2005 A4 Problem
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
2005 A4 Problem
Had a bit of a scare last night with my 2005 auto, any tips on what to look for? Here's what happened:
Last night, after stopping for fuel, I restarted my car and it wouldn't get out of second gear no matter what I tried to do. I noticed a problem when the car would barely idle away from the pump, so I started running through the gear selector to see if I could get anything to change and I couldn't. The only gear I had was second like I had manually selected "2." The car was running fine otherwise so I went ahead and drove it home (about two miles) and went inside and didn't do anything to try to troubleshoot since it was about 12:30 AM at this point and I didn't want to upset the neighbors.
Fast forward to today and everything is absolutely fine. The car will go into gears as commanded and shifts fine. The only thing I didn't think to try last night was restarting the car because I was half worried that it was the shifter solenoid and I would get stuck in park on the side of the road.
Any ideas? Thanks.
Last night, after stopping for fuel, I restarted my car and it wouldn't get out of second gear no matter what I tried to do. I noticed a problem when the car would barely idle away from the pump, so I started running through the gear selector to see if I could get anything to change and I couldn't. The only gear I had was second like I had manually selected "2." The car was running fine otherwise so I went ahead and drove it home (about two miles) and went inside and didn't do anything to try to troubleshoot since it was about 12:30 AM at this point and I didn't want to upset the neighbors.
Fast forward to today and everything is absolutely fine. The car will go into gears as commanded and shifts fine. The only thing I didn't think to try last night was restarting the car because I was half worried that it was the shifter solenoid and I would get stuck in park on the side of the road.
Any ideas? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Can't help you but I don't recall seeing that reported before.
1st thought is just an anomaly, temp glitch with the electronics, or a stuck valve in the valve body.
Please let us know if it happens again.
1st thought is just an anomaly, temp glitch with the electronics, or a stuck valve in the valve body.
Please let us know if it happens again.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
. I will certainly update when/if I figured out what is wrong or what goes worse.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Depending on the mileage of your C6 and if the trans fluid and filter have been changed maybe now is the time to change them. I would look at the fluid and see if it looks dark or burnt. Good luck and let us know how it goes. 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
About 3k miles ago I had to change my trans pan and went ahead and changed the filter at the same time. I hope its unrelated to this issue, but I know I can't rule it out.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
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From: Somers NY
Just a "thought" but I know if you put the shifter in "2" the transmission will "STAY" in only 2nd gear.. it will not downshift to 1st even if you stop.. it will start off from a stop in 2nd and stay in 2nd until you put the shifter in 1st OR 3 or "D"
I know you said you tried everything .. but check to see if the shift linkage is OK.. has it ever been removed etc... it may be a solenoid etc... I'm NO expert on transmissions, but its the only thing that came to my mind....
Check the shift linkage
I know you said you tried everything .. but check to see if the shift linkage is OK.. has it ever been removed etc... it may be a solenoid etc... I'm NO expert on transmissions, but its the only thing that came to my mind....
Check the shift linkage
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
there was a tsb on the a4 trans in the 05 c6 corvette, it was a mis machined case, aluminum filings would clog the screens in the shift solenoids sticking in gear and searching for gears
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Just a "thought" but I know if you put the shifter in "2" the transmission will "STAY" in only 2nd gear.. it will not downshift to 1st even if you stop.. it will start off from a stop in 2nd and stay in 2nd until you put the shifter in 1st OR 3 or "D"
I know you said you tried everything .. but check to see if the shift linkage is OK.. has it ever been removed etc... it may be a solenoid etc... I'm NO expert on transmissions, but its the only thing that came to my mind....
Check the shift linkage
I know you said you tried everything .. but check to see if the shift linkage is OK.. has it ever been removed etc... it may be a solenoid etc... I'm NO expert on transmissions, but its the only thing that came to my mind....
Check the shift linkage
Thanks for the info!
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
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From: Southampton NJ
It's strange that it was acting like I'd done what you are saying, but I only put it in drive. I'll check on it next time I get a chance.
Well isn't that wonderful news. I guess I'll drive it some more to see if it happens again, but I haven't experienced any searching or sticking in gear other than last night.
Thanks for the info!
Well isn't that wonderful news. I guess I'll drive it some more to see if it happens again, but I haven't experienced any searching or sticking in gear other than last night.
Thanks for the info!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
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From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
Good point .
At this point I think this is my worst case scenario, and if it is in fact true, I'm assuming you ended up with a new trans? I wouldn't mind really. I've been wanting to build the car up from the rear moving forward to so that I could put some power adder on/in at some point anyway.
.At this point I think this is my worst case scenario, and if it is in fact true, I'm assuming you ended up with a new trans? I wouldn't mind really. I've been wanting to build the car up from the rear moving forward to so that I could put some power adder on/in at some point anyway.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
Good point .
At this point I think this is my worst case scenario, and if it is in fact true, I'm assuming you ended up with a new trans? I wouldn't mind really. I've been wanting to build the car up from the rear moving forward to so that I could put some power adder on/in at some point anyway.
.At this point I think this is my worst case scenario, and if it is in fact true, I'm assuming you ended up with a new trans? I wouldn't mind really. I've been wanting to build the car up from the rear moving forward to so that I could put some power adder on/in at some point anyway.
the long bolts went into the opening of the sun shield, when they started it and took it for a test drive it the bolts cut the sun shield like a lathe the bolt snapped the trans truly was ruined, so they put a remanufactured in, they dont have new, when i got it back it would hit 250+ a half mile from dealer, i complained they said normal. i wouldn't take it, after complaining and them fixing it 10 more times over a two month period they finally figured out the lines were clogged from the pieces of metal from the sun shield, so they replaced the lines, and the temps dropped they never changed the screen or fluid, i asked them and they said you have a warranty dont worry about it,
the dealers and techs and gm are some real jerk offs
on a side note it always cleared on shut down or battery disconnect then over time it wouldn't
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
what they due is switch the noids its a whole assembly valve body wiring, they did it 3 times on the third time they put the long bolts were the short ones go, and called to pick it up, i started it and went back in and said what the hell is the noise coming from the back of the car the long bolts went into the opening of the sun shield, when they started it and took it for a test drive it the bolts cut the sun shield like a lathe the bolt snapped the trans truly was ruined, so they put a remanufactured in, they dont have new, when i got it back it would hit 250+ a half mile from dealer, i complained they said normal. i wouldn't take it, after complaining and them fixing it 10 more times over a two month period they finally figured out the lines were clogged from the pieces of metal from the sun shield, so they replaced the lines, and the temps dropped they never changed the screen or fluid, i asked them and they said you have a warranty dont worry about it,the dealers and techs and gm are some real jerk offs on a side note it always cleared on shut down or battery disconnect then over time it wouldn't
the long bolts went into the opening of the sun shield, when they started it and took it for a test drive it the bolts cut the sun shield like a lathe the bolt snapped the trans truly was ruined, so they put a remanufactured in, they dont have new, when i got it back it would hit 250+ a half mile from dealer, i complained they said normal. i wouldn't take it, after complaining and them fixing it 10 more times over a two month period they finally figured out the lines were clogged from the pieces of metal from the sun shield, so they replaced the lines, and the temps dropped they never changed the screen or fluid, i asked them and they said you have a warranty dont worry about it,the dealers and techs and gm are some real jerk offs on a side note it always cleared on shut down or battery disconnect then over time it wouldn't
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
i took it to cartek Julio tuned it and the trans worked perfect, then i got the converter back from precision industries and cartek put it back in and tuned for that and its perfect again, i sent it out to be cut open and cleaned of all the metal debris it took 2 months of arguing with gm to get it ready, Julio was the only one who could tune it to work properly
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Southampton NJ
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
you're going to take apart your automatic and repair/replace parts in it----that is just great! tell us how it looks in there. dennisnj's story sounds positively horrible.