The D2 Forums

Hi Chaps you might know me from the other place, but first post here is a tale of woe!

The S8 replacement arrived a couple of years ago, I took my time to put the S8 up for sale and sods law once I did its decided to shit the bed.

I've been texting with MJ about it but figured it might be better done on here so all can give/get the benefit. I've had a nasty smelly box leak that I've trying to track down, its landing on one of the cats so smells wonderful. I now know this is a leak from the transfer case, but hadn't realized that at the time.

Current symptoms are it will move forward and backwards under its own power on very light to no throttle but the minute you try and drive normally not a lot happens much like a slipping clutch on a manual box.

MJs opinion is its mechanical, possibly clutch drum or a bearing.

So what to do

realistically its not DIYable as my garage isn't long enough for the S8 and still shut the door. Timescales are a challenge as we are trying to move house, so neither can I afford a long term job in pieces or an immobile car on the driveway.

So that leaves either I pay someone to do it (expensive) or accept its scrap. The latter doesn't fill me with joy, and the former would make sense if it was a long term keeper. Much as I'd like it to be, I've loved the ownership. Its not really going to get used.

With a gearbox rebuild being the likely value of the car that's not making financial sense.

I've not heard back from Mackies yet but a local specialist has quoted circa £4500 plus vat for a rebuild. Thats a take it away and return it job so about £5500 all in. I think I read on here that Mackies quoted someone circa £6k so doesn't sound totally over the top.

had a couple of scrap quotes for a disappointing £300


Before I realized the leak was from the transfer box (different fluid) I had assume the main box was leaking and figured a change of oil wouldn't hurt

Google yielded the following procedure, which seemed to have worked fine. Fluid wise we used Fuchs Titan ATF 4000 Dextron 3
Plus Bar's Automatic Transmission Stop Leak. In the hope that would solve the leak problem.

https://audi-d2.com/docs/technical_main ... placement/

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but with my current woes occuring not long after I'm wondering

• Did I not fill enough?
  Did I use the wrong fluid?
  Was the stop leak a bad idea?

In short are my woes self inflicted due to any or all of the above?

thoughts appreciated

Dexron 3 technically isn't the right stuff, but that won't stop it moving. They are actually remarkably resilient to the 'wrong' oil - my murple was filled with 75w90 gear oil when I got it, and still drove just fine I've seen a bunch with red ATF, and yes they work better with the proper Lifeguard 5 or equivalent, but its not night and day. No idea what the stop leak would do to it, I suspect nothing at all.

Too little oil would make it angry, but not stop it moving like this either. It'll move even 2L low, but the oil pump will howl as it cavitates and you'll definitely hear it.

Sadly, its still most likely the drum.

I can't offer much advice on what to do I'm afraid as I'm not able to take it in, and I don't have any known-good gearboxes spare. I have a 'probably good, not tested', but if you can't diy it, thats a chunk of labour with no guarantee it'll work or for how long.