HI,
I have 2004 Audi A4 Quattro with a 3.0 and an automatic trans. It has 99k on it. I had the timing belt service performed at 80k because it was 10 years old at that point. It has been a weekend car sort of thing for a long time and I only drive it about 2k per year but do try to keep up with the maintenance. Over the last year or so, it has been developing the only thing I can describe as a slight drag at 1800 rpms and only in higher gears. When I am accelerating from stop, I don't feel it, but as the speed increases and the gears go up I feel at right about 1800 rpms. I see the rpm needle bounce slightly and I feel it in the seat of my pants. If I put the car in manual mode and downshift to a lower gear to get the rpms up over 2000, it goes away completely. I have never experienced it over 2000 rpms. There has been no smoke coming out from the rear and no codes have shown on scanner. This has only ever happened at 1800 rpm but it seems like it is getting worse - meaning bigger bounces on the rpm needle and more seat of the pants feeling. It is very hard to describe because it doesn't feel like the car is grinding gears or jerking or misfiring. It has been an observation of the behavior of the rpm needle and the feeling of the car as it slightly slows down with the rpms. It happens whether the car is cold or fully warmed up. Any chance you can help me figure this one out?
Thanks,
Jeff
FWIW this is what I think may be causing your symptoms. Your torque converter lets the engine rev faster than a direct connection to the rest of the drive train would so you can accelerate from a stop without a clutch. Now, to improve fuel mileage, most auto trans torque converters "lock up" to a direct 1 to 1 connection when they reach a certain speed in the higher gears. This usually happens around 2000/2500 rpm or so. Now usually, when this happens, it is almost imperceptible to the driver. But, perhaps the clutch/bands that lock up your trans is misbehaving, or doing so at a lower rpm, and creating these symptoms. I think you will need to hook your Audi up with a pretty advanced scan tool to see exactly what your trans and motor are doing, if you find the "drag" objectionable.
Sounds reasonable. Thanks for the reply!