S-Cronic

Will keep you posted as mine is still at the early stages of reset and adaption too ........ it may well glitch out on me as yet !

So here it is .... the final update, firstly I must say I completely underestimated how old or dirty gearbox oil could effect these DL-501 gearboxes, even though it had been changed twice at Audi Main Agents with receipts the last one was around the 60,000 mile mark so at 120,000 miles in 2024 I knew it was time for a complete service anyway, and was well aware Audi themselves do NOT remove the underside bracing bar in order to drop the complete sump unit and replace magnets, Inner large filter box, new gasket, all new hex screws and washers etc: Audi just remove the small outer cylindrical filter and drain the oil and replace without dropping the sump, not what I wanted or what I thought my S-Tronic gearbox needed at this point in time. I did the full service using the complete MEYLE kit and correct 7 litres of oil, PLUS while I was at it we drained and refilled the HALDEX unit even though this oil appeared very clean. Then I ordered a new VCDS Hex + V2 cable and downloaded the new May 2024 directive VCDS software direct from the Ross Tech website ........ After running gearbox up to +40 degrees Temperature I then did a full gearbox adaption with Clutch wear alignment, Kiss Points, Clutch 1 & 2 pressure values etc etc: The result ? ....... a car that no longer jerks and shudders ( albeit minor) from 2nd to first change downs, no longer any yellow gearbox Fault mode or "reverse not possible" messages, it no longer slips out of gear in reverse or struggles in reverse on an incline, in fact its silky smooth once more, I think I was lucky, I caught it the first time a problem showed, and even when it did occur you could turn the car off and on again and it would drive fine for any number of miles again until the next time ...... So that's it, a complete service both externally and the filter and gasket internally along with a full adaption with latest software worked for me, the full service kit was approx £140.00, I borrowed a friends ramp at his garage ( £20.00 bottle of wine ) bought a new V2 cable for £200.00 ( which I will use again and again anyway ) and downloaded the latest software for Free online at Ross Tech. I can only guess at what this would have cost at a Main Stealer or an Audi independent, Yes I know my way around a set of spanners and wrenches, but equally there are videos online and at You Tube with people doing this on their driveways and with very basic skills, its not hard, it is a little messy and you do need to dispose of your waste oil and filters correctly and in an environmental way, but its all doable with not a lot of money and with walk through tutorials online, I'm just glad to have my A7 back driving as it should ....... Good luck to all of you, it worked wonders on mine, and I really never expected it too, but this time I was lucky, if you do experience a problem don't leave it, at the very least do a FULL gearbox service, and don't cut corners, the MEYLE service kit really is one of the best, everything fits perfectly first time and its just not worth saving a pounds for an inferior cheaper kit, IMO anyway. Thanks again and I hope this may have been of some help to other members.😀

Further update on the 7 Speed S-Tronic DL-501 issue ...... I haven't been able to get the adaption re-done yet after the full gearbox and both filters service as Matt with VCDS has been incredibly busy with his day job, but the one thing I will say after using the car for a few weeks now is it is incredibly smoother than it was before the service and the first VCDS mild adaption, no longer does it thump from second to first and even in reverse there seems to be a definite difference in the take up of the gear, especially on a slope, something it didn't like doing at all before the service, I am genuinely surprised how fresh filters and proper manufacturer recommended "MEYLE" DSG OIL can make that much of a difference, I haven't taken it on a long run yet and got everything in the gearbox up to a constant temperature and speed but around town driving is noticeably much smoother. As it started to fail on me and throw the dreaded yellow warning light on the dash after long motorway cruising I don't want to count my chickens too soon, but I'm hopeful that with a final and Full VCDS Gears Adaption my problem may well be pretty much sorted, as usual will keep posting updates for other members ......... 🤔

For what its worth if it was me and I'd had the car that long and wanted to keep it I'd go for a rebuild / modification, at least that way you know it's been done properly and it secures some decent life into the car going forward, with the 2.5 TDi being so few and far between when it comes to second hand units AND the fact most garages don't want to get involved either way it's going to cost, BUT .... if you rebuild or modify it properly when its done you have peace of mind, and that is priceless, whereas second hand there is always that constant nagging in the back of your mind of "how long will this one last" Good luck what ever you decide.👍

Well I'd like to say the oil that came out of the gearbox was a golden dark brown, but in reality almost black, so definitely needed doing, but nothing untoward on the magnets and filters were slightly dirty as to be expected, but not all clogged up or mishapen. The complete MEYLE service kit may be a little more expensive than others, but is has literally everything you need, right down to rubber O rings and copper washers, new bolts, 2 x filter housings, perfectly fitting metal gasket with locating lugs same as factory spec, and of course 7 litres of OE spec oil. Just awaiting a slot to get the VCDS adaption done again, don't think its going to cure my problem to be honest, if the gearbox could speak it would mock me with words such as " So you think you can throw a couple of hundred pounds at me and I'm going to perform for you .... Come back when you have a couple of thousand" 😣 To be continued .............

Yes, in the end I found out by a good friend letting me use his ramp, was able to try out various hex in the drain plug and of course it did turn out to be a 10mm ....which I thought it was all along but didn't want to buy more tools I didn't need, anyway, once I knew the size I went down the multi socket set route Gareth and as you said, job done for under a tenner on Ebay ....... Happy days !

So just an update for others, the gearbox drain and fill plugs on my A7 S-Tronic 3.0 TDi (DL501) were indeed 10mm insert Hex, tightened back up to 45NM when finished as per specification. With the steel cross brace in place you can get to the drain plug very easily, the filler plug up the side at the top is a little more tricky, but as I was doing the full service including the internal filter I had to take the sump pan off anyway, with it all out of the way both plugs are much easier to drain and more importantly fill.

HaHa ...I could, but I don't want to go through the hassle of putting the car on the ramp, dropping the undertray, then removing the large metal cross brace, only to find out I don't actually have the right socket, so many comprehensive videos and blogs showing a full gearbox service on You Tube / Forums etc, they list every tool, every part, what Torque settings, what temperature to fill, how to do it from start to finish etc etc ...... but I can't find one that tell you the two drain plug sizes ? if they were all the same it would be a breeze, but different sizes for Multi -Tronic, S-Tronic, 6 Speed, 7 Speed, A6 A7 Q7 TT etc etc ....... Some fill and drain are next to each other, some are staggered , some are on the base of the gearbox sump and up the side nearing the top of the gearbox, but basically hidden from sight on the A7 3.0 TDi Quattro 7 speed S-Tronic ....... I'm stunned nobody mentions this or knows on any forum or YT video, not that I've found anyhow ? Arghhhhhhhhhhh 🤪😃

Yes thanks Gareth, I've seen those on Ebay and usually they are in sets of nine or ten from 2mm to 10mm ........ but some forums say the gearbox sump drain and filler plugs needs a special "Audi Only" 16mm long inset hex socket ? I don't think this applies to the 7 Speed DL501 box in the A7 ? but was hoping somebody on here must have self serviced their 7 speed S-Tronic and therefore know the size ? 🤔

Hi Gareth, Yes they are, the oil drain plug is on the bottom of the gearbox sump pan and the filler nut up on the side at the top, both are inset hexagonal I believe ........ they look like 10mm but not sure? either way I need to buy one or a set of different sizes, if only I knew the correct size !

Just another update on the ongoing S-Tronic issues........ Matt, who is a true gentleman member on here and lives not far from me did a full VCDS analysis on the gearbox and read the fault codes, cleared them, read them again multiple times, and then attempted a full Adaption procedure via the VCDS as per manufacturer specifications. There were not really that many fault codes, but the ones specific to the Gearbox were: VCDS 7980: PO726 RPM Signal from ECU - Implausible Signal VCDS 8962: PI707 Clutch 2 Pressure too high VCDS 13791: P2873 Clutch 2 Pressure Engagement too high. That was it really, we cleared the codes, ran the scan again and they didn't return, so then we went onto the full Adaption procedure in VCDS Basic Settings menu, all was well until we got to adaption: IDE02294-Main Pressure valve calibration, whereby it kept giving the message: "Aborted-Safety Reasons" ? We tried this at varying specified gearbox oil Temperature's but to no avail, it just kept aborting half way through the calibration, however when re-reading for any gearbox fault codes multiple times afterwards none appeared ? although we still hadn't / were unable to complete the adaption procedure. I am now going to do a complete oil and filter drain and change service using a Full MEYLE service kit, after this Matt is going to read the codes again with VCDS and try another adaption ! To be continued ........................😮

Hi everyone, to follow on from my S-Cronic problems I'm doing Gearbox Oil and Filter Service with the Full "MEYLE" 7 Litre kit, looked at loads of videos online and all pretty comprehensive, but none I've found mention the size of the Hex Socket needed for the Transmission Drain and Fill plugs ? Could somebody give me the correct size / Information please ? Much appreciated as always ............🙂

Funny you should mention that, I read about the much later models (2020 onwards I believe? ) having "Code Blockers" so to speak built into them for the exact reason you give, plus the issuing of the "Token" to accepted users only gives them information of any work already performed and also logs the info for further down the line viewing ....... Technology Steve, as far as vehicles are concerned in the future it will render anyone other than Fully Authorised independents and Main Agents from working on just about anything from 2020 onwards ........ ie: they get to charge whatever they want as no small independents or mechanics will be able to replace or code any parts that may need it, apparently that's progress ! no wonder I love vehicles from the 1950's 60's and 70's and into the 80's, everything was so much simpler.

Very true Steve, the old ZF / Borg Warner Transmissions were pretty much faultless in days gone by, as I say, never had a problem with the units fitted to any of the BMW's I owned and they all did a fair amount of mileage, but once computers and twin clutches got involved it was all down hill from there, as for the FORD Power Shift units they are truly awful ! ... I'm sure you remember the early 70's and 80's Ford C3 and C4 gearbox which again was pretty much bulletproof, then again this was in the days of 3 and 4 speed transmissions, even my 1980's and 90's Audi 100 and A6 Auto boxes gave me no troubles at all, what went wrong ? now Audi have some of the worst reviews and comments online for their Multi-Tronic and S-Tronic gearboxes, and exactly why me and many others are on these forums sharing and trying to get diagnosis information ! But .... I love the A7 as a car, superb quality and pretty luxurious if we're talking interior fit and trim, and great looking cars, the 3.0TDi is a superb engine too if looked after and I'm sure there are owners out there who have not yet had a problem with their S-Tronic gearboxes and would probably wonder what on earth I'm going on about if they read this ( which they won't ) Just as an aside, I've heard it for many years, read untold reviews, and spoken to those I know in the trade who have travelled big distances to have their gearboxes repaired or replaced by them, I'm not in their employ or garnering any favours here when I say they are the absolute tops when it comes to really knowing Audi gearboxes in all guises, not the cheapest but certainly "The Best" if you want it done properly and professionally, the reviews online speak for themselves, MILTA Transmissions of Bristol, formerly Bristol Gearbox Centre I believe ? and there are bound to be members on here that know of them such is their reputation and knowledge with all things when it comes to Audi Gearbox problems, it's where I will be going if my fault turns out to necessitate ANY internal gearbox work, these units need technicians that "Really" know them, not just guessing or "maybe it will fix it" scenarios. Do it right, do it once ......... Updates to follow as I know more over the coming days and weeks. PS: Not buying VCDS, I have a friendly technician who lives near me who has multiple free Vin Codes package and is going to do a full read on Friday, but thanks for the heads up on the OBD 11 Pro Steve.

Going on full VCDS fault code read this Friday, talking to numerous Gearbox specialists and the excellent guys at "ECUtestingltd" (Excellent You Tube Video for anyone else with similar issues on here ) who really know these 7 speed S-Tronic gearboxes and Mechatronic units inside out ( and in fact do various work for Audi Main Agents ) it seems my symptoms point heavily towards a Mechatronic fault, maybe the pressure sensors, valves or most likely the circuit board itself just starting to break down and sending the wrong pulses at the wrong time ........ know more once we've pulled the codes, then hopefully its just a case of removing the Mechatronic unit and sending it off to be completely reworked with new hard and software.