s8 gearbox in safe mode

[goldengoose]

hi guys, i have an s8 4.2 quattro and my gearbox has gone into safe mode or limp home mode, has anyone else come across tis and could you tell me what i need to be thinking about in terms of repair costs, thanks in advance for any replies...............nicky

[AWedder999]

Hi

I have developed the same problem, but it is intermittent.

Audi main dealer took £500 off me for saying that the cover box was cracked and was allowing in moisture - they replaced the box and since thin I get the Safe Mode everytime the car is started, After running it for a few minutes and trying several more times it usually comes right and is perfectly drivable, until the next time it has stood for a while - then, same routine all over again.

Having looked under the bonnet I do see that there is always a lot of condensation on the lower surface of the bonnet...

Have drained the wheel arch tubes and made sure that the main drains under the aircon intake box are clear - they are.

Audi now want £1,100 for a new ECU for the Gearbox, but cannot promise that this will fix the problem.

Otherwise, the car at 55K miles is perfect, but I am forming an opinion that I should dump it and get something else, as the forums are full of electronic problem issues and people are saying that these are a one way street to losing money...

Any bright ideas out there for this 1st time user of this website community?

Thanks

[SiliconS]

The tiptronic gearbox on my '99 A6 has dropped into limp-home mode about five times in the last year since I bought the car. Nobody has been able to diagnose the problem, but turning off the engine and restarting always clears the condition so it's not a major inconvenience. It always happens for me at walking/manoeuvering speed after a 30 minute journey. Naturally it's completely random and impossible to reproduce in front of a technician. Next time it happens I'll drive home and plug it into VAG-COM and see what that says.

I've read reports on other forums that a change of gearbox oil has solved the problem for some people. I had the oil changed in April and the 'box has only tripped out once since then so I guess it might have helped. It's not a cheap fix though but might be worth a go?


Goldengoose, you don't say whether your gearbox is stuck in limp-home mode permanently or whether the problem is intermittent and can be reset with the ignition. If it's stuck in that mode then a diagnosis might be more straightforward. Intermittent, random problems are more difficult.

[mazzy]

It maybe the speed sensor on the gearbox, this can cause it to go into limp mode. They may have not connected it properly when they did the box.

maz.

[donvas]

First you need to get it tested with some kind of VAG tester,and see if water has collected inside the E BOX in the engine bay....

[Siena]

Cheapest option is to convert the S8 to a 5 or 6 speed manual. I've never been a fan of automatic transmissions that have "brains".

I've successfully converted a '99 3.7 quattro sport to manual, after expensive transmission failure.