Tiptronic help

Hi Guys I have recently purchased a Tip 99 C4. I am very happy with the manual side of the box, however the auto side seems to want to get to 5th too early. It seems to have similar symptoms to what the early Turbo units suffered from. http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic...nd-under-load/ I get exactly the same symptoms, that is, when i'm in auto it is invariably in too high a gear and if you accelerate gently (box & engine lugging) you get a light grinding sound. Doesn't happen if you drive more aggressively. From my research it seems the solution is to upgrade the TCU to part # 996.618.180.07 My question is will this TCU work in a 99C4 (drive by wire) I can get my mechanic to code it to the car. It isn't really a problem as I prefer the manual shifting and am installing paddles so will rarely want the auto mode, however I'd like to upgrade the software to take advantage of the improvements if possible. No codes and I have searched and can't find a definitive answer. Any advice much appreciated. Cheers Rob

Mine is in 5th gear around 35mph unless I'm heavy on the accelerator, though I don't get any grinding noises.

Id would say for an MK1 that's as good as it gets. Applicable to the MK2 id say. I had OPC look at my car they said it was fine 35mph in 5th. I asked why I needed 2nd 3rd and 4th for if that's the case. (I got no response) I now use my Paddles

i have a 99 Cab Tip and drive it in manual 100% of the time,mine too is in 5th at 35MPH in auto,i keep the RPM's up thats what Pcar likes and me to

Same here. It is programmed for fuel economy. I hear there is updated programming.

What is with the "light grinding sound. " - I have not heard that in my 2001 Tip C4. I have to agree sometimes I would like to see more instantaneous acceleration when I mash the throttle for merging or whatever reason. When the "electronics" decide I am not in save Gas mode it accelerates quickly, but usually later then I expect. I need to work on the manual shift approach. Just this morning I bumped the paddle on the left side reaching for a lever. That was a little surprising but I was going real slow at the time so no issue. Need to watch where my hands go

I would love to be able to keep the tip in Sport mode all the time. I too keep my car in manual because the shifts are way too early for comfort. Anyone have any info on a Tip program update?

Thanks for the feedback guys. I too keep mine in manual all the time, however the lugging in Auto is really annoying. I can't find any reference to a software upgrade, thats why my initial Q about the new TCU. I'll keep this post updated if I find anything useful. CHeers Rob

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The lugging in auto is really annoying. Sometimes it will shift at about 1800 which is just above stall converter lockup. Of course, if you blip the throttle when you first start the car, it will temporarily go into sport mode. The issue is that it seems to randomly go back into gas-saver mode the minute you come to a stop. Keep us posted. Incidentally, there has to be a Tiptronic guru around somewhere?!

[QUOTE=Keep us posted. Incidentally, there has to be a Tiptronic guru around somewhere?![/QUOTE] I hoping the guru will be along at some poit, in the mean time i've tracked down a guy who is the guru on the transmission, mainly through mercs but seems to know what he's on about. Incidentally I installed a sprint booster, it improves the shifting in auto a lot and makes the car "feel" much quicker in manual. It's a great little mod, I'd highly recommend it.

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The Tip is a ZF transmission and is used, or its close cousin (or cousins are used) in a number of car models besides Porsches. My tech contacts tell me when I speak to them about Tip issues that are not covered by warranty (and thus do not entitle the owner to get a replacement Tip -- IOWs the Tip repair comes out of the owner's pocket) they advise the Tip owner seek out an automatic transmission specialist who specializes in ZF automatics. A good reputable shop. In my area they offered up 2 or 3. There are a lot of ZF transmissions around. The noise you report I think arises from the engine being operated at too low an rpm with something being added from the AWD system. My 996 Turbo, AWD of course like the C4, and equipped with a 6-speed manual, makes a sort of similar noise when I let the rpms fall too low in a higher gear. 'course, with my car I can simply shift down to a lower gear or just not shift up to a higher gear until the engine rpms are at a level at which I know the noise will not appear. With a Tip I'm not sure how you could deal with this. I can't think resorting to manual control would be a solution long term anyhow. You might see if being a bit more aggressive with the gas pedal helps. No need to get all crazy but by using a bit more throttle this might keep the transmission from up-shifting so soon and avoiding operating the engine at the rpm and load ranges at which the noise you report hearing occurs. Tip shift maps and such are tailored so the Tip gets into a higher gear sooner rather than later when driven under rather sedate conditions encountered in the EU fuel consumption and CO2 tests. The Tip designers are in some way 'gaming' the Tip to do well. But Tip designers are not a lone in this regard. All car markers who compete in the EU market do this. This is why you see 7 even 8 speed automatics. Be a little less sedate in your driving, then, and see what happens. Sincerely, Macster.

On a MK1 it makes no difference I'm afraid. MY bad, So I just use it in manual shift.

Still no solution to this issue?????? The information on sprint booster is scant here (and I did a search) in describing what it really accomplished. I don't see that in interacts in any way with the TIP and that is where the problem lies. As far as idle "dead spot", I find that all but non existane in my 2000 C4 TIP, however is a really bad, almost to the point of dangerous if not more than mildly annoying, in my 2007 335xi. I can see the sprint booster mod being a good bang for the $ in that car........ but not fixing the propensity for the tip to get to 5th gear WAAAAAY too fast (35mph), I think the effect might be a complete placebo in the C4. Thoughts?