A4 190 TDI S-Tronic Gearbox

craigomills

craigomills

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My S-line Avant with the S-Tronic has become really sluggish. It is at 26k miles and has had its services etc.

I know the S-Tronic is known for being a bit slow in responding, but recently it has got a lot worse. Even in S mode it has become noticeably slower to react and even quite jerky when setting off.

Is this normal? or should I be looking to get it booked in, for Audi to tell me they can't find a fault?
 
S mode always makes the pulling away process less than smooth as it increases the sensitivity of the throttle.

So by sluggish - do you think the engine is that way inclined or that the transmission is impeding performance?
 
cosmicblue said:
S mode always makes the pulling away process less than smooth as it increases the sensitivity of the throttle.

So by sluggish - do you think the engine is that way inclined or that the transmission is impeding performance?
Click to expand...

The engine feels fine as is strong enough once on the move, just feels like its being held back more than normal
 
Probably needs checking out - you might have a brake dragging for example.
 
My old 2.0 TDI was around 25000 miles and the gearbox was exactly the same as you describe it, sluggish even in S mode.
 
With temp drops I’ve noticed a slight change in jerkiness (more prominent & first winter with the b9). Not sure how the gearbox could be sluggish in S, In what way exactly. Is the car up to temp when you notice this?
 
I’ve also noticed this on my S tronic and I’m a similar mileage. On a few occasions the lag is about twice as bad as usual. I put my foot down but nothing happens for what seems like an age. Definitely worse than the usual lag.

Keep meaning to book it in but in the past I’ve had Audi look at it but they say it’s normal.
 
I'm on 14k and it's getting worse. I don't know why, but just before it decides to regen the DPF it gets ridiculous, so much so that I took it to the stealers. Guess what? It did a regen on the way and was back to its crappy normal. That doesn't apply to TFSI but the rant made me feel better!

That said, recently mine has had sleeps. Even rolling back seemingly out of gear on hill starts. Also getting stuck in a lower gear and hitting the rev limiter. It is very intermittent and the so called mechanics will say "computer says nah". Basically it ruins an otherwise brilliant car.

As for S mode, it does not affect throttle response. Dynamic does that but if you just flick the selector back it's only the gearbox that changes from utterly crap to very slightly less utterly crap.
 
My 190 Quattro is at 28k miles and has started dropping down gears too soon and sending a shunt through the driveline.
1st to 2nd is jerky too, which is disappointing really, as this is the reason I chose an auto.
It’s a shame really as the gearbox ruins the car and is not suited to the A4; Audi should give in and fit a ZF8 to all A4s. After all, BMW make it work for them.


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I feel similar about mine. Im coming from a 320i BMW F30, and it had a much more responsive throttle than my A4. Prefer the A4 in almost every other way though.
 
LukeHawk said:
I feel similar about mine. Im coming from a 320i BMW F30, and it had a much more responsive throttle than my A4. Prefer the A4 in almost every other way though.
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I came from the same model 3 series; the A4 is better in most ways but the gear box is a fundamental component.


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audi upgrades
cuke2u said:
However they are different gearboxes between the bmw automatic and the dsg as fitted to Audi four pot engines. Each of them have positives and negatives because of their design. Even bmw forums have divided opinions on the zf 8.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=72&t=1715526
Click to expand...

Having owned both, the DCT in the Audi is great if you’re accelerating out of a junction but hopeless in town. The ZF8 is a good all rounder and reasonably responsive out on the open road but way smoother in town.
My major gripe, which Audi Customer Services cannot help me with, is the way the stop start cuts in before the car has come to a stop. Quite a few times, the car has effectively stalled just as I’m about to make a right turn across traffic or enter a roundabout. I know I can disable it with a simple button press, but, if I forget, it can be a bit hairy when it cuts out, I’ve even had it happen when joining a B road from a country lane with a car approaching.


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Just place the gearbox into sport mode, problem solved. However I still drive mine in 'D' with the start stop enabled and don't have any issues...
 
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cuke2u said:
Just place the gearbox into sport mode, problem solved. However I still drive mine in 'D' with the start stop enabled and don't have any issues...
Click to expand...

That is an option...but...if you forget, the car is dangerous.


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I had a 190tdi a5 s line loaner just a week back.

Other than the rock hard lowered Ride, I really enjoyed the car.

Coming from a tuned 272 I was very impressed with the off the line acceleration.

Almost made an electric car sound whine on take off, very unique for the turbo to sound that way on a 4 pot diesel, any other owners noticed that cool sound?

In town it seemed to change up a gear too quickly which meant it quickly had to work harder to drop down a gear during braking then accelerating again.

So I'd say I preferred the 8 speed on mine. A tcu tune on the s tronic though should be flawless, going by experience apart from the unreliability of the mechatronics in the dsg, it is a lovely gearbox to use if the mapping is right.
 
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AdrianWh said:
That is an option...but...if you forget, the car is dangerous.


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Click to expand...
I think it being dangerous or not is simply only a matter of opinion. I still rarely ever use sport and prefer the manner in which it performs in 'D' with the mode set to auto, even before I had the tcu tune. The version in my car is probably the best dsg gearbox in production now. Even the 'hallowed' ZF gearbox has it's critics and is not perfect by any means even with BMW owners being critical...
 
cuke2u said:
I think it being dangerous or not is simply only a matter of opinion. I still rarely ever use sport and prefer the manner in which it performs in 'D' with the mode set to auto, even before I had the tcu tune. The version in my car is probably the best dsg gearbox in production now. Even the 'hallowed' ZF gearbox has it's critics and is not perfect by any means even with BMW owners being critical...
Click to expand...

It would be a matter of opinion, except, on a few occasions I’ve been caught out in normal driving with the car cutting out at key moments. The gearbox is great for fast driving but can be jerky in traffic, sometimes smooth, other times lurching. It’s the erratic nature that is unnerving and the low speed cutoff should be removed.
In summary, you should be able to jump in a car - like my wife’s manual Polo - and be confident that it’ll respond to inputs when you need it.
I could switch off the SS every time I start the car and/or flick into Sport, but, if you forget, there’s a chance you could line up to turn right and the car cuts out as you decide to make the manoeuvre, resulting in a squeaky bum moment. I don’t want this hassle.
It’s a shame, as the rest of the car is great but I’m looking at changing it for a car with the ZF8 which I’ve used before and found not to have these issues.



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Jumped into mine and had no issues, even after being a devout manual gearbox owner for 47 years and previously considered any automatic gearbox to be the devil's spawn and previously vowed I would never own a car with one, including the zf which I have extensively tested in the past and found the kick down like waiting for a bus.

Even BMW owners have complaints about the zf so perfect it isn't. It maybe that an automatic, not dsg, just suits your style of driving, but neither of them can be compared to the driving experience a manual gearbox gives.

However I find the dsg, as fitted to my A4, a fantastic gearbox under any conditions.
So we'll beg to differ...
 
You’re right, a manual gearbox is the best especially with a light clutch and positive action.
I suspect a ZF does suite my driving style and the ZF8HP almost negates the need for a DCT, could also be down to mine being a Quattro and turbo diesel which incurs 2 more layers of lag.
My 2013 F31 BMW 320i had no such issues but was inferior in many other departments to the B9.
I can see a 330d in my sights.


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I wish you good luck with whatever car you chose and I hope you do find one to your liking...
 
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The ZF on my M140i is a infinitely more responsive than the DCT on my old A4, I’ve got absolutely no complaints about the ZF8 box whatsoever
 
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A4B9 said:
The ZF on my M140i is a infinitely more responsive than the DCT on my old A4, I’ve got absolutely no complaints about the ZF8 box whatsoever
Click to expand...

Good to hear. I’ve just sealed the deal on a 2018 330d M Sport.


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Mine was so bad I could drive along and floor the throttle, lift, floor, lift and absolutely nothing would happen. It was not only c r a p but dangerous. Not subjective, just dangerous.

It has just had its first service (mortgage advisor needed next to service advisor to pay for oil change!!) and it also had an ECU update. Well, wow what a difference. I love it now and if I floor it there is instant response. Actually even if I just touch the pedal I feel instant power, in all modes of Drive select.

So in conclusion, if you think the car is dangerous, it probably is, but Audi seem to have found a cure. I think the workshop code for the update is 24DY.

Good luck
 
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audi upgrades
Can't say for sure but may well show, after a certain amount of time, details of the update in your myaudi service record. The one I had performed to the front camera does.
 
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