineering background it has me beaten.

First thing in the morning start car, on the button as usual. Will absolutely NOT go into gear, none of them,,,,,,, Let idle for 3/4 of an hour and hey presto all gears work perfectly! and do so for as long as you want for the rest of the day!!

BUT park up for the night, come back in the morning.....same problem.....let idle for 3/4 hour, and off we go. Weird

I must admit it has been getting progressively worse over the last year I thought it was old oil so I got it changed,(seemed to be better in warmer weather). And that's it really, took it to a garage and they said new clutch, yea right.

I suspect it has something to do with servo/vacuum/clutch slave, works on the same system as brakes I believe, but no fluid leaks, any suggestions?

James

[cliffcoggin]

James.

Can we assume that with your engineering background you have done the obvious things like changing the clutch fluid on schedule, checked for free play in the pedal linkage, and ensured the servo is operating correctly? (I am surprised it is a vacuum servo rather than an electric one.)

[Stevey Y]

2 hours ago, Porkerholic said:

Audi Q5 2009 MANUAL 6 gear 107,000 miles FSH. I have had this car for 12 years with no real problem however this one recently came up and i must admit even with my engineering background it has me beaten.

First thing in the morning start car, on the button as usual. Will absolutely NOT go into gear, none of them,,,,,,, Let idle for 3/4 of an hour and hey presto all gears work perfectly! and do so for as long as you want for the rest of the day!!

BUT park up for the night, come back in the morning.....same problem.....let idle for 3/4 hour, and off we go. Weird

I must admit it has been getting progressively worse over the last year I thought it was old oil so I got it changed,(seemed to be better in warmer weather). And that's it really, took it to a garage and they said new clutch, yea right.

I suspect it has something to do with servo/vacuum/clutch slave, works on the same system as brakes I believe, but no fluid leaks, any suggestions?

James

Hi its air getting into the clutch system via either the master cylinder on the clutch or the slave cylinder on the gearbox, do you have any solid information on when the clutch was last changed, if not it probably needs a clutch as the slave cylinders are in the box and are famous for letting in air, my daughters Q3 did it back in the summer and I had put a new clutch in at about 40k before, she had the same problem at first no gears and that soon developed in to pedal loss, the gearbox was removed clutch checked and a new slave cylinder fitted with new top hat connectors that solved the problem.

Steve.

[Porkerholic]

Thanks for the replies. The clutch has never been replaced, no reason to, it still engages half way up the pedal travel. Talked to another mechanic today and he seemed to believe that the clutch and flywheel needed to be replaced. I was also told that the slave cylinder on this model is outside the gearbox and thus would be easy to replace......cheaper than a new clutch and flywheel, just do not know who to trust. If air was getting in would it not affect braking as it uses the same resevoir?

[cliffcoggin]

15 hours ago, Porkerholic said:

 If air was getting in would it not affect braking as it uses the same resevoir?

How do you know it isn't? Is the pedal spongy? Unequal braking as a result of air will try to spin the car but ABS may be masking that.

In the absence of answers to my questions all we can do is sit and theorise all day long, but the fact remains that something about your clutch is defective, so either you get under the car and look for yourself, or you put it into a garage for investigation and repair. If it is to be the latter I suggest you find an independent VAG specialist rather than an Audi dealer.

[Porkerholic]

Hi, clutch and brakes are the same as they have always been, but you are right I will have to find an independent Audi dealer. It is not possible to use the car as it is.

Many thanks for the advice.

[cliffcoggin]

Happy to oblige. Do please let us know the outcome.