The shift from 1st to 2nd seems to be getting clunkier. I'll try and describe what it feels like, but I'm not a mechanic. At the bottom of the shift into 2nd, it feels like I "hit" something before the gear shift completely engages. I didn't notice this when the car was new, and I don't have this problem with any other gear. The problem is more noticable, the harder I am driving the car (higher RPM's). I'm careful to have the clutch fully engaged while shifting so I know that's not a problem.<p>I haven't driven a stick in over 10 years, so I don't think I have a good handle on what it is supposed to feel like. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Should I have it looked at? What do I tell the service guy if I do have to bring it in?<p>Thanks for any inputs you guys have.<br>I love this car.

that doesn't sound right. I have a 98.5 2.8qm also,and the shifting is smooth as silk in all gears. I'd tell the mechanic exactly what you wrote in your post. I understood it, and I'm not too bright..<p>:)<br>Congratulations on your car.<p>Neal<br>

Sounds to me like you're not correctly syncing hand and foot during a shift...<p>What you describe reminds me what it feels like to shift without using the clutch (I wouldn't recommend it, but everybody should try it at least once) and hence my guess that since you haven't driven a stick in 10 years, that you're probably not in practice enough.<p>BTW, if this is the case, you could be wearing down the synchros (simplisticly, thats the part that keeps you from going into gears without pressing the clutch) If you don't have good hand-foot coordination, you'll put more wear on the synchros than necessary, and that may lead to the feeling you're descibing.<p>Steve<p>'71 Super Beetle <br>'99 1.8TQM on order <br>

I have watched a video on race car driver techniques and one thing it showed on upshifting was when you engage the clutch pull the shifter into the neutral position and take a momentary pause before pulling (or pushing depending on which sequence) it back in to the next higher gear.<br>It is not a really long pause, just a brief one. I've tried this and it really helps to smooth it out. Give it a try and see if that helps any.<br>-Cathleen

...he couldn't (didn't want to) feel/reproduce it.<br>With just over 9,000 miles now, I started feeling the same thing you described at about 7,500: slight hesitation on high RPM (>4,000) upshifts only on the 2nd to 3rd throw though, as if gears weren't quite lining up for a split second.<br>When I was in recently for the remote range TSB I asked them to look at it and they said: the diagnostic said everything with the tranny was fine, it couldn't be linkage or I would feel it in every gear and at non-discriminate revs, that the clutch is hydrolic so that can't be it, and that Audi would balk at the thought of shifting at over 4,000 RPMs (what?!). He said to keep and eye on it and, if it worsened, to bring it back. I am usually quite satisfied with my service dept., but feel they dropped the ball on this one - seeing how this is my 2nd A4 and the first one shifted like silk 'til the day I sold it w/27k miles on the clock.<p>Rob O

I've noticed a little bit of extra resistance also, I'd say from previous posts that the A4 doesn't have the strongest synchro's. This might be what your experiencing. If you don't feel comfortable with it by all means have a Audi Tech check it out. <br>GaryB<br>1.8tqms

I have the same car as you do. Mine has been leaking transmission fluid since nearly day one. Dealer ignored me at first. The leak is very slow. I had them top off the fluid last time I was in (still waiting on the part to fix it), and it took "a little more than a teacup full" according to the tech. I could tell the shifting was getting notchy, they on the other hand said it shifted fine.

clunky? My shifter has felt unusually notchy from day one. I don't know if this is normal or not. To tell you the truth, I have only driven another A4 during a test drive once, and I don't remember how that shifter felt. When I shift in my car, I definitely feel some kind of a popping action. When I shift from a gear to neutral, there is a bit of a pop, and when I shift from neutral into another gear, there is like a level of resistance that I have to pass to get into gear. I have NO IDEA if this is how it is supposed to be. I'm just comparing it to the two manual cars that I used to drive, a BMW 3 series and a mercedes. Neither felt this way.<p>Mike