2005 A4 - no first gear?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 1,361
2005 A4 - no first gear?
I think my shifter linkage may be out of adjustment, but I am looking for opinions here.
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
I don't have an actual answer. It sounds more like an internal trans problem but I also would expect a CEL. I suggest you find someone with a code reader that can read the TCM codes, not all can, even if you have to go to a dealer. If that proves okay then it may well be a cable/adjustment problem as you suggest. Please let us know what you find.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 86
Likes: 5
From: TX & Europe
I think my shifter linkage may be out of adjustment, but I am looking for opinions here.
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 1,361
Seems like trans put itself in the protective mode (Something like that) Car starts from 3rd gear and only shifts into overdrive. Most of the times CEL wont come on. May cause from various things. Happened to me when I had a a4 back then. Turned out one of the cables of the main plug gone bad. Another time on a friends car this caused from one of the unplugged selenoids in the trans. Go get it checked out probably nothing big
Interesting..do you remember if the transmission would kick down a gear if you floored it while moving? Mine will...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 1,361
Yikes..
Dealer got back to me. Car only has 2nd and 3rd gear. Claims the fluid looks burnt. Wants almost $5k for a new transmission with a 100k warranty
The claim there is a transmission solenoid code thrown but the CEL light never came on. Dealer says it would be 10 hours in labor to pull the transmission and he doesn't think the effort to fix the existing transmission is worth it.
I am not sure I believe him, but I never trust service departments at any dealership. Transmission made no unusual noise, worked just fine until this happened. The fluid was even changed 7 months ago.
Car has 202k miles on it. Not worth the cost of repairs IMO.
Not sure what my next move will be, this just sucks
Dealer got back to me. Car only has 2nd and 3rd gear. Claims the fluid looks burnt. Wants almost $5k for a new transmission with a 100k warranty
The claim there is a transmission solenoid code thrown but the CEL light never came on. Dealer says it would be 10 hours in labor to pull the transmission and he doesn't think the effort to fix the existing transmission is worth it. I am not sure I believe him, but I never trust service departments at any dealership. Transmission made no unusual noise, worked just fine until this happened. The fluid was even changed 7 months ago.
Car has 202k miles on it. Not worth the cost of repairs IMO.
Not sure what my next move will be, this just sucks
Last edited by CitznFish; Nov 15, 2017 at 02:48 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
Yikes..
Dealer got back to me. Car only has 2nd and 3rd gear. Claims the fluid looks burnt. Wants almost $5k for a new transmission with a 100k warranty The claim there is a transmission solenoid code thrown but the CEL light never came on. Dealer says it would be 10 hours in labor to pull the transmission and he doesn't think the effort to fix the existing transmission is worth it.
I am not sure I believe him, but I never trust service departments at any dealership. Transmission made no unusual noise, worked just fine until this happened. The fluid was even changed 7 months ago.
Car has 202k miles on it. Not worth the cost of repairs IMO.
Not sure what my next move will be, this just sucks
Dealer got back to me. Car only has 2nd and 3rd gear. Claims the fluid looks burnt. Wants almost $5k for a new transmission with a 100k warranty
The claim there is a transmission solenoid code thrown but the CEL light never came on. Dealer says it would be 10 hours in labor to pull the transmission and he doesn't think the effort to fix the existing transmission is worth it. I am not sure I believe him, but I never trust service departments at any dealership. Transmission made no unusual noise, worked just fine until this happened. The fluid was even changed 7 months ago.
Car has 202k miles on it. Not worth the cost of repairs IMO.
Not sure what my next move will be, this just sucks
Last edited by irok; Nov 15, 2017 at 04:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 1,361
Do you know what website? genuinegmparts.com shows the transmission for $2k but no way to buy it...
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
cheapestgmparts.com and several others out there.Cultrag is a vendor on here.watch for vendors that are having "Black Friday" sales.you will need to return your trany for core charge.gmpartsoutlet.net $1,876.
Last edited by irok; Nov 17, 2017 at 10:02 AM.
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I think my shifter linkage may be out of adjustment, but I am looking for opinions here.
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
Are you positive you had 2 gears? When the tranny goes into limp mode you'll have 3rd gear and no other gear.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
I think my shifter linkage may be out of adjustment, but I am looking for opinions here.
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF
About 8 months ago the grommet that holds the linkage to the transmission had deteriorated. This was replaced at the dealership and required an entire new shifter/cable whatever.
This past week I started to notice that the car doesn't seem to have a first gear. If I put the car in 1st while stopped, it appears to take off like it is in 2nd gear.
When I am driving between 20-30 mph and manually shift the automatic from 2nd to 1st there is absolutely no gear change and no RPM change.
when I am driving on the freeway at 60mph and I shift from [D] to 3 there is no gear change or RPM change.
the shifter indicator on the console is turning the correct gear on the shifter to red when I am in each gear.
So basically it appears to be something like this:
1st gear = 2nd gear
2nd gear = 2nd gear
3rd gear = 3rd gear
4th gear = 3rd gear
I think the shifter cable may be out of adjustment. I've seen some threads on here on how to adjust it for the A6, but are those steps identical for adjusting the A4?
There is no CEL light and I assume if the automatic transmission was having internal failures that something would pop up or it would act much differently than this.
Thoughts?
TIA
CF