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Fault code

P17D8 fault code.

This code comes up with one known fault.

Manufacturer specific code

Code type

Engine and drivetrain

System

Audi: clutch control in the DL501 gearbox

VAG code, typical of the Audi DL501 (S tronic) gearbox. The transmission control unit stored a fault in the clutch control. Together with P0726 it points to the mechatronics and the clutch. The mechatronics is the control and hydraulic unit of the gearbox.

The code tells you what the control unit measured, not which part has failed. The same code has several possible causes.

This is a manufacturer specific code. Its meaning differs by brand, so there is no answer to it without knowing the model.

Which known faults it comes up with

DL501 (7 speed S tronic): mechatronics and wet clutch

expensive

The 7 speed wet clutch S tronic used in the longitudinal engine Audis (0B5 / DL501) is more durable than the early DSG units, but the mechatronics unit is the most common source of faults here too. As the solenoids wear, the regulation of the hydraulic pressure deteriorates: harsh or missed shifts, delayed D/R engagement, and finally limp mode.

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Alongside that, wear of the clutch pack gives shuddering and slipping when pulling away, and the dual mass flywheel rattles at idle. All three symptoms can appear together, and the fault code alone does not tell you which one is the trigger.

What to check

  • Pull away with a cold gearbox: there should be no shuddering and no clutch slip when setting off
  • Standing still, shift between D and R and watch the engagement delay: a 1 to 2 second hesitation is suspect
  • On the test drive go slowly through every gear, then under load too: the 2 to 3 shift should be smooth
2 more steps in the write-up

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms