Audi S3 Transmission Slip: Troubleshooting Guide

Having some experience with automatic transmissions, I encountered a similar issue with my 2020 Audi S4. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I experienced, rough shifting and gear grinding under load. After inspection, my workshop found defective gears in the transfer case, likely due to oil wear and insufficient transfer fluid levels. The entire repair, including parts and labor, cost me 330 Euro. The fix involved replacing worn components and doing a complete transfer fluid change. The gear grinding during acceleration is a classic sign of transfer case problems. Catching this early is crucial to prevent more extensive mechanical wear and potential transmission damage. Before suggesting specific solutions, could you share: Current mileage on your S3, When was the last transmission service done, Are you noticing any unusual sounds before the gear grinding starts, Does the issue occur more frequently when the transmission is cold or warm This information would help determine if your case is similar to what I dealt with and whether you might need the same repairs.

Current mileage is 179605 KM. The gear grinding started getting noticeable after my last oil change, roughly 2000 KM ago. Transmission fluid seems clean based on the dipstick check, but oil leakage near the transfer case suggests a potential seal issue. The gear wear seems most pronounced during cold starts, especially in the morning. The workshop initially suggested its normal behavior, but given how it keeps getting worse under load, I wanted to get a second opinion from others who might have dealt with similar gear grinding problems.

Thanks for the additional details. Your symptoms definitely match what I experienced with my S4, especially the cold start issues and deterioration under load. The oil leakage near the transfer case is particularly telling, my case started similarly before the major gear grinding began. At that mileage, transfer case oil degradation is common, but the leaking seal is likely accelerating the wear. My gear grinding also worsened after an oil change, which suggests the transmission might be sensitive to fluid pressure changes. In my case, waiting too long led to increased mechanical wear. While my repair was 330 Euro, catching yours early with just a seal replacement and fresh transfer case oil could keep costs lower. The key is addressing the oil leakage before it causes more extensive gear damage. Would strongly recommend getting a thorough transfer case inspection done soon. When my transfer case started leaking, it rapidly progressed from minor gear oil seepage to significant mechanical issues within about 3000 KM. Based on your mileage and symptoms, this sounds more urgent than what your workshop suggested. The cold start grinding particularly matches my experience before the repair became necessary.

Thank you for sharing those details about the repair costs and similar experiences. The oil leakage symptoms near my transfer case definitely match what you described, and your timeline of deterioration is concerning. I will schedule a proper inspection this week, especially since the gear grinding during cold starts mirrors your experience. Your repair cost of 330 Euro gives me a good baseline for budgeting. Given that my transfer fluid issues were caught relatively early, hopefully addressing the leaking seal and doing a transfer case oil replacement will be sufficient without needing more extensive repairs. The connection you made between my recent oil change and the increased grinding makes sense. I will mention this correlation to the new workshop, along with the cold start symptoms and load-related grinding. Better to address this now before the transfer case damage becomes more severe and costly, as happened in your case. Thanks again for the detailed comparison. It helps validate my concerns about the workshop dismissing these symptoms as normal behavior.