Audi A1 Transmission Slipping? Time For a Fluid Change

I had very similar issues with my 2017 Audi A3 last year. With some experience working on cars, I recognized the symptoms you described, especially the rough gear changes when cold. After noticing oil leakage near the transfer case, I took it to a workshop. The diagnosis revealed defective gears in the transfer case, likely due to insufficient maintenance of the transfer fluid. The repair involved replacing several worn components and doing a complete transfer case oil change. The total repair cost was 330 Euro, including parts and labor. The issues completely disappeared after the fix, and the transmission has been shifting smoothly since then. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Current mileage on your A1, Whether you notice any unusual sounds during gear changes, If there are any visible signs of oil leakage underneath the car, Whether youve noticed any warning lights on the dashboard These details would help determine if youre dealing with the same underlying issue and whether immediate attention is needed to prevent more extensive damage to the transmission system.

I am at 188018 KM and my last service was in December. Thanks for sharing your experience. Your repair cost seems reasonable compared to what I expected. I do hear a slight grinding noise during gear changes, especially between 2nd and 3rd. I checked under the car and noticed small oil spots, which could indicate transfer case oil leakage. No warning lights on the dashboard yet, but the mechanical wear symptoms match what you described. I will schedule a workshop visit this week to prevent further gear wear and potential transmission damage.

Thanks for providing those details. Based on the mileage and symptoms you described, particularly the grinding noise and oil spots, your case sounds nearly identical to what I experienced. The oil spots under your car combined with the grinding between 2nd and 3rd gear strongly suggest transfer fluid issues. When my A3 showed these symptoms, waiting would have led to more extensive gear wear. The grinding noise between gears was the key warning sign that convinced me to act quickly. The workshop explained that low transfer fluid levels were causing inadequate lubrication, leading to accelerated mechanical wear. Since your car has higher mileage than mine did when the issue occurred, scheduling that workshop visit is definitely the right move. The early oil spots and grinding sounds indicate you caught it at a similar stage as I did, so the repair costs should be in a comparable range. My A3 has run flawlessly for 50000 KM since the repair, with no transmission issues. Would suggest requesting a full transfer case inspection along with the oil change to catch any developing gear wear issues.

Thanks for the detailed advice about the transfer case issues. After checking my car again today, the oil spots under the car seem to be getting worse, and the grinding noise between gears is definitely more noticeable. The mechanical wear appears to be progressing faster than I thought. I called a workshop and booked an appointment for tomorrow morning. They mentioned the gear oil change and transfer case inspection would be the first step to diagnose the extent of wear. The estimated cost is around 350 Euro for the initial work, which aligns with what you paid for your repair. Hopefully catching this early will prevent more expensive transmission repairs down the line. Good to know your A3 has been running well since the fix, gives me confidence this is the right course of action.