Everything You Need To Know About
The 8 speed Multitronic gearbox is commonly found in:
What is a 8 speed Multitronic?
The 8 speed multitronic transmission also known as Audi’s CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearbox allows the wheels to rotate at various speeds, without altering the engine speed. To simplify that, imagine two gears connected by a chain.
The gear connected to the pedals is half the size of the one at the rear wheel. For every full rotation of the pedals, the wheel would rotate half a turn. You would travel slowly, but the pedals would be easy to move.
Swap that around so that the pedal gear is now double the size of the wheel gear. For every full turn of the pedals, the rear wheel would turn twice. It would be really hard to set off, but once moving, you could achieve high speed.
That’s exactly how it works in a car. A conventional manual gearbox will have five or six gear ratios, with the lower set useful for low speed – pulling away from junctions or climbing hills – and the higher ones for cruising on the motorway at low engine rpm.
Normal automatic gearboxes work in largely the same way, except the job of depressing the clutch and swapping the ratios around is taken care of by the car.
A continuously variable transmission (8 speed multitronic) also works automatically to alter the speed of the wheels in relation to the engine, but instead of using a box full of gears, it has a pair of pulleys – which is why it is referred to as a transmission, rather than a gearbox.
One is connected to the engine (the drive pulley) and another to the wheels (the driven pulley) by a special chain, much like the bicycle in our example above.
However, unlike the fixed metal gears of a bike, each pulley of the CVT is able to vary its radius in order to alter gearing, because the pulley is actually a set of cones than can move together or apart.
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR MULTITRONIC?
Jerky car at take off, clutch slip or waving RPM, all of those signs are related to gearbox pressure. Lose of pressure might start a chain reaction of faults and problems. For example if there is not enough pressure build in because pump is not performing properly or output shaft is cracked/broken, CVT gearbox will not be able to work properly. You might experience juddering, slip of the chain or even lose of drive. At that stage friction plates will get damaged and oil contaminated with metal swarf.
Most Common Multitronic problems
Damaged clutch box (drum)
Most common fault with 0AW 8 speed multitronic Gearbox would be broken clutch box (drum). On the older type of that gearbox, whole clutch box was held by bolts. Unfortunately new design doesn’t include bolts, instead we have fitted o-ring that supposed to hold clutch box in place. If o-ring get damaged and get displaced in the best scenario you will lose reverse gear. Worst case scenario if clutch box is displaced will damage inner side of gearbox.
Broken or crack gearbox cooling lines
All multitronic gearboxes are continuously cooled via pipes connecting the gearbox and radiator. Because of its location, they might break or become loose. A heavy oil leak will indicate that issue and it’s not recommended to drive the vehicle.
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM)
The continuously variable transmission is electronically controlled as there are no gears and as such, the module that controls it can cause a myriad of problems. One of the best indicators that the electronic TCM has gone south is that the PRND indicators will start flashing. This isn’t the easiest part in the world to replace, but it can be done with a little bit of work and mechanical knowledge.
which gearbox you have?
not sure, no problem!
Submit your registration number and symptoms and we'll identify your gearbox type and confirm the correct pricing for your repair.
Diagnostic: £80 + VAT. 45–60 minutes
gearbox Pricing
8 SPEED : 0BK/0BL
£4500
Model 8HP55 (0BK/0BL) - Full recondition + VAT
8 SPEED : 0D5
£5000
Model 8HP55 (0D5) - Full recondition + VAT
8 SPEED : 0D6
£6000
Model 8HP65 (0D6) - Full recondition + VAT
8 SPEED : 0D7
£4700 to £7900
Model 8HP70 (0D7) - Full recondition + VAT
gearbox Services 8 Speed Multitronic gearbox
Every service begins with a precise evaluation, allowing us to recommend the most effective solution with clarity, transparency, and long-term reliability in mind.
FAQs
gearbox issues
What is the most common issue with my gearbox?It depends on your gearbox type. Many gearbox symptoms can be caused by things like sensors, clutch-related issues, or the gearbox control unit, not always full gearbox failure.
The fastest way to confirm the real cause is diagnostics.
gearbox emergency mode
What does it mean?“Gearbox emergency mode” means the vehicle has detected a transmission fault and has limited performance to protect the gearbox.
This can happen for different reasons, and it does not automatically mean your gearbox needs replacing. Diagnostics will confirm the correct repair route. 
Gearbox diagnostic
Why can’t you tell me what’s wrong without diagnostics?Because DSG gearbox faults can look very similar from the outside.
Error codes can point in the right direction, but diagnosing correctly often requires deeper checks. For example, some sensor errors can be caused by the clutch opening/closing unexpectedly, which can also happen when the clutch itself is failing. 
Diagnostic prevents wasted repairs and incorrect cost estimates.
gearbox problems
Can gearbox problems get worse if I keep driving?In some cases, yes.
If your gearbox is in limp mode, losing gears, or showing warning messages, continuing to drive may cause additional damage. If possible, it’s best to stop driving and contact us for advice or book diagnostics.
That said, some gearbox faults are intermittent. In these cases, if diagnostics show no active faults, we may advise you to continue driving and monitor the symptoms until the issue becomes easier to diagnose. This should only be done if advised by our team.
DSG gearbox
Do all DSG gearboxes work the same way?No. Different DSG gearboxes have different internal designs and common faults.
Some gearbox variants are closely related and may share key components like the mechatronic controller, but can still behave differently in real faults. That’s why gearbox identification (via registration/VIN) is always the starting point. 
Need Help?
We are happy to help.For the fastest support, submit your registration number via our Estimate Request form or Book Diagnostics online.