I thought it was simple but..........
I have a Y-reg Audi A6, 2.5TDI automatic. The car has done 140,000 miles and I decided to replace the Automatic Transmission Fluid.
I drained it out (no problem) but then couldn't replace the fluid, (according to the workshop manual, Audi use a special piece of equipment, and when I attempted to fill it using the level-check hole the oil wouldn't stay in). I've now decided to let Audi fill it properly.
My questions.......
My gearbox has no fluid in it. Can I tow the car (slowly, in neutral, approx 1.5 miles)? Can I start the engine and have it ticking over, to allow the power steering to work?
Thanks for your thoughts.
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The engine will turn the torque converter which is probably still full of fluid which may turn the internal impeller and thus try to turn the cog wheels. It also has a hollow shaft with another shaft running inside to a pump after the torque converter - this is not driven by the torque converter, it has a direct mechanical drive via the shaft running through the TC's hollow shaft, I would be worried about the pump running while dry. Also, I *think* some of the cog wheels will be turning via the output shaft.
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cant you put it on a car transporter, save the hassle of a wrecked auto box
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Damn, another expensive mistake! Only other time I used one it cost me £80
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Some cars, I don't recall make/model, had instructions saying add fluid for towing. Could you not get a suspended tow to keep front wheels off the ground? Might be cheaper than a low-loader!
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there must surely be a local lad with a transit recovery would do a local 5 mile drop for £40 cash?
look in the salvage section of your autotrader for numbers
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You'll find the steering slightly lighter once the vehicle is in motion.
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You'll find the steering slightly lighter once the vehicle is in motion.
He'll find his wallet even lighter, even a short distance will trash the box!
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He'll find his wallet even lighter even a short distance will trash the box!
What, even if the car was in neutral without the engine running?
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Reckon so.
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In the old days,autos had a pump on the output shaft but that was the old days.
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Yes DD, because if the driven wheels are on the ground some elements of the gearbox will be turning if the wheels are turning ie during towing. This is bad, as SFAIK, the gearbox needs pressurised fluid to lubricate the moving parts and no oil pressure is as bad for an autobox as it is for an engine.
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DO NOT TOW IN THIS CONDITION.
MD
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I think I would work on the problem of refilling the box. Try a pressure bleeder, or a garden sprayer? Thin tube down the dipstick pipe?
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I think I would work on the problem of refilling the box. Try a pressure bleeder or a garden sprayer? Thin tube down the dipstick pipe?
I've been thinking that right through this thread - there must be details on a VAG forum somewhere.
I just Googled for Audi+ATF+change and the first hit is:
www.taligentx.com/passat/maintenance/atfchange/
- does that help?
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Try asking the question on audifans.net; used to use them when I had my Audi, lots of helpful people there; bit like here really!
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Thanks for all your advice guys.
I've been a member of the RAC for years but never used them (it's really been insurance for my wife and 2 driving daughters). Anyway I rang them, they came out and towed me to Audi (front wheels raised), no quibles, no charge. So that was the good bit.
Audi then were kind enough to refill my gearbox for the quite reasonable (not) sum of £174!
That's enough preventative maintenance for this month I think.
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Good thinking batman. I'm surprised they were that helpful in this day and age.
Did you give them the fluid that you were going to use?
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... towed me to Audi (front wheels raised) no quibles no charge.
Isn't the A6 RWD?
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>>Isn't the A6 RWD?
No. FWD or AWD in the quattro
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Ah right, just thought Audis were usually RWD.
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Ah right just thought Audis were usually RWD.
Audi don't do any RWD only cars.
BMW & Merc's are RWD, Audi's are FWD (or 4WD for the Quattro models).
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BMW & Merc's are RWD Audi's are FWD (or 4WD for the Quattro models).
Fair enough, I stand corrected! Shows how many times I've lifted the bonnet on an Audi!!
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Hi Daver1
Phew £174!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they changed the filter screen as well for that price!. I couldn't blame you for trying to do it at home at that price.
Still it reminds me why I dont buy Audi.
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Thanks for the input.
For anyone doing the job, the link posted by Bill Payer earlier in the thread looks to give the full info. (I'd previously bought some of the Audi workshop manuals off the Erwin Audi site and the Bill Payer thread is much better).
Final (unrelated) kick in the teeth - the battery died yesterday. Mad panic, needed the car, had to buy one from Halfords (£96). Got it home, wouldn't fit! Despite it being the correct one as per their computer (50mm too long and not enough room in the engine bay).
Looked on the internet, found 3 or 4 sites, all delivery next day, fed in the vehicle details and they all specified batteries 50mm too large (prices £69 to £90).
Finally had to bite the bullet and buy one from Audi earlier today. They couldn't narrow the correct battery down until I gave them the chassis number. Evidently "Audi A6, 2001(Y), 2.5TDI, automatic" still throws up 4 different possibilities! What chance have you got!
Oh the Audi battery price was £124. I have to go back to Halfords tomorroew to try to get my money back.
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Go down to Halfords and buy yourself a cycle tyre inflation pump. Using the flexible extension, suck up a pump full of ATF and then slowly fill the gearbox using the gearbox dipstick tube. It will take some time but it does work.
Hope this helps...
--
These are the views of Robin the Technician with 35 years in the trade. I fix, therefore I am...
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The damage done by the fluid contamination caused by a method such as this (do you know what's inside a Chinese bike pump) will cost a lot more than £174 to put right.
It's easy to be wise after the event, and I fully sympathise with the original poster but with all jobs, plan very thoroughly and go carefully - especially on service-hostile items such as this.
659.
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You can actually buy a 0.5 litre metal oil syringe for awkward filling jobs on transmissions and diffs. I have one, with a selection of plastic pipes. It cost me less than £10 a couple of years back.
£174 just for a fill of ATF is a disgusting price, how they can justify a price like that.
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how they can justify a price like that.
Isn't the official Audi proceedure to use a gravity feed from a funnel hanging on the bonnet? However they do it, it looks like a lot of messing about. Then there's the proceedure for checking the level to go through (after getting the transmission hot). OK, £174 is a lot, but at Audi dealer rates it's not really surprising. And they probably charged the standard ATF change price, not just ATF fill.
One of the factors in my deciding to buy MB's ServicePlus was that my car needs an ATF change next year and the dealer told me it costs £200.
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