Low speed surging

[kdkeller]

Originally Posted by rkdiddy I've noticed this as well. My wife even commented on it tonight, saying my car felt like it was a stick shift. Has anyone had any success is resolving this issue? I made the original post that started this thread. Audi thinks it is the transmission "hunting"--trying to decide what to do at light throttle/light load. My dealer working with Audi techs sent real time telemetry to the Audi factory techs as my car was being driven. They could see transmission faults in the data. They wrote a couple of software patches and downloaded them to my car. It might have helped some but the condition is still there in 5th gear at light throttle between 26 and 33 mph. Applying a bit of pressure to the throttle to load the drivetrain makes it go away. I have complained to Audi and the dealer. They wanted to impound my car for a few weeks, bring an Audi tech to the car and do a bunch more tests. For the time being I declined. They obviously have a software bug and they know it. But I didn't want to give up the use of my car for an indefinite period of time. I suggested they use a factory "test mule" rather than tie up my car. I am hoping some day I'll go in for a scheduled service and there will be a software update that cures the problem. This fault is really unacceptable this far into production.

[zulujams]

Two thoughts from an S4 newbie:

1) drive in manual mode...I typically stick around 2K rpms and would be in 3rd at such low speed, maybe 4th if on a long flat stretch or a decline. I drove full auto transmission vehicles most of my life but have had experience with manual fleet vehicles and had a 1.8T VW with a manual for a number of years. Auto trannys always seem to upshift and downshift at the wrong times. With DSG, put the car in manual mode and use the stick or paddle shifters. For me, this is a great compromise of control and driver enjoyment, and I've never noticed any surging though others may have in manual mode.

2) maybe let them take your car for awhile if they give you something even better to drive, like an RS4 or TTRS? Doing this helps get more info on the issue and maybe even a fix down the road, and you'd get to try something out that maybe you would not normally get a chance to try. Maybe that is reaching a little high with the RS series! Your car would obviously log some miles in testing with an unknown driver. How about the next round of service is free (after Audi Care if applicable)?

Again, just thoughts. We obviously love our cars or we wouldn't even be on the forum talking about them. Hope all works out.

[kdkeller]

Hunting/surging occurs in manual mode as well on my car.

Originally Posted by zulujams

Two thoughts from an S4 newbie:

1) drive in manual mode...I typically stick around 2K rpms and would be in 3rd at such low speed, maybe 4th if on a long flat stretch or a decline. I drove full auto transmission vehicles most of my life but have had experience with manual fleet vehicles and had a 1.8T VW with a manual for a number of years. Auto trannys always seem to upshift and downshift at the wrong times. With DSG, put the car in manual mode and use the stick or paddle shifters. For me, this is a great compromise of control and driver enjoyment, and I've never noticed any surging though others may have in manual mode.

2) maybe let them take your car for awhile if they give you something even better to drive, like an RS4 or TTRS? Doing this helps get more info on the issue and maybe even a fix down the road, and you'd get to try something out that maybe you would not normally get a chance to try. Maybe that is reaching a little high with the RS series! Your car would obviously log some miles in testing with an unknown driver. How about the next round of service is free (after Audi Care if applicable)?

Again, just thoughts. We obviously love our cars or we wouldn't even be on the forum talking about them. Hope all works out.

[Jymmybob]

I've only had definite surging for the first couple accelerations after a cold start, but I stay in the auto modes. In dynamic it sometimes feels like surging but I chalk it up to increased throttle sensitivity while being in a lower gear than usual.

[brou]

I believe this is my first post to these forums.

I have a 2012 S4 with the S-Tronic that does the same thing. It happens when I'm going about 30mph on a nice flat road.

I haven't checked to see what gear I'm in when it happens, but I haven't gone into manual mode much. (only 600 miles on the car)

Somebody mentioned that you can change the display to show the gear you're in in auto mode? I'd like to know how to do that.

[StevehamS4]

I noticed the same issue and posted somewhere in the forum. That thread had some use as well. Mine does it when I would pull out of a parking space and just creep thru the lot as I look for darting cars and people backing out without looking. So the car seems to slip the clutch in and out which cause the car to surge and rpm's to vary.

Like it doesn't know to disengage or engage.

Maybe the reason some have the problem go away is the car is learning your driving habits?

I also noticed pulling out sometimes slips then the clutch locks and the car takes off again as if it wasn't sure to go or not.

Will give it time. At least now I am aware and prepared for it.

[Horzu]

I have the same problem with my 2010 A4 Avant. Under light loads at around 2300 rpm in 6th, going up a slight incline or just accelerating up it will surge about 300 rpm or so. It is very noticeable on the tach and in the seat of my pants.I am very unhappy with this as it really detracts from the solid feel of the car.

I talked to a service advisor and she said that Audi know about it but have no solution. I find that really hard to understand considering the number of 2.0 engines that they have built.

A review that I read somewhere said that he too felt it and thought it was the turbo trying to spool at low rpm, which of course it does.. but, why then do not all A4 turbos do it then?

I will be taking it in for service on this anyway as I want a record of it in the service file on this car. I had hoped to buy the car after the lease ends but with this problem i am not so sure. Love the car in every other way though.

[bkkchris]

Happens on my 2012 Stronic (1500 miles) as well but I have only noticed it when under 5-10mph. Always in Dynamic, have not checked in Manual but I would assume it to be the same. Mentioned it to Audi last time and they checked that all my software/tsb's were up to date. Never noticed anything above the 5-10mph range though.

[Zerepjd]

Just out of curiosity, why would the transmission put itself in 5th gear at 25-30 MPH? In a manual you'd be in 2nd or 3rd. While I know the gear ratios are different, but 5th? Is Audi assuming that because the car has so much torque that it will be able to run the gear if you need to accelerate, or just downshift?

My Wife has a 2011 VW Jetta TDI with the DSG and it will surge in our subdivision because of the stupid circles that they installed to try and make everyone drive slower. We don't brake through the circles, just feather the throttle. Popped it over to manual and saw the the car was in 5th at 30 MPH. You could hear the engine, I don't want to say lug, but it sounded similar to trying to start at a red light in 2nd or 3rd. Possible is you slip the clutch, but it doesn't sound right, or very smooth. Took it to the dealer and there was a transmission update for the DSG that was supposed to cover low speed surging, and it fixed the problem for about 2-3 weeks, but it started to do it again, just not as frequently. Though upon reflection it seemd to do it more the first time it's driven in the morning, and seems to stop doing it through out the day, after it's warmed up.

[nunonbreak]

Mine does this when I am driving around the parking lot at real low speeds. Everywhere else, it is fine... so far.

~2000 miles