08 A6 won't upshift from 1st
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Shingle Springs CA
08 A6 won't upshift from 1st
Driving in S mode and using the paddle shifters, this car wont shift out of 1st gear under power. Part throttle or lower rpms seems to work fine, but wot and hitting the paddleshifter at around 6200- it wont shift. It falls on it's face on the rev limiter. As you can imagine, I'm not a big fan of driving it into the ground on the rev limiter until I realize that the shift isn't going to happen. Is this normal? Could it be a product of the torque management?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,259
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
St. Jude Donor '10
What does it do in D?
I've only had two A6 issues thus far.
One was due to a faulty F1 paddle from WCC...which they swapped out. It wouldn't shift, just as you described.
Two, was in D, which scans say is a sticking solenoid. In wich case, I drive it with the paddles til its warmed up.
..just my .02
I've only had two A6 issues thus far.
One was due to a faulty F1 paddle from WCC...which they swapped out. It wouldn't shift, just as you described.
Two, was in D, which scans say is a sticking solenoid. In wich case, I drive it with the paddles til its warmed up.
..just my .02
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 3
From: AZ
Turn off the traction control and it will shift. I have encountered this without using the paddles as well, it just won't shift if it is spinning or thinks it will spin. I was wearing the rev limiter out when I first got my car.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Shingle Springs CA
What does it do in D?
I've only had two A6 issues thus far.
One was due to a faulty F1 paddle from WCC...which they swapped out. It wouldn't shift, just as you described.
Two, was in D, which scans say is a sticking solenoid. In wich case, I drive it with the paddles til its warmed up.
..just my .02
I've only had two A6 issues thus far.
One was due to a faulty F1 paddle from WCC...which they swapped out. It wouldn't shift, just as you described.
Two, was in D, which scans say is a sticking solenoid. In wich case, I drive it with the paddles til its warmed up.
..just my .02
Thanks for the ideas guys, the rain is here, so it may be a couple days till I get to drive it again
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 10
From: Macomb MI
Yes, all stock. I think the redline on the tach is about 6500, so giving it 300 rpm notice to shift seems reasonable to me, lol. Like I said, the car is still pretty new to me. I did try shifting it a little sooner lastnight, and it did the same fall on its face no shift thing.
Thanks for the ideas guys, the rain is here, so it may be a couple days till I get to drive it again
Thanks for the ideas guys, the rain is here, so it may be a couple days till I get to drive it again
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,022
Likes: 2,715
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Push, not pull! 
But yes, there is lag both in the tach and in the upshift. Start out by hitting the paddle at 5500 rpm, see if that helps.
Work your way up 100 rpm at a time (not all in one morning, overheated tranny) until you find a number that will get you shifted before shafted (rev limiter).
For drag racing, most people put it in Sport but let the computer do the shifting. Testing on the street, mine seems to shift right about redline when done that way.
But yes, there is lag both in the tach and in the upshift. Start out by hitting the paddle at 5500 rpm, see if that helps.
Work your way up 100 rpm at a time (not all in one morning, overheated tranny) until you find a number that will get you shifted before shafted (rev limiter).
For drag racing, most people put it in Sport but let the computer do the shifting. Testing on the street, mine seems to shift right about redline when done that way.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,898
Likes: 107
From: God's Country, ID
That is my work-around as well and apparently many others. Not happy about it but just learned to just drive the car that way. 
Now that the subject has been brought-up, it would be nice to know if there's a simple programable solution (via HP Tuners)? You really shouldn't have to cringe, cross your fingers and say a Hail Mary when going wot in first gear.edit: you can always install a shift light.
Last edited by DSOMC6; Jan 19, 2012 at 11:39 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 6
From: Redmond WA
That is my work-around as well and apparently many others. Not happy about it but just learned to just drive the car that way. Now that the subject has been brought-up, it would be nice to know if there's a simple programable solution (via HP Tuners)? You really shouldn't have to cringe, cross your fingers and say a Hail Mary when going wot in first gear.edit: you can always install a shift light.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Shingle Springs CA
So am I understanding correctly that the car cancels the shift altogether if you are too close to the redline? or if the traction control is active?
I'm positive that I have hit the paddle before in the 5500-6000 range and still got a no shift. And I'm also positive that I have got a no shift with the traction control off.
Not trying to be argumentative here,
I'm trying to understand exactly what condition causes this.
I'm positive that I have hit the paddle before in the 5500-6000 range and still got a no shift. And I'm also positive that I have got a no shift with the traction control off.
Not trying to be argumentative here,
I'm trying to understand exactly what condition causes this.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 6
From: Redmond WA
So am I understanding correctly that the car cancels the shift altogether if you are too close to the redline? or if the traction control is active?
I'm positive that I have hit the paddle before in the 5500-6000 range and still got a no shift. And I'm also positive that I have got a no shift with the traction control off.
Not trying to be argumentative here,I'm trying to understand exactly what condition causes this.
I'm positive that I have hit the paddle before in the 5500-6000 range and still got a no shift. And I'm also positive that I have got a no shift with the traction control off.
Not trying to be argumentative here,
I'm trying to understand exactly what condition causes this.If the wheels are spinning, as they can do at the top of first gear when the engine is at its power peak, the transmission will not shift. I don't know if turning off traction control makes a difference - I would think that it wouldn't make a difference.
When does this situation happen for you? If you're trying to run a quarter mile, it's probably best to leave it in "S" mode and let the transmission shift for you. If you're on a road course, it's probably better to accelerate in second gear as you'll be able to get more smoothly on the throttle more deeply and a bit sooner rather than having to feather the throttle in first gear.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 2
From: sarasota fl
When using paddle shift my a6 will shift fine at part throttle but will not shift out of 1st wot if the traction control is on. Tires are spinning so traction control must try to control the shift if it's on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
This "problem" is normal operation for the 2008 A-6 transmission. You have to lift the throttle before tapping the paddle otherwise you hit the rev limiter. Mine did the very same thing at Pacific Raceways last year on the road race track. My instructor, who has tons of time and raced these cars (read way more experience than I), said the very same thing. He is a big fan of the A6 too. You might be able to get around this behavior by getting a transmission tune where you can also get around the problem of not automatically downshifting into 1st gear when using the paddle shifters in 'S' mode, but you should consult with the experts on that, either Tommy Wong down in Vancouver, Wa. or Chuck Cow or ECS, all of which I have heard nothing but good things about so you can't go wrong.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,001
Likes: 243
From: Surprise, Az
As MisterMidlifeCrisis says, if on a road course, don't bother to seek the red line in first gear, save it for second gear. At PR, the slowest part of the track is best negotiated in second gear anyway - but I have run into the same problem with WOT and trying to upshift in other gears than first. I came out of turn 9 heading into the front straight, I was in either second or third at the time and forgot to lift before tapping for the next gear.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 255
From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
Give me a call....
Driving in S mode and using the paddle shifters, this car wont shift out of 1st gear under power. Part throttle or lower rpms seems to work fine, but wot and hitting the paddleshifter at around 6200- it wont shift. It falls on it's face on the rev limiter. As you can imagine, I'm not a big fan of driving it into the ground on the rev limiter until I realize that the shift isn't going to happen. Is this normal? Could it be a product of the torque management?
Hey man.. Give me a call so I can talk with you about the problem you're having....
I think I can help you.
914-332-0049
Chuck CoW
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,022
Likes: 2,715
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
This "problem" is normal operation for the 2008 A-6 transmission. You have to lift the throttle before tapping the paddle otherwise you hit the rev limiter. Mine did the very same thing at Pacific Raceways last year on the road race track. My instructor, who has tons of time and raced these cars (read way more experience than I), said the very same thing. He is a big fan of the A6 too. You might be able to get around this behavior by getting a transmission tune where you can also get around the problem of not automatically downshifting into 1st gear when using the paddle shifters in 'S' mode, but you should consult with the experts on that, either Tommy Wong down in Vancouver, Wa. or Chuck Cow or ECS, all of which I have heard nothing but good things about so you can't go wrong.
No need to lift the throttle unless the rear wheels are spinning, and I think that using comp mode on the AH will allow you to upshift even while experiencing wheelspin.
There is some variation from car to car, and more variation from year to year; so individual experimentation is nesessary.
