What's Wrong With My Transmission?

"marshknute" (marshknute)
10/12/2014 at 14:35 • Filed to: None

I'm having a weird issue with my A4 and I'm not sure what could be causing it. When I shift from 1st to 2nd gear, there is an awkward jerkiness when I press the clutch pedal in. There is no jerkiness when actually engaging 2nd gear, and I have never experienced the problem when shifting between any other gears. It happens literally when I press in the clutch/release the gas (BEFORE I even move the shift knob from 1st to 2nd).

The jerkiness feels similar to the bucking bronco sensation some manual cars have when you are creeping along in 1st gear in stop-and-go traffic (you know, when you let off the gas to coast with traffic and the car lurches forward?)

Sometimes it does it, and sometimes it doesn't. There are no grinding gears, and no other perceivable faults with the gearbox. I have no idea why pressing the clutch IN would cause an issue, and why the issue would only occur sometimes and only with the 1-2 shift. Any hypotheses Oppo?

DISCUSSION (15)

davedave1111 > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 14:41

Do you mean something more than the weight transfer that happens as you disconnect power from the wheels?

Spaceball-Two > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 14:44

My A4 does this as well. I've just been living with it as it's an off and on thing. I'm really interested in what the Oppo collective has to say.

marshknute > davedave1111
10/12/2014 at 14:49

Yes. It's almost like a clunky gearshift into second, but it happens when pressing the clutch in, not when I engage it. It doesn't seem to happen below 2200 RPM or over 4000 rpm (just the 3000 RPM zone where I typically shift).

JGrabowMSt > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 14:56

I'd probably blame the syncros for that. If you have a bad syncro that isn't spinning at the right RPM, even going from gear to neutral will be noticeable, whereas a good syncro in working order will be for the most part, undetectable. I've seen bad/worn syncros cause a lot of trouble in cars. Is it when the car is cold, or also when the car warms up? Does the trans making a grinding noise when you start it up in colder weather? Could be a sign that the throwout bearing is also bad, but if you let a trans shop do a test drive, provided they're able to see the problem, they might be able to recognize it right away.

I have clutch issues once in a while when I shift from first to second, but I think it has to do with where my clutch grabs more than anything else, because it'll go into gear, but the clutch will slip and the whole car will lose momentum, but then gain it quickly again. Only really a "sometimes" thing as well.

davedave1111 > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 15:00

I don't think I understand what you mean, I'm afraid. Are you actually getting power to the wheels with the clutch in?

marshknute > JGrabowMSt
10/12/2014 at 15:00

It seems to happen at all temperatures and doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it's clunky right from the start, and other times I drive for 20 minutes before I notice any clunkiness. Other times I make a complete round trip without observing any clunkiness.

Another Opponaught just admitted that his A4 does the same thing, and that it is also an on-and-off behavior like it is in mine.

marshknute > davedave1111
10/12/2014 at 15:06

No, there is no power to the wheels with the clutch in. The clunkiness occurs right when I press the clutch in, before I even change gear. Changing gear is completely normal and smooth. It's just an awkward clunkiness when I first press in the clutch.

davedave1111 > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 15:07

Sorry, what do you mean by clunkiness?

JGrabowMSt > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 15:08

Well, it could just be how the car is, it could be a more widespread issue.

The syncro may have been made shorter to act as a safety feature on the trans so you can't shift to first without at least double clutching. The smaller syncro could wear faster if you launch it hard too often.

Subie WRXs were the same way, I know plenty of people had a longer syncro installed to prevent issues with it.

Who knows...I'd look at it as a smaller syncro by design that's beginning to wear faster than "normal."

whoarder is tellurium > Spaceball-Two
10/12/2014 at 15:36

I don't seem to notice it. However, what does annoy me is the heavy dual mass flywheel and the inability to shift quickly because of this factor + rev hang. If I don't give just enough revs and engage the clutch smoothly - it'll squeak/rattle a little bit too.

I guess I'm just so used to Japanese manuals that this heavy German setup is weird to me.

Spaceball-Two > whoarder is tellurium
10/12/2014 at 15:41

I've noticed with the temps dropping lately that I really have to wind it up to get good throw. Although the turbo loves the dropping temps.

whoarder is tellurium > Spaceball-Two
10/12/2014 at 15:45

Yes! I like seeing an almost ambient air temp reading from the intake PID. APR Stage 1+ with injectors makes this car so much easier to drive.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 15:48

Bad engine mount maybe?

Spaceball-Two > whoarder is tellurium
10/12/2014 at 16:02

NICE! I'm at the point with this car that I need to choose putting some performance upgrades in or start fresh on something newer.

daniel alborn > marshknute
10/12/2014 at 23:22

Could it be an engine mount?