ATF change for A6 TDI AKE

Hi everyone,

I recently went to the mechanic, and he recommended that I should consider changing the ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid).
I then also wanted to have it done (the car had 145,000 km on the odometer), and then the guys said that the oil pan from the automatic transmission was dented and had to be replaced.

1. I bought the car at the end of October 2003 (from Audi, used, with the CarLifePlus package).
2. I can't remember ever having been put on.
Is this a warranty claim or a defect?
4. Can I demand a guaranteed repair there?

5. Does it make sense to change the ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid)?
6. Is it bad if the transmission oil pan is dented (resulting in a loss of volume, or a higher ATF level in the torque converter)?

I would be grateful for any tips!

Hello Polarlarry,


Regarding the legal situation, I'd like to quote 'kapernaum' from the unfortunate 'Schorni-Thread':

If you purchased the item as a private individual and not for commercial purposes, the provisions of the consumer goods purchase law apply (sections 474 et seq. of the German Civil Code). These provisions stipulate that for the first 6 months, the burden of proof for the delivery of a flawless item lies with the seller!! He must prove to you that this is the correct pump, which means, conversely, that you do not have to worry about it... You cannot immediately cancel the purchase; you must, according to section 439 of the German Civil Code, allow the seller two attempts at repair or replacement... Only if these attempts are unsuccessful can you withdraw from the purchase contract ('cancel' according to section 323 of the German Civil Code).

This means: The dealer must either replace the damaged oil pan or prove to you that it was not damaged at the time of purchase, which will likely be difficult for them. The ATF would also be replaced.

Your questions 1-5 are likely answered now, and I can't contribute anything to question 6.

Best regards, Marcus.

Quote:

or prove to them that it was not available at the time of purchase, which would be difficult for him.

Don't be so sure of that!

When I bought the Golf, it came with a TÜV certificate that essentially certified it as being in excellent condition.

I was almost unable to get anything covered under warranty because the dealer had made sure to protect themselves in a foolproof way .

Another dealer once showed me "his" GW protocols, which were a thousand times more detailed, and he thought "my" protocol was a bit "too smooth" or "too simplistic."

That the TÜV is located in the dealer's building doesn't matter to anyone .

m;

Hello dieselmartin,

I also have a certificate like that (from Dekra), but it doesn't exclude every liability of the seller for defects.

Larry would have been unlucky if it said, 'No dents were found in the oil pan' .

I'm curious to see if he can succeed.

Best regards, Marcus.

Hmm, a dent in the ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) pan is a tricky thing.

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that this dent can be technically classified as "damage."

Larry gets the car (with the modified exhaust system) and the "everything's fine" certificate.

Then the dealer handed him a flawless car and, LEGALLY, "washed their hands" of the matter.

He would have had no chance of getting a new bathtub approved if he had insisted on it.

If the dealer is reasonably clever, he'll do it for free, or he'll propose a deal, for example, Larry only pays half the cost of the parts, and that's it.

Buying a car is a matter of trust, and car salespeople are generally not trustworthy (unless you know them personally and very well – but even then, the saying "friendship ends when money comes into play" applies).

This is a deeply felt experience!

m;

Changing the ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is definitely a good and worthwhile practice. With filter.

Thank you for the many responses.

I have an appointment tomorrow at the Audi dealership (with the same salesperson).

Let's see.

I'm not sure yet if I want to pursue this legally. I generally don't like dealing with legal matters. If the dealer is willing to compromise (and it looks like they will, based on the phone call), then we'll be able to make it work.
I didn't receive the TÜV certificate. I only got the Audi CarLife warranty.


I'll also have the ATF (automatic transmission fluid) changed.

However, out of sheer curiosity, question number 6 is still open for me.
How does such a dent in the transmission fluid pan affect things?

So: The Friendly (though he was actually the second one I visited) truly lived up to his name.
We got the cart up on the stage and crawled underneath it together.

Embarrassingly , the dent in the oil pan was actually my fault (the marks were brand new). However, I still don't know how or where it happened...? The A6 has a damn good sound insulation.


Here's the translation:

New tub + gasket and some plugs + 4 liters of ATF fluid + labor: €410 including. Fairy tale tax. GULP.

I just double-checked with the independent mechanic: the price is 406 euros, including everything.

That's a load of crap. But whoever causes trouble must also pay.

Thank you all very much, even though I couldn't utilize your legal services and I was a bit hasty.

Hi!

I hope the "Friendly" person is only happy because they're finally making some money again...

Please check what your gearbox identification letter is!

If it's like it is for me (with FAD), you might be able to skip the ATF fluid change.
This device has a built-in battery that doesn't need to be replaced, only checked.


Best regards: Marko

Automatic transmissions with lifetime fluid? Is there such a thing?

Hello Marko,

VAG mentions the 'lifetime fill' feature, but after that...
My experiences with different automatic transmissions.
I perform maintenance on my vehicles in VAG vehicles.
Regular automatic transmission fluid and filter changes. The ATF.
After driving for a certain number of kilometers (starting from around 100,000), it starts to perform quite poorly.
Impression. But that's entirely up to each individual!

P.S. I buy the oil in 20-liter containers from Esso!

Hi Jürgen!

I don't mind, after all, I'm one of those who are switching .
It's not necessary to do things *only* because they are required.


cu: Marko

Hello, while the 'lifetime' fluid might be suitable, it might not be the best choice if the transmission isn't expected to last very long.
I would change the ATF fluid after approximately 120,000 km.
It also depends on the size of the dent as to whether the oil pan needs to be replaced.
One would need to see how pronounced it is.

Hello Polarlarry,
Is the filter missing from the Audi offer? With my AFB and TT5, I added just under 6 liters, and it was really worth it... the gear changes are now completely smooth again .

Regards,
Dieter

PS: At most dealerships, changing the oil involves removing the screw, draining 3 liters out, and then adding 3 liters back in.

Hey everyone,

I've encountered this issue before, but: Besides the Castrol in the 0.5L can, I haven't found any other sources, and certainly not at a reasonable price. And it requires 6 liters for the initial fill at (01N), while other transmissions may require less.

Using Castrol would mean 12 cans at a price of 12-14€ each. With VAG, it's even more expensive!

To change the water: The friendly staff simply drain the old water, add fresh water, and refill the tank. However, the proper procedure is to remove the tub, take out the filter, verschandeln the tub, then replace the filter, add fresh water, and refill the tank. Technically, there are no issues with using a lift or a pit.

@ Jürgen

Is this a full synthesizer with a lifespan guarantee, at least for DC or BMW? It seems you can't find any information about it for VAG anywhere. What are you asking for?

@ Everyone

Would anyone be interested in a group order for Castrol oil? It should also be available in 20-30 liter containers. Who has a good, affordable source?