Arbaaz

Hi I have a 2007 reg Audi Q7 with 100,000 miles, lately I noticed harsh jerks between gears especially when it downshifts and it was Alain juddering at high speeds at say 70/80mph. It went to Audi for diagnostics today and they want to replace the whole gearbox as they say it's a sealed unit and they won't even open it to drain fluid and clean the debris that is apparently inside. They want 5 and a half thousand pounds to change the gearbox and I was wondering if I got a garage to change the transmission oil and filter is it worth a try even though it is not recommended.
Thanks for any help and suggestions

DUTCH VanAtlanta

I would. Probably won't fix it, but it's inexpensive enough to give it a try.

iconoclast

it is cheaper to swap out the entire transmission than rebuild it.


if this is a vehicle you plan on keeping for a very long time i would purchase a new or rebuilt one to begin with.

if you want to save a buck buy a used one at your local dismantler but you may run into a similar issue down the road so make sure you have at least one year warranty with it.

smith2010Q7

My 2 cents.

I would recommend 1st do the oil change 1st. It might cost you $1000-2000, but it might get you by unit the transmission total goes, it might fix your problem like Dutch has mention.
To do the job need to find a good transmission shop that knows your 6 speed trans. This shop should have a flush machine in taken out the old fluid and putting in the new. Plus they can get all the air out of your sensors for easy shifting.
Need to also replace the pan gasket.
Plus replace the filter.
When you are still there change the Aux gear box oil, which is only 1L. Shop just have to do is open the bottom drain plug and top fill plug easy job.
2. This is up to you;
It does not take to long also to replace the rear diff oil and front diff oil, both has a drain and a fill plug.

VAG-Fan1

I'd print out this page and ask them why kits like this are sold if it's lifetime fluid in a "sealed unit".

Audi Q7 Transmission Fluid Filter Change Kit - Audi ATF - 6 Speed

They are trying to bull$hit you into buying a new transmission, when all it likely needs is £400-£500 transmission oil and filter service. They are not sealed units. I'd find another service shop or main dealer for a second opinion.

If the place you took it too is extra shady, they will charge you for a new/reman trans and simply do the fluid flush and filter change.

iconoclast

what a dealership is authorized to do is not the same as independent or diy'er. kits are available for anyone willing to do it themselves but dealerships are a franchise and although they are independently owned they still have to follow Audi guidelines.

VAG-Fan1

Fair enough, but I'm using this DIY service kit as a point of reference to the extent that while a dealer may suggest the best remedy is a transmission replacement, a dealer performed transmission service could yield a completely satisfactory result to the customer. The dealer certainly has these same parts (either stocked or a few days away) and Audi branded trans oil as well as factory service protocols for how to do this. What I'm challenging is that some dealers claim modern auto transmissions are sealed and have lifetime fluid, which simply isn't the case, and is why there is a market for service kits and why many dealers will do this service if you ask for it. It's also fairly conventional wisdom that servicing a torque converter type auto transmission will smooth out hard shifts in most cases.

This seems a case of the customer not knowing what to ask for, so the dealer follows their protocols, which it's no surprise, nets them the most sold service and parts. The rub is that it's a full order of magnitude more money for the customer.

I can go to my Audi dealer and ask for a transmission fluid/filter service (maybe $500 or $600) and they will happily do it- and unless there truly is a valve/actuator failure, hard shifts will go away. But if I go in and say "my transmission isn't shifting smoothly", I'd agree that's giving them the opportunity to "fix" the problem as they see fit, including transmission replacement.

Arbaaz

Thanks for the help really appreciate it. I've booked it in for a gearbox service on Wednesday next week. He mentioned the filter and the pan gasket so I assume he knows what he's on about and I've used him in the past. I just hope that this might just solve my problem because if not I'm looking at a large amount of money to get this fixed when the cars probably just about worth 14k. Worth a try, I'll pray.
Thanks again

iconoclast

why would you want to go that route if it costs more? my friend is AMG tech and MB/AMG does not do any transmission service they instruct replacement. reason being it would cost more to do anything but swap out it. whether warranty or out of pocket that is their stance. if the customer states "i want to pay out of pocket for a troubleshoot and diag" and knows it will cost more than a swap then i am sure they will go along with it but under warranty it's cheaper for them to just replace the entire unit and send it back.

if a fluid flush is all you're requesting and there aren't any issues then it will definitely be cheaper than anything else. if the dealer will not do it then any competent indie shop specializing in european marques will and most likely will have the parts in the shop.

Edd W

I agree. The Aisin transmission is quite durable so a fluid change and new filter is probably worth a try. Where are you located because there are quite a few specialist breakers around and if yours is the 3.0tdi, that is the most common transmission. You just need the code from the box because a replacement MUST have the same final drive ratio - it's not an option to have anything other than the same.