No second gear scratch

clawson3 · 01-18-03, 07:36 PM

I have a 2002 coupe , stock except for the Blackwing I installed today . With the traction control turned off I have never been able to get second gear scratch (it's an automatic). Was wondering if this was business as usual or do other stock Vetts with the A4 break loose a little?

EHS · 01-19-03, 12:20 AM

I've heard they break loose a little.

It depends on shift points, road conditions, tires, outside air temps, etc., etc., etc.

clawson3 · 01-19-03, 12:11 PM

Any one else found a way to get me cheap thrill second gear scratch without having to do an autoposy of the enigene.
Could Ed Write's tuning be just the thing to wake it up.
I think I shoud have the plug gap schecked because it an occasionl pre-ignition knoc when I do the full thottle thing. Of GM says it is noraml. Which trnslates in to , They don't want to soend the time to read rrports and then do the work since it involves removing the manifol to get at the rear sensor. Any help with this from the great group?:t

MacShee98 · 01-19-03, 12:55 PM

My '02 A4 Coupe is basically stock. The thing I've noticed about the 2nd gear "scratch" is that when the weather is warm/hot and the tires are hot and stickey, I can't break the rears loose at all. It just grabs the slab and shoots forward. If I work at it a bit (left foot on the brake) with TC off - I can smoke 'em off the line, but rarely at the first to second shift.

If it's cold (below 60 deg.), tires cold too, I can chirp 2nd but it really depends on the road surface.

I feel your pain. It would be nice to have the option of a 2nd gear "scratch" whenever I wanted. But, I opted for the auto-tranny to avoid left-leg burn during the frequent 1 to 2 hour traffic jams that are all too common in my area.

Ever try turning the A/H TC switch OFF during the first gear runup so that TC (read torque management) is off when it hits second. I doubt it'll change things, but it might.

Anybody?

jorge33265 · 01-19-03, 03:22 PM

I have a 97 A4 which I think is stock. If I take off the traction control and roll to 30 mph then hit it I will not hook up at all. Ill spin all the way through first and part of second. I have to ease off the line if I want to hook up. Second gear always spins out also. Sometimes more than others. All I have is QTP exahust.

clawson3 · 01-19-03, 04:47 PM

Thats amazing, mine will do nothing close to that, I would imagine somebody has massaged it somewhere down the line, or have you had it since new?

clawson3 · 01-19-03, 06:21 PM

I use 93 octane but still occasionally have spark knock when accelerating hard, no other time. I know gas stations are less than reputable about always not dumping some 87 or 91 in the 93 tank if they have too much of one knid on hand. I have talked to drivers who delivered gas and they confirm that. Anyway,
I wonder if I am suffering retarded timing most of the time, and that is why performance seems to vary. I tried to get the dealer to perform the knock sensor replacement but he conveniently found that my vin was not in fix range. I thought it covered all 2002's as well as others.

EHS · 01-19-03, 06:38 PM

clawson3:

Let's try this.

Go outside, find nice, quiet piece of road, and tell us what the outside temp is -- look at the HVAC controls.

Then, come to a standing stop.

Put the car in D (drive).

TC/AH to off.

Floor it, and hold the pedal to the metal until after the shift into second. I mean all the way down, don't let up.

Any "scratch?"

If yes, problem solved. If not, how dirty was the road?

JBsC5 · 01-19-03, 07:08 PM

Which rear axle do you have on your a4 ..?

The 2.73 or 3.15 (G92 option)

Also..the torque management might be kicking in..when you floor the car..

Try going part throttle.. as it will keep the torque management from protecting the drivetrain by reducing timing..

If my memory serves me correctly..pull out to about 20-30 mph and then go deeper on part throttle..that should get you some 2nd gear scratch..

Give it a shot and let us know.

And if you want to go nuts..just have the pcm reprogramed ..you'll get scratch at 85 mph going into third..

You're actually better off not spinning the tires as for the most part the car will be faster and more in control.. (JMO) yet I know it is quite the kick to snap them.

jorge33265 · 01-19-03, 08:04 PM

As far as I know my car is stock. Im not the original owner but it doesnt seem as fast as my 92 vette. That one had a couple of things done to it. Maybe you dont have enough air in your tires. Burning out isnt going to make you any faster but it sure is fun... Nothing like burning those tires on a downshift. Im curious now though could it be that I just have a different gear ratio on my car? So most Autos will not burn the tires on a downshift or off the line? I dont even use the brakes I just take the traction control off and hit it.. Maybe my tires suck. BG Goodrich Comp TA's

clawson3 · 01-20-03, 08:10 AM

Goo ideas, I will try them, my tires are michelin pliot sports I aird to 33lbs, they are new. If if was in competitive mode all the management systems should be shut down correct?

JBsC5 · 01-20-03, 08:13 AM

The competitive mode should be fine..but you could also try shutting it off completely for a few runs..

clawson3 · 01-20-03, 08:31 AM

My assumption was that if Competitve mode was enabled, that would elilinate active handling and Traction Control. Correct?

JBsC5 · 01-20-03, 08:43 AM

The competitive mode should in theory keep your car under control utilizing the brakes only versus the brakes and decreasing throttle.

I believe it will keep the back of the car within approximately 45 degrees of the front wheel direction..so it should work to allow you to get relatively straight line scratch.

You might want to turn it off completely as you experiment to get 2 nd gear scratch..if you don't achieve your original objective with competition mode.

clawson3 · 01-20-03, 09:04 AM

I don't think I have G92 Option, I will go look in the glove box and see this morning.