A8 1st to 2nd hard shift
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
A8 1st to 2nd hard shift
Just acquired a 17GS with 3900 miles. I am having an issue with the A8 transmission that happens
only on the first start of the drive. After backing out of the garage and shifting into drive, the first
shift from 1st to 2nd I gr a very hard shift. After that all shifting is normal from 1st to 2nd and all
other shifting. It has had the triple flush with the new fluid.
only on the first start of the drive. After backing out of the garage and shifting into drive, the first
shift from 1st to 2nd I gr a very hard shift. After that all shifting is normal from 1st to 2nd and all
other shifting. It has had the triple flush with the new fluid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 1,032
From: North Texas
This seems to be typical on A8 trans.
My 17 also does it.
After starting the engine I just manually shift the trans from 1st to 2nd and back a few times and all is well.
I read that the problem is due to leak back of the ATF fluid inside the valve body and you would have to remove the complete rear of the car to drop the trans to do the mod which installs a check ball to prevent the fluid from leaking back.
Not worth the trouble or money for a one time blip each morning.
My 17 also does it.
After starting the engine I just manually shift the trans from 1st to 2nd and back a few times and all is well.
I read that the problem is due to leak back of the ATF fluid inside the valve body and you would have to remove the complete rear of the car to drop the trans to do the mod which installs a check ball to prevent the fluid from leaking back.
Not worth the trouble or money for a one time blip each morning.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,453
Likes: 2,168
From: Loveland
I have an automatic A6. After having it for more than a year and reading the issues, I have changed my shifting technique. I go directly to manual mode and paddle shift the car. When driving and slowing down, I don't down shift it, I let the trans down shift by itself. This is a very gentle down shift. It will then be in 2nd gear. When I start out after stopping it will be in second gear. Second gear works just fine to start out when just driving in town. In town I usually only get up to 4th gear. If you watch how much it shifts in auto mode and compare it to this technique, the trans will shift 1/2 as much with this technique. I also wait until it is warmed up until get on it very much. This is very easy on the trans and the drive shaft. Now,,,, don't get me wrong, when I want to get on it, I do. It is still fun to bang the gears up and down, but not all the time.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
I have an automatic A6. After having it for more than a year and reading the issues, I have changed my shifting technique. I go directly to manual mode and paddle shift the car. When driving and slowing down, I don't down shift it, I let the trans down shift by itself. This is a very gentle down shift. It will then be in 2nd gear. When I start out after stopping it will be in second gear. Second gear works just fine to start out when just driving in town. In town I usually only get up to 4th gear. If you watch how much it shifts in auto mode and compare it to this technique, the trans will shift 1/2 as much with this technique. I also wait until it is warmed up until get on it very much. This is very easy on the trans and the drive shaft. Now,,,, don't get me wrong, when I want to get on it, I do. It is still fun to bang the gears up and down, but not all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Isn't it different with the A6 vs the A8? I did the triple flush and tried manually shifting once as I do with all cars. If you need to do manual shifting to help the transmission last significantly longer, isn't that kind of defeating the purpose of the automatic transmission?
Then you need to vary your driving style for the next 100 to 200 miles from driving it like you are going to church to driving it like you stole it as it's in learning mode measuring each shift. If it senses a bad shift, the TCM will make a change and continue to measure each shift until every shift is perfect
Dave
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 260
Likes: 87
From: Brighton MI
On our 2016 Z51 that has had triple flush with new fluid - I go down the driveway in manual mode shifting to 2nd. About 200 feet to the road. Put vehicle back in automatic mode when turning onto the road. IMHO this greatly improves the first 1 to 2 shift.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
Never seen much doing this. Transmission program went from factory stock to Diablew tune to latest factory stock to Diablew modified. Nothing like this