Multitronic Servicing experts please

[clough103]

I havent had my Audi Multitronic long and not 100% when the gearbox oil was last changed so i decided to ring Audi and a few garages and since speaking with them I am not confused as to what i need to actually do. Here is the responses i have had so far

Audi Dealer Doncaster, Yes we can change the oil it should be done every 40000, £155.
VAG Independant 1, we can change oil, be £120
VAG Independant 2 - My computer says doesnt need doing at all, its a sealed unit.
VAG Independant 3 - Shouldnt just change oil, needs sump removing and a filter changing otherwise all the crap the filter has collected will still remain and eventually damage gearbox. When questioning why Audi themselves didnt say this, was told Audi dont know how to do it and he does and if i want it reliable and doing right then this work needs doing rather than just the oil change. £300
Stattler Sheffield, Independant Porsche VAG Super Specialists - said pretty much same as Independant 3, and likened it to changing the engine oil without changing the oil filter if not done. Waiting on a ringback for price.
Independant VAG 5 - sounded confused took reg and said he would have tocheck as never done one and would get back to me with a price.

Based on the above, i dont know what i need to do now. I just want it to run ok and not cost me greatly by needing a new gearbox.

Can anyone shed some light on this

Cheers

 

[vinesh]

I would go for VAG 1. I used to pay £130 at Leicester Audi.

Mine was always a oil change. no sump removal.

You can have a double flush - Add new oil let run, drain and refill.

 

[les hook]

Try this company in Barnsley

Martin Lowe - Auto Transmissions

They have just repaired my Mulitronic gearbox ECU

 

[clough103]

Even better news now. I rang them as suggested and they said my 6 speed box doesnt have a sump and that all i can do is change the oil.

He asked about the car a little/if it judders when setting off and i described that there isnt and juddering but it sometimes jumps off the line a bit from a standstill when you accelerate but not sure if thats just me being harsh with the pedal, still getting used to the box as it is my first auto. He said the jumpiness off the line sounds like it is on its way out and that i probably need a new gearbox. Just what i wanted to hear!

 

[clough103]

anymore opinions cos im scratching my head with what to do now :S

 

[clough103]

Ok i took the car to Martin Lowes Autos and a bloke drove the car and told me that it seems to drive fine without any problems he could see. He seemed suprised to say this with the mileage of 99k and me telling him the oil probably hasnt been changed.

Strangely enough his response was mixed and has left me none the wiser.

He basically said the oil in the gearbox would be thick now if it is old. Take that out and put thin oil in and the worn seals in the gearbox could start to leak the thinner oil though and create problems, and that it drives ok so he wouldnt try and fix what wasnt broken. My response was 'so you reccomend i DONT change the oil' to which he then paused and said he wasnt telling me not to change the oil but to drive it for a bit and see how it goes then if i want it changing in a month or so then go back.

Very strange but still dont know what to do now??

 

[AudiiduA]

Hi, i have exactly the same prob! had oil flushed but after the second time it seems to judder occasionally under medium acceleration, also the rev counter! rather than go to 1400 rpm and sit there if driving slowly it now has little blipps between 1400-1900 rpm as if you are pressing the pedal very quickly and letting off again, as if the clutch is slipping slightly! wasnt doing this before the second oil change!
Im taking it to Driver Transmissions Birmingham, they are very knowledgable on multitronics and give you a complete rebuild service! new chain, gears, bearings, seals, oil pump, filters basically all new internals, and 12 months warranty!

 

[clough103]

how much would they want though. This place i was at this morning was talking £2500 for it to be reconditioned

 

[AudiiduA]

how much would they want though. This place i was at this morning was talking £2500 for it to be reconditioned

They open it up and if it dont need certain parts because there still good! they reduce the bill. they charge 1950 for a complete rebuild, im going Monday for them to run there diagnostics on it, (not vagcom) its special for the multitronic. i have mild symtoms and a dry bearing noise! should get car back thursday. also been told to haggle about price!!!! but this place is very highly regarded by all on here that have used them! look down the page to see my last post about them!!!

 

[AudiiduA]

Just a thought! on monday i could go in and ask them to do both our box's but at a dicounted rate, what do you think?

 

[clough103]

well at the moment mine is driving ok so i wouldnt want to buy a recon gearbox just yet. Mine was more along the dilmemma of servicing, as it seems if i change the oil it will most likely leak thin fluid through the seals and make the box die.

if i dont change the oil the old oil will make the box die.

seems i have a ticking timebomb but im not forking out til it needs fixing tbh but if you want to mention my problem, i may consider having some work done there if it is going to save my gearbox from costing me big money

 

[AudiiduA]

well at the moment mine is driving ok so i wouldnt want to buy a recon gearbox just yet. Mine was more along the dilmemma of servicing, as it seems if i change the oil it will most likely leak thin fluid through the seals and make the box die.

if i dont change the oil the old oil will make the box die.

seems i have a ticking timebomb but im not forking out til it needs fixing tbh but if you want to mention my problem, i may consider having some work done there if it is going to save my gearbox from costing me big money

They dont supply a recon box, they do your box!
the jolt your getting is signs of the box self destructing, imput shaft if i recall rightly?? i have been down all avenues and done hours of research! Like myself this ticking time bomb, if it does go then your box cannot be rebuilt! 4.5k for new box Audi only!!!!! yikes..... ive even thought about trading it in but traders seem to know about this box's potental problems and asked me questions! for fear of them testing it? i didnt take it... so im forking out and its having the upgrade 7th clutch new everything! so ilbe keeping it for a while. was going to put to him 3k to do both!!!!!!

 

[clough103]

well the jolt is just me apparently as this auto bloke said he can make it do that too and demonstrated, but it sets off ok actually. The only thing i started this thread was what to do for the future. I have onlyt just bought the car and I bought it becasue at the time i believed it drove fine and I dont plan to spend another 1500 on a gearbox that is currently working OK at this point. I am just trying to figure out the best way to maintain it so it lasts as long as possible from now.

 

[jdp1962]

well at the moment mine is driving ok so i wouldnt want to buy a recon gearbox just yet. Mine was more along the dilmemma of servicing, as it seems if i change the oil it will most likely leak thin fluid through the seals and make the box die.

if i dont change the oil the old oil will make the box die.

seems i have a ticking timebomb but im not forking out til it needs fixing tbh but if you want to mention my problem, i may consider having some work done there if it is going to save my gearbox from costing me big money

I think you're in danger of having too much information to process. I've never heard of a multitronic box being made worse by changing the oil.

 

[clough103]

your telling me. i think that has already happened.

i have read that a couple of people have changed oil and had problems afterwards though.

Theres a firm called Indietech in Milton Keynes who seem to be among the most reasonable prices for work to this gearbox. certainly cheaper than other figures that have been mentioned. I may give them a ring and see what they say.

I suspect the danger of ringing any business up is that you are an opportunity for them to make money, therefore if they can scaremonger you into spending more i guess a lot would even if it isnt necessary

 

[jdp1962]

your telling me. i think that has already happened.

i have read that a couple of people have changed oil and had problems afterwards though.

Theres a firm called Indietech in Milton Keynes who seem to be among the most reasonable prices for work to this gearbox. certainly cheaper than other figures that have been mentioned. I may give them a ring and see what they say.

I suspect the danger of ringing any business up is that you are an opportunity for them to make money, therefore if they can scaremonger you into spending more i guess a lot would even if it isnt necessary

The worry of course, as you say in your very first post, is that you're not sure when it was last changed. When I got mine, I contacted the dealer who had supplied the car new and done all the servicing, and they sent me printouts of all the invoices the first owner had incurred from new. This enabled me to have a complete service history of the car, including when the multitronic oil change was done. Complete peace of mind.

Why don't you try that? Maybe even call Audi UK?

 

[AudiiduA]

I phoned Indie tech, they only deal with the ECU software ect, they told me they dont do rebuilds!! but do the clutch upgrades! to be honest i would change the oil and see how it is.... hoping mines not as bad as it seems?? had more juddering today under medium accel, none at slow moving away! so needs clutch upgrade, but its the dry bearing, rumbling noise im more worried about!! had the car 3 weeks Doh

 

[vinesh]

The worry of course, as you say in your very first post, is that you're not sure when it was last changed. When I got mine, I contacted the dealer who had supplied the car new and done all the servicing, and they sent me printouts of all the invoices the first owner had incurred from new. This enabled me to have a complete service history of the car, including when the multitronic oil change was done. Complete peace of mind.

Why don't you try that? Maybe even call Audi UK?

I have recently brought my car and did not have much paper work. I phoned the previous dealer and they sent me alll the old invoices.

 

[clough103]

some things on my car were done at audi dealers, some done at other garages. I might try ringing audi but even if it wasnt changed then i still dont know where that leaves me. Only had my car a few weeks myself and i dont really fancy picking up an expense at half of what i paid for the car in the first place

 

[clough103]

OK latest update is, i have spoken with the previous owner who seemed to know very little about the car mechanically but from the receipts spent a lot of money on it. Seems he took it to a local independant where he knew the owner and the owner had exactly the same model a4 so he had trusted him to do what was necessary. He seemed suprised when i suggested the history doesnt show the required oil change hasnt been done. His reply was 'i used to take it in and whatever they said needed doing i had them do it' so perhaps it was never put to him.

Rang Audi UK who can confirm all the eary services but have no record of the oil ever being changed. Explained my problem to a tech who basically said he thought i should change the oil asap. I explained what the transmission specialist said about the thinner oil causing a prob and he agreed saying it made sense and i need to take a chance whether i run it and it could die that way or change it and cause it to die that way. Back to sq 1

So looks like at 99500 it hasnt ever been changed at all.

 

[vinesh]

I would change the oil asap.

Maybe do a double flush to get rid of all the crap.

 

[clough103]

would a double flush involve buying 2 lots of oil?

 

[vinesh]

would a double flush involve buying 2 lots of oil?

Yep double cost of oil.

What ever they quote for a oil change, double that cost.

A forum member carried out a double flush and it made a difference.

 

[AudiiduA]

I had mine double flushed! must have done some good cause i took it today to Driver Transmissions and Ami there took my car for a good drive! his conclusion was not to do a full rebuild! yeehaa! but the 7 plate clutch upgrade, new oil filter (the one inside the box) he's going to check chain pulleys ect too and then it will have to have its 3rd lot of oil in lol... basically halfed my bill... will report back thursday or friday after i get it back!
Clough just do the oil and flush! yours has similar miles to mine!

 

[clough103]

am going to book it in mate. will post how things are getting on. my other half expecting our 2nd baby at the moment so not comitting to booking anything until the baby is here

 

[donsajid]

Having been through this nightmare myself earlier this year you have my full sympathies. On the bright side, that 2.5tdi engine coupled with a working multitronic gearbox is so f*&vi^g worth it

 

[AudiiduA]

am going to book it in mate. will post how things are getting on. my other half expecting our 2nd baby at the moment so not comitting to booking anything until the baby is here

Congrats with the baby! 2nd one?? must be crackers lol been trying to get rid of mine ever since..... good luck!

 

[clough103]

spoke too soon i guess. baby son was born this morning

 

[Ash4d]

Congragulations on the new baby.

 

[AudiiduA]

spoke too soon i guess. baby son was born this morning

Wow! that was quick! Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy pal!!!!! get some sleep while you can... lol

 

[jdp1962]

spoke too soon i guess. baby son was born this morning

Well done, I do hope mother and baby are both doing well.

(BTW, your name isn't David Cameron, is it?)

 

[vinesh]

Congrats!!!

 

[John C]

Hi Clough103

Change your oil & I would use the standard spec oil.

It should be changed every 40K but when I bought my car (A6 2.5 TDI Avant Sport 163 Multi) it had 80K on the clock & no evidence of any oil change. I changed mine myself & will now change it every 20K to be on the safe side.

The multitronic does not have a sump to take off (unlike the tiptronic) as the gearbox casing has a vertical split.

John

A double flush is not a bad idea and is cheaper than a rebuilt gearbox.

 

[clough103]

thanks for the replied everyone. Baby Adam is doing great.

Back to business with me now off on leave from work am going to get this gearbox sorted. Was going to ring around for the best price tomorrow but you gave me a thought.

Am not that unhandy mechanically. What is involved to change this oil, are any special tools/methods needed or is it as simple as dropping engine oil and filling back up again.

cheers

 

[clough103]

solved this problem for me once and for all. The servicing dilemma and horror stories gave me much doubt about my car being the longer term reliable keeper that i originally bought it for.

Chopped it in today against a similar car i saw with a trader. 1.9 TDI 130 manual, same year 29000 less miles at 72k in denim blue. Traded it in for a couple of hundred, job sorted!