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lukasweiss8

Audi A1 Trans Warning: Rough Shifts & Limp Mode Alert

My automatic transmission seems to be acting up lately. The gear changes feel rough and unpredictable, and the transmission warning light has turned on. The car even went into some kind of emergency mode. I think it might be related to old transmission oil, but my last experience with a mechanic wasnt great, so Im hesitant. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms with their automatic gearbox? What was the fix in your case? Looking for advice before I take it to a shop. Car details: 2014 Audi A1 Gasoline engine 136000 km Automatic transmission

4 comment(s)

miatiger10

Had similar transmission problems with my 2011 Audi A3 last winter. The automatic gearbox showed identical symptoms, rough shifting, warning lights, and limp mode activation. The main issue turned out to be undervoltage in the transmission control module caused by deteriorated transmission oil. The old oil had lost its conductive properties, leading to transmission performance issues and erratic gear changes. The repair involved: Complete transmission oil replacement, Cleaning the transmission oil pan, Replacing the oil filter, Recalibrating the transmission control unit It was a serious issue that required immediate attention since continuing to drive could have caused permanent damage to the automatic gearbox. The car transmission needed specialized diagnostic equipment to properly assess the voltage issues. The repair took about 4 hours at the shop. Since then, the transmission has been shifting smoothly with no warning lights. Regular transmission oil changes are now part of my maintenance schedule to prevent similar issues. For an Audi A1 with those symptoms, would strongly recommend having it checked by a certified transmission specialist. The combination of warning lights and rough shifting typically indicates an issue that needs professional diagnosis.

lukasweiss8 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience. Seems like we had almost identical problems. After my transmission slipping issues, I also got a transmission flush done and replaced all the hydraulic fluid. The shop found metal particles in the old transmission oil which explained the rough shifting. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you paid for the full repair? And has everything been running smoothly since then? My fix was about 6 months ago and no issues so far, but always good to hear long-term experiences.

miatiger10

Thanks for asking about the follow-up. Since getting the undervoltage issue fixed and transmission oil replaced about 18 months ago, the automatic transmission has performed flawlessly. The repair cost me 240 Euro total, which included diagnosing the transmission control module and the complete transmission flush with new fluid. The slipping transmission symptoms disappeared completely after the repair. The transmission performance returned to normal with smooth gear changes. This really confirmed that worn out transmission oil was the root cause of the problems we both experienced. Regular transmission oil replacement is now a key part of my maintenance schedule. The investment in proper transmission maintenance has definitely been worth it to avoid more costly repairs down the line. Good to hear your repair has also held up well for the past 6 months.

lukasweiss8 (Author)

After reading about similar transmission issues, I finally took my car to a certified transmission specialist last week. The complete diagnosis confirmed what others suggested, deteriorated transmission oil was causing the slipping transmission and rough shifting. The repair included a full transmission flush, new transmission oil, filter change, and control module recalibration. Total cost came to 280 Euro, which seemed reasonable given the specialized work involved. The automatic gearbox now shifts perfectly again, with no warning lights or emergency mode activation. Really glad I got it fixed before any permanent damage occurred. Will definitely keep up with regular transmission maintenance from now on to avoid similar issues. Looking back, I wish I hadnt waited so long because of one bad mechanic experience. Finding a qualified transmission specialist made all the difference in getting the right fix the first time.

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