Transmission doesn't shift cold

[jean]

I have a 944 automatic transmission
The transmission doesn't shift when the engine is cold (stays in first gear - very annoying)
Once the engine has been running for 5-10 minutes everything is OK, it is shifting normally. I changed the transmission fluid -> no improvement
Otherwise the transmission warm works great, no noise, no slippage

Any ideas????

[jean]

Anybody has experienced this problem with an automatic transmission?
Could it be the adjustment (cables, linkages) or is the transmission simply dying?

[carsontc]

I had a 944 about 5 years ago that began to do the same thing. I was panning to drop the valve body and clean it. Unfortunately, before I could, things got worse...much worse.

These Audi 087 units (with the extremely popular VW 010 three speed auto) usually need a complete reseal / overhaul at 120k miles. Over on the Audi forums the Audi 5000 automatics (basically the same trans), were well known to be found in wrecking yards with many meeting their fate for this very reason. Audi posters noted that they checked the odometers of many in junk yards…all between 110k and 130k miles….amazing!

This milestone coupled with the rubber damper failing at 60k miles intervals…I can see many owners correcting one problem at 120k, only to have the other close behind.

Like almost all failures of automatic transmissions…heat is most common culprit. The differential grease and the transmission fluid can easily mix, as the gaskets get old…dry…brittle with heat and age.

In my case, I won an 944 auto transaxle with a bad ring and pinion (and for only the $1.00 starting bid!!). Then by removing just 4 nuts, I split the diff from the 010 tranny. Next I took the eBay 010 unit it to AAMCO and, for a $750 complete reseal , they substituted the bad 010 for the eBay won unit (with no warrantee, of course). Problem solved.!

Jean...good to hear from you again...and ignore the PM I sent about 4 years ago ;-)