TransGo - yes, limited tools are fine - just normal hand tools, nothing fancy except a fluid pump ($10). The documentation is very detailed.

Predator and clones can't be borrowed. You can go to a Tuner and pay a small fee (usually under $100) and get a mini tune. They also do mail order tunes for about the same price (you mail them your PCM). Predator and clones can be bought for around $150-$200 in the Parts section of this Forum and it costs $75 to clear it by the manufacturer. There is one that is cleared selling for $225 right now. It is year specific though, so be aware of that.

Shift points : depends on your driving style. Talk to a friendly tuner like Doug or Chris at ECS, Andy at A&A, Mike at Norris or Carmen at Vette Doctors and get a professional opinion. I think they all do mail order tunes as well - I know that Vette Doctors do.

Good luck.

EG

 

I'm surprised Vince (vstella) hasn't chimed in yet. He's Mr. Transgo around here.

Oh, Vince!!.....

 

MayTheForceBeWithYou

 

I have taught you well grasshopper !!

More info here:www.transgoperformance.com

Best bang for the buck on any C5 A4 ...PERIOD!

 

My mechanic who I trusted a lot, advised against it time and time again; he said, if I was going to do it I needed to firm up many other things.

I have been considering it for years, but not too sure I want my tires chirping all the time. I don't want to lose control... again.

 

Tyres do NOT chirp all the time - who told you that?

Get a new mechanic, my friend.

EG

 

What exactly do you mean by this. I can do this now with my A4.


DH

 

Vette_Fan When

 

Vette_Fan When I first registered for this forum I was contacted by Vstella he knows his S_IT when it comes to the A4 he told me about THE
TransGo and I had it installed on his advise. I was never Sorry I did it
why dont you drop Vince an email he will set you straight. He is a great guy to talk to about THIS MOD YOU WONT BE SORRY


QUIMBO SEEYAAAH

 

Mine's an 04', are there any warranty issues?

.

 

MY mechanic says its a PITA job for 3-4 Hrs. He charges $85/Hr. The kit itself it $120. The whole thing would cost me over $400. Is it worth that much? Some of you say, it can be done at home, with simple tools. But if it takes a mechanic 3 hrs to do it, I wonder if I can even finish the job, without messing up my A4 tranny... Any suggestions..?

 

Simple...Find another mechanic! He either does not want to do the job or doesn't know how..It's a $300.00 job including parts and labor ..Tops!

Yes it's worth it....

 

Any good transmission shop can install-call for a price for their labor costs.You should be able to watch the whole thing, about an hour or so.Inside a transmission valve body is USUALLY a scary place for a DYI'ER .

 

KRK question, I've had my 01 tuned and shift firmness raised "line pressure" my question is if I install a TransGo kit will I need to reverse the line pressure tune, bring it back to stock setting? Or if I leave it at the current setting will this make the shifting too hard combined with the TransGo?
Thanks Steve

 

Is the trans go kit a substitute for new modded trans ??

I'm looking at 400 hp to the wheels, Stock trans + trans go = drive it like you stole it ??

Or.... 400 hp = level 4 trans ??

(drag radials)

 

Let's back up a bit and maybe understanding what's going on will answer some questions.

Automatic transmissions, "slip" their internal clutches, just as you would slip a manual clutch during shift changes. The purpose for this is to create a smooth ride. Imagine, if you will, a manual transmission. You don't usually pop the clutch in between each shift during normal driving; you ease off on it and it gently engages. When you're engaged in spritied driving however, you engage the manual clutch much harder and faster.

An automatic does the same thing, to a point. It knows from the pressure that you're wanting maximum speed, but it only has a limited ability to respond to that need. Even in a drag race, it will still slip its internal clutches somewhat. It doesn't have the range of flexibility that a manual transmission has.

A shift kit will move that range. It will make normal driving gear changes more noticable. You'll know it each and every time the gears change. If you like a performance car, they won't be particularly objectionable, but you'll know when they happen. During performance driving however, the shifts will be hard and firm. There will be virtually no slippage in the internal clutches. This lack of slippage will also let your transmission last longer. Just as you can burn a manual clutch up by slipping it too much or too often, the same applies to the clutches in an automatic. Since they will never be slipping as much as they did without the kit, they'll last longer.

I will have to remind everyone though, while it will help with the life of your transmission, you still have the same gears, shafts and other mechanical parts you did when it came from the factory. You might think of it as a medium duty manual clutch that shifted firmly without riding the clutch. You wont' burn out the clutch as fast, but those are the same gears they always were. For heavy-duty racing applications, you still need more work to make your transmission durable.

As for installation, all I can tell you is that I installed my first one when I was 16 and had the machanical ability of a rock. I could however, read and follow directions. It's simply a matter of pulling the pan on the transmission and putting springs and plugs where they tell you to put them. You need to be careful and pay attention, but it's not difficult for anyone to do.

Hopefully, that answers some questions here.

 

Nice discertation!

So using an editor and adjusting shift points to firmest and SHORTEST should also provide longevity to the clutches?

And I too would like to know exactly what a level IV tranny has in it?


DH

 

In my younger days, I did a good bit with shift kits, so I know how they work. But as an old fart, I don't claim to know all that much about LS1 Edit or other editor programs.

However, it's my understanding that you can move shift points using LS1 Edit. I was not aware that you can make those shifts firmer or shorter. However IF that's the case and you can indeed alter the sort of shift and make it harder and shorter, then it would stand to reason that it would provide the same sort of benefit.

 

....Some say, "Since the LS1 edit can change shift points, firmness, and can customize the A4 Tranny, there's no need for the Transgo kit, because you can achieve everything the kit would do - with LS1 edit". Is that true?

Thanks...

 

I'd like to know the answer to that too. I had always heard that it was not a good idea to increase line pressures through programming changes if you had a shift kit.