Transmission Issues Today
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1
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Transmission Issues Today
Hi Everyone,
I own a 2001 C5 Auto. I was driving down the highway today when all of a sudden my transmission fluid temp shot through the roof. It hit about 260 at one point. My first, second, and third gears all felt fine when getting onto the highway, but as soon as I shifted the car to drive I noticed a loss of power and torque. I had to give more throttle just to keep up with highway speeds, and it felt like something wasn’t catching in the transmission.
Is this a problem with my torque converter? Is my transmission slipping? Any thoughts of what I should do/look into from here on out?
Thanks!
Devin
I own a 2001 C5 Auto. I was driving down the highway today when all of a sudden my transmission fluid temp shot through the roof. It hit about 260 at one point. My first, second, and third gears all felt fine when getting onto the highway, but as soon as I shifted the car to drive I noticed a loss of power and torque. I had to give more throttle just to keep up with highway speeds, and it felt like something wasn’t catching in the transmission.
Is this a problem with my torque converter? Is my transmission slipping? Any thoughts of what I should do/look into from here on out?
Thanks!
Devin
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 673
From: Pingree Grove IL
First thing is check the transmission fluid, makes sure it’s full. You’re going to need to get the car in the air. If you’re not a DIY, take it to a shop. Worse case scenario, you need a rebuild, have a professional rebuild it, or just get an RPM transmission and be done with it.
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Moving this to C5 Tech for continued discussion.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
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From: Prescott, Arizona
If you can't do it yourself, MAKE SURE the shop you take it to knows the procedure.
Note that checking fluid level MUST be done with the engine running at idle and then running through the gears, putting it in Park. If the fill/ check level plug is removed with the engine not running, fluid will run out and the transmission will be low on fluid.
Changing the fluid and filter on a C5 A4 is fairly easy, but there are specific procedures to insure that the fluid level is correct after the change:
After replacing the filter and bolting the pan back up, fill with new fluid to the drain/ check level plug hole. Then start the engine and leave it running with the transmission in PARK.
Immediately add fluid through the drain/ check level plug hole until fluid flows out of the plug hole. It may take as much as another couple of quarts.
With your foot holding the brakes, cycle the transmission through all the gears, then back to PARK.
Go back underneath and make sure that fluid is still dribbling out of the fill/ check level plug hole. You might have to add some.
With the engine still running and the transmission in PARK, monitor transmission temperature on the DIC. When transmission temperature rises to 122 F, put the plug in the fill/ Check level hole. Keep a pan under the hole, fluid will dribble out as the transmission temperature rises.
Do NOT shut the engine down until the plug is in the fill/ check level hole. If you do, HOT fluid will gush out and the transmission will be low on fluid.
I recommend full synthetic fluid.
Keep in mind that the above procedure drains about half the fluid in the A4. The other half is in the torque converter and other works.
You will need a small hand pump to pump the fluid into the fill/ check level hole.
Note that checking fluid level MUST be done with the engine running at idle and then running through the gears, putting it in Park. If the fill/ check level plug is removed with the engine not running, fluid will run out and the transmission will be low on fluid.
Changing the fluid and filter on a C5 A4 is fairly easy, but there are specific procedures to insure that the fluid level is correct after the change:
After replacing the filter and bolting the pan back up, fill with new fluid to the drain/ check level plug hole. Then start the engine and leave it running with the transmission in PARK.
Immediately add fluid through the drain/ check level plug hole until fluid flows out of the plug hole. It may take as much as another couple of quarts.
With your foot holding the brakes, cycle the transmission through all the gears, then back to PARK.
Go back underneath and make sure that fluid is still dribbling out of the fill/ check level plug hole. You might have to add some.
With the engine still running and the transmission in PARK, monitor transmission temperature on the DIC. When transmission temperature rises to 122 F, put the plug in the fill/ Check level hole. Keep a pan under the hole, fluid will dribble out as the transmission temperature rises.
Do NOT shut the engine down until the plug is in the fill/ check level hole. If you do, HOT fluid will gush out and the transmission will be low on fluid.
I recommend full synthetic fluid.
Keep in mind that the above procedure drains about half the fluid in the A4. The other half is in the torque converter and other works.
You will need a small hand pump to pump the fluid into the fill/ check level hole.
