RandyP63

I went to fill up my wife's 96 A4 2.8 Quattro automatic today. It drove over to the station fine, as I left I noticed that the idle went up about 3-400 RPM. As I started back home the revs went to 3-3500 rpm with little drive to the wheels. Temps were normal and shifting into gear was firm. I looked at other threads and did not see anything that resembles my issues.

The car has 207K miles on it, we have owned it for 17 years and I have maintained it. Any help would be appreciated, it still looks like new and I would hate to part with it. I don't trust driving it to get a scan done on it. Not a lot of options where I live.

4Driver4

How long since the last trans service?
I'd start by pulling codes and checking fluid level.

RandyP63

the last trans service was a year ago, 11,000 miles. I need to get it towed to get the codes checked. I doubt that the local autozone can handle the task. Thanks for the reply.

turbo510

I've also got a '96 (248K miles) and plan to keep it as long as practical. Your idle RPMs going up that much is a little odd, because the Idle Control Valve should regulate it. Check that all drive shafts are OK. My daughter's B6 once stripped splines in an outer CV and lost power to the wheels, but the noise and vibration was obvious.

You said that it had little drive to the wheels, but then said you don't trust driving it, so is it drivable or not? As 4Drive4 suggested, check the ATF fluid level properly. And you are right- Autozone likely won't be able to scan the TCM.

KBNYA4

Randy, please let me know what you find. I am having the same exact problem. I have a 2001 A4 Automatic with 140K. The exact same thing happen to me after getting gas.

RandyP63

I have since driven the car since my last post. During upshifts at approximately 2500 RPM there is some slippage, downshifts as well, but at much lower RPM's. The idle surge has stopped, I did notice tha when rounding a corner the slippage appeared, I'm no genius but perhaps the fluid level is extremely low. I am trailering the car to a friend for a VAGCOM check. In the meantime, the wife went and bought a 2014 A4 Premium Plus. I can repair the old one at a more relaxed pace. Thank You for the replies. I will update when I obtain more info.

RandyP63

I finally got around to the problem with the transmission. And it wasn't the transmission. The throttle body was randomly sticking, when the idle would increase things went awry. Cleaned the throttle body and new valve cover gaskets and problem solved. Thanks to all for the replies.

RandyP63

Well, after taking the throttle body apart, it was restricting movement of the throttle plate. Thoroughly cleaned the throttle body and intake. Problem solved.