I've had my '05 A8L for 3 weeks now, and overall, I'm very happy with it. However, I'm really annoyed at the low speed behaviour of the auto trans. In "S" mode, the low speed driveline take up is just terrible.

For example, if rolling up to a red light, you can feel the transmission down shifting several times, OK, great, that's what sport mode is for. Now, if I'm rolling at say, 5 mph, intending to stop, and now the light turns green, I reapply throttle. This is a diaster, there appears to be no immediate effect to the throttle input (almost a rubber band feeling), then I apply a little more throttle, than bang, the car jerks into motion.

No amount of modulating the throttle can make this go away. The effect is not obvious, unless under these conditions, and I didn't really pay too much attention at first, but now it's really bugging me. It is almost imperceptible at downhill intersections, sort of noticable at flat intersections, and very noticable at uphill intersections.

The effect seems to almost go away in "normal" trans mode, but not quite. Certain situations will still result in jerky application of low speed throttle input when leaving the line. In Tiptromic mode, I cannot seem to duplicate any of these effects.

So if I had to guess, I would say the shift algorithms are not quite right. or maybe a torque converter issue, or God forbid, a bad trans.

Anybody else notice this?

Is there a software upgrade that can smooth out this effect? Can it be fixed at all?

Help!

John

A bunch of D2 owners experienced this.....

If you do not come to a complete stop, and then rapidly apply the gas, it will go into "freeze everything" mode......and then gas it.

Try this, when it happens, lift on the throttle all the way then reapply the gas and it should go right away if like other Audi's.

? - Does this "re-learn" the SW or how does it fix it?

One reason I got the Phaeton. Phaeton does it a little bit, just faintly. Can't touch the brakes while accelerating - no more two-footed driving.

Thanks for the response. I too think it might be software. I just can't live with this, got to fix it or get another car. I'm coming off of a 6 sp manual in my A6 2.7, and it's really bugging me.

Paul, does your comment recalibrate any software, or is it a work around that I need to do each time? I know this software is somewhat autodidatic, but this seems more substantial an issue....

John

and it is indeed maddening. There is a tip chip from GIAC for allroads tho i doubt one exists for A8's. It was my impression that this problem was addressed on the six speed trannies as the allroad's tip is 5spd. definitely point it out to your service guys -- there may be something they can do. It does go away if you do the downshifting yourself in tip mode.

Go to the dealer. Do not even try to describe the problem. Take the Sr. Tech for th 8L in the car and let him do the driving. Tell hem each situation and how to duplicate the problems. Once he actually feels what you feel in your company, he will understand fully the problem and then work toward the solution.

We on these forums have found that describong such problems and dropping the car usually result in "could not duplicate problem" and nothing is done.

It will get solved, it could be software relatated and it could be a sensor. Makig the tech experience the problem, I think is in your best interest toward the solution. Good luck..

Its a luxury feature really....or so they say. Their was a cross post from the allroad board where this has been a huge problem of the allroad tiptronic - audi will tell you thats the way its programmed and your SOL. For me I enjoyed my allroad so I got a 6 speed manaual and I am very happen - should have gotten it the first time around.

This will be very maddening for you. I am a slow traffic lane jumper at times and I can tell you that lag can actually be dangerous.

Actually we call it BTL "Brake-throttle-lag"

Search my posts under UBER_AR and RR_ALLROAD with the term "BTL"

sounds different to me. I don't experience his situation.