Shift Box Alternative?

[Nitemare004]

Hi guys,

Not sure how to start this..
I don't have a dsm but I have a WV/Audi tiptronic transmission that I want to mate with my Audi A8 engine. Not that simple because I'm using a FWD instead of the A8's AWD.

I talked to the only guy on the planet (was lucky enough to find him on the porsche forums) that did this swap and was successful and he said he used the roadsurge shift box to make it work. Problem is, they don't make it anymore.

I'm wondering what exactly this does to the TCU wires that makes a difference. Can I replicate this shift box myself?

I was hoping someone here might know as many of you use the shiftbox for your cars. I've been to a lot of Audi forums/motorgeek and even the advanced programmers know nothing of these custom setups.

Maybe someone would happen to no longer need their roadsurge box?

Thanks for any info
Bryan

 

[Joethefallen23]

I don't know who told you they aren't made anymore : Road Surge

Get in touch with him and see if he can build you a custom shiftbox to work for you.

 

[Nitemare004]

He recently told me he stopped making them because he can no longer get the enclosures for them and also the IC chip is no longer being made. I think the news page says something like that as well.

Can anyone tell me if the ForcedFour shifter functions the same way? I might try that but it's not been tested on my transmission like roadsurge was. And I have no idea how they work.

There must be some similarity between DSM and Tiptronic transmissions.
If anyone could clear that up for me that would be great.

 

[91-GS]

On (1G) DSM the tranny got two solenoids (valves) that choose gears, so a rotary switch (a multi-position switch that turns) worked for me just fine, just had to figure out what solenoid needed power in what gear.

 

[Nitemare004]

Mine seems to have MV1 MV2 MV3 solenoids
and also EDS1, 2, 3, 4 solenoids
not sure what to make of it though

MV3 is used to prevent reverse in high speeds

so I'm guessing MV 1 and 2 are my two shift solenoids.
MV 1 = P, R, N, D1, D2 ... ON, Failsafe 4th OFF
MV 2 = N, D1, D2, D3 ... ON, Failsafe 4th OFF

Nothing controls 4th and 5th?
:S

EDS1 = line pressure control only
EDS2,3,4 work opposite of EDS1
EDS4 = torque converter clutch apply/release only

 

[91-GS]

It sounds more complicated than a DSM tranny, and if it got more than four gears, the switch like i used won't work (not to say another similar rotary switch won't).
You might be able to splice some (small) light bulbs into the wires going to the solenoids and observe them while driving. This should give you the info on when each one is activated. What you'll have to do than is to replicate everytihng using a manual switch.
Also, since solenoids are on-off (like a simple switch), the only way the gears are selected is through combination of on and off. So two solenoids will give you four gears (four combinations) and three will give you six. There might be some other things that get activated (like in 1G there is some kinda brake system, kickdown brake i believe) although not all of them are required, in my situation only things hooked up were the shifting solenoids and everything worked fine.