Fully charged battery solves gearbox issues.

[Melges514]

Always make sure the battery is well charged to ensure good auto transmission function

I have a 3.0 Diesel S5 Cabrio with the 7 Speed S-Tronic here in Oz. I returned from a long trip to the UK​ desperate for a drive in the Adelaide Hills having garaged the vehicle 7 weeks ago only to find a horrifying set of transmission glitches:
Unexpected shifts and neutrals; no S mode; loss of reverse; etc. Oh my poor Audi!!!

I looked up some of the experience on-line with this box and saw these same issues with unhappy repair stories. Yikes!

I just wanted to pass on the repeated advice of Rowell and Searle, the auto transmission specialists here in Adelaide: Make sure the battery is fully charged before panicking!

I took the car for a long charging run and lo and behold, the sweet box is fully restored. It makes me wonder how many of the past problems I read about began as simple charging issues that became mechanical later. Rowell had given me the advice previously when I had replaced at their suggestion a 3 year old battery in my 2010 car. That old battery was likely responsible in their view for my initial unhappiness when buying the car used: glitches no matter how long the car ran for. So this time round, a long run out to Murray Bridge with the heater and lights on and I still get what I need for the electrickery. Perfect gearbox function and the tire sensor warning went way too.

I do need to buy a battery charger though for a trickle charge whilst I am away.

 

[warren_S5]

Very interesting story, and thanks for sharing. Poor power management by the system if it affects gearbox function. Great post!

 

[Melges514]

Poor power management by the system if it affects gearbox function....

Glad you found the post useful. Expanding slightly:

Scanning across all of the threads on all of the blogs on transmission issues for the 7 speed they all sounded similar at the outset to mine. Something triggered when a number also cited short journeys. No doubt in town, early morning with the lights and heated seat on and the phone on charge.
Also, the citing of random, phantom codes that disappear when the car comes back from transmission repair/ service but then re-appear.
People have spent a lot of money and time and seem very unhappy.

Simply sitting as mine was still draws a lot of power per R&S.

The R&S people told me that the entire management function of the transmission system is pretty intense electrically with numerous servos, sensors and then compute power on top of that. As soon as it gets under charged the management system recognizes the shortfall and functionality disappears in a fairly ordered fashion to preserve the ability to get to the shop etc: the paddles; S Mode; frequent de-clutching hence awful hoppy downshifts reverse etc.
They also told me that panicky Audi owners will soon have a separate phone line. Apparently most independent garagists in Adelaide send their Audis to R&S for trans and most of the time it's the same issue. Probably it soon got boring and disruptive of their business repairing BMW's and Mercs with real problems (judging by the collection in there when I went in the first time).

Anyhow it's worth a try keeping the charging up. Mine was a pure dream to drive yesterday. That diesel's torque is monstrous even if this car is a weighty beast. Whizzing around the hills in S mode was very entertaining. I think it's the perfect car for here.

 

[warren_S5]

I might get one of those solar chargers that sits on the dashboard for extended periods when not in use (airport car parks etc).