Something is slipping... I think? Help please

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cooni

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My car (pre facelift 8P S3) is doing some funny business when accelerating. With the throttle wide open, around when it hits boost (around 3000rpm), the revs climb very quickly for 400ish rpm and then drop again before the car proceeds to accelerate normally. There is definately no corresponding acceleration during this rev spike, in fact, it feels like its pulling less. Does not (seem to) happen if I gradually get up to higher revs and then open the throttle to accelerate (ie. no slippage if I open the throttle from 4500rpm)

This is most noticable in 3rd through 5th gear (usually not going fast enough for 6th) when there is load on the engine (uphill or flats for higher gears) and only occurs the first couple of times on wide open throttle each time the car is started after being off for a while. It happens both when the engine is fairly cold and the same if I've let it warm up completely driving it slowly. After those few times, acceleration is perfectly fine.

Car is GIAC'ed and otherwise stock. No warning lights, ESP on or off and I have new tyres (Eagle F1 Assym; which are amazing)... I've (already) done ~38000km and it was serviced at Audi at 15k and 30k.

Here are some videos of it happening... The audio makes it pretty obvious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oz9onnLwho
(shows it most obviously)​

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3aZgt53cmI
(lesser degree)​

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrBFbFdhtC4
(normal acceleration, moments later)​

Anyone know what's going on?
 
Clutch slip. There was a similar thread last week IIRC.
 
it sounds like ur clutch is slipping, with so much power going through it, especially with the re map, you really need an upgraded one
 
JohnS3 said:
Clutch slip. There was a similar thread last week IIRC.
Click to expand...
I figured as much... But is it normal for the problem to disappear after the first few times? Do clutches warm up or something like that too?
 
It seems the clutch / DMF in the S3's take much more punishment than their 2 wheel drive cousins. I haven't heard of any of the 2wd cars suffering in the same way.

Mine did exactly the same, and Audi replaced it.

More proof that the parts bin has been stretched to its natural limit.
 
Me too! I am standard though with no Remap. Strangely mine is very intermittent. One day the power feels down, then the next it feels spritely again and the clutch/flywheel slip.

I am going into Audi tomorrow so will let everyone know how I get on.

Praying for a warranty swap
 
ollyhawkeye said:
Me too! I am standard though with no Remap. Strangely mine is very intermittent. One day the power feels down, then the next it feels spritely again and the clutch/flywheel slip.

I am going into Audi tomorrow so will let everyone know how I get on.

Praying for a warranty swap
Click to expand...

If you get no luck at your usual dealer let me know and I'll put you in touch with one 'localish' who acknowledge the issue (Reading and Newbury didn't for me)
 
cooni said:
I figured as much... But is it normal for the problem to disappear after the first few times? Do clutches warm up or something like that too?
Click to expand...

They often improve with heat. This is due to any slight oil film on the plate being burned off.
 
Mines been ok so far, done about 8K on REVO Stage 1. It is a little worrying that there is a lack of consistency between cars though.

In fact when when I had this problem on my Mk5 Gti, the guys on the Golf forum didnt seem to thoink this was a common problem?

Fingers crossed mine stays Ok, dont really want the hassle of fighting the dealers (again) to swap it out or having to fit a more aggressive aftermarket unit.

In fact if I cant run my S3 long term with REVO stage 1 on the std clutch and DMF I would consider changing the car altogether.
Which would be a damn shame as I like pretty much everything about it (and woud lose a fortune!).

cheers
Paul
 
Its your clutch (and possibly flywheel too) - see my "Please Help My Car Is Bust" thread from last week.
Yes they do warm up and the problem eases off - but you will have to get a Sachs my friend as it won't repair itself ....
 
Seems that the gremlins of modding the S3 are starting to rear their heads.

Dude what gear is that last one in? Thats some rapid acceleration there from flat as a fart revs :rockwoot:
 
WiZBiT said:
Seems that the gremlins of modding the S3 are starting to rear their heads.

Dude what gear is that last one in? Thats some rapid acceleration there from flat as a fart revs :rockwoot:
Click to expand...
all in 4th :)
 
Iggu said:
Its your clutch (and possibly flywheel too) - see my "Please Help My Car Is Bust" thread from last week.
Yes they do warm up and the problem eases off - but you will have to get a Sachs my friend as it won't repair itself ....
Click to expand...

Would be interested to see how you get on with an uprated unit, cost, pedal feel, bite etc...
Be sure to keep us us fellow concerned owners posted.:beerchug:

cheers
Paul
 
I called Audi and was quoted the AU$1200 (div 2.5 for pounds) ball park just to take a look *if* it doesn't turn out to be a warrantable issue.

Any opinions / suggestions as to what I should do? Risk it and hope for warranty? I'm thinking that cause a clutch should last a lot longer than 38000km, no? But then thats arguably just simply wear and tear too...
 
I had similar issues mate, my car was taken in to Audi...they stripped the clutch and found that it was badly worn so they replaced it under freeway plan.
 
audi upgrades
Iggu said:
Of course mate - see http://audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?p=700661#post700661

You talked me into Revo in the first place remember ? Now its my turn to try and persuade you ...
Click to expand...

Ha ha, just read your other thread, sounds like the car has now become a real weapon.
Reckon if I had to go uprated clutch then it would be very tempting to go Stage 2........
Sitting tight for now, hopefully the std clutch and DMF hold up for a while yet though.


Enjoy!:icon_thumright:

PS - Is it faster than an RS4 ?:whistle2:
 
Last time i had the car in stock mode it didnt slip... (less torque)
I'm suspecting it won't again this time... (i dont have a flashloader on me)
Will there be obvious damage to the clutch/flywheel on inspection if its been slipping? I don't want to be in a position where the guys are just like "its fine, show us it slipping"
 
I promised an update so here it is...

I went to the dealers and took out a technician who saw the "slipping" and acknowledged it as unlikely to be the clutch as it doesn't do it in all gears, however my car is still at the dealers being investigated (4 days now) around the suspected clutch slip/flywheel problem. The master technician and the service manager are taking my car overnight (tonight) so that they can do some testing on a long run (Slough to Reading) to try and establish what the problem is. They don't seem to want to admit that its anything other than a clutch problem. I have reluctantly let them take it, I know you might think me crazy but I do just want a resolution.

I am a little concerned now though as they have been speaking to Audi direct - does this now mean my card is marked and whatever the dealer says goes? As I would like a second opinion as most people I speak to say its the DMF.

Can anyone offer some advice or the right things to say?

Obviously if it is the clutch then its the clutch, but it just doesn't feel like that to me.

Thanks

Olly
 
ollyhawkeye said:
Obviously if it is the clutch then its the clutch, but it just doesn't feel like that to me.

Thanks

Olly
Click to expand...

When they get the gearbox off they should automatically check the DMF as part of the diagnosis path. It should be pretty apparent it its knackered.

The words 'Master Technician' made me laugh out loud. Most of them struggle to remediate anything without a DTC being thrown or something falling off!!!
 
Yeh I know that feeling. I always find the best advice comes from the specialists like Awesome, AMD etc they seem to have a much better handle on things.

I will let you know the diagnosis tomorrow, apparently according to the master technician the clutch is a 9 hour job.....I would be amazed if that was true - perhaps if they were using plastic spanners and reading a manual.
 
Best of luck mate, hope they get it sorted for you.

9 hours my @r$e; it surely can't take a master technician that long!!! I could do it blindfolded with a spoon and a hammer in 9 hours.

Giving your car to a dealership like Audi should fill you with a warm confidence, instead I tend to find it makes me reach for the bicycle clips!
 
I had to send mine in for traction control issues..... Not good faults traction control/clutch as you know all they are gunna do is hammer the **** out of it....
 
Right well I have just had the phone call from Slough Audi which I was dreading....as it turns out however I got a pleasant surprise!

They want to take the gearbox out, so I asked them how much that would cost me and apparently all the work thus far and to come will be done under warranty! So even though they can't tell me what the problem is they are doing it for free...

Very happy about that as I wasn't looking forward to the bill after the car being with them for 5 days so far....

So all that money I had put to one side now might be re-directed towards a remap

Every cloud and all that....

Thanks for all your help through this!!

Olly
 
ollyhawkeye said:
They want to take the gearbox out, so I asked them how much that would cost me and apparently all the work thus far and to come will be done under warranty! So even though they can't tell me what the problem is they are doing it for free...
Olly
Click to expand...

Great result and no doubt a big relief!
 
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