DSG/S-Tronic 'box stuck in park - any ideas?

DSG/S-Tronic 'box stuck in park - any ideas?

Author
Discussion

jumpinjohnson

Original Poster:

79 posts

217 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Hi all... I've got a '56 plate A6 2.0TDi with 95k on the clock. About two weeks ago I got into the car and couldn't move it out of park.

I tried everything I could think of and, in the end, got the AA out. He got it out of park by opening the ash tray, removing the tray itself and using a screwdriver to press the manual release button deep inside.

After that it happened another 10 or 11 times. My local garage called Audi who told them it was going to be EITHER the brake switch (that tells the gearbox that the brake is applied) or the selector unit on the top of the 'box. The garage ran a diagnostic check and came up with a fault 'brake switch'.

Naturally they replaced the brake switch but, unfortunately, the fault occurred again the same day. However, 2 weeks down the line, it hasn't happened since.

No fault code showed when it went back in and the garage has said they are at a loss as to what to do. They don't want to replace the selector without proof it's knackers (£500 job) and they don't want to start swapping out other expensive parts especially as the whole console has to come out each time.

Does anyone have any ideas why the gearbox might be sticking in park like this? I've replaced the oil every 40k as it's supposed to be and the car is immaculately maintained! Really at a loss as, with the age of the car, a new gearbox would write it off.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Firstly. You don't have a DSG/S Tronic box in a car that old. It's a Multitronic (or regular Auto if a Quattro)

Secondly. Sounds like the selector is at fault. The part under the centre console. Not anything internal to the box.

Maracus

4,228 posts

167 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Definitely a Multi, the 2.0 TDI didn't come with quattro in the A6.

Cupramax

10,469 posts

251 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
I'd put money on the gearbox ecu, and as above its not DSG, its multichronic.

DarkMatter

1,473 posts

230 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
If I understand what you have said then following replacement of the brake light switch the fault occurred once more, almost immediately, and then has not occurred again in the last 2 weeks. I'm wondering whether the brake light switch wasn't quite seated properly when it was replaced? The reason I say that is that when I replaced my brake light switch I couldn't move the lever out of Park, investigation showed that I hadn't fully rotated the switch to locate it properly. Rather than send it back to the garage now couldn't you continue using the car until the problem occurs again and then get the fault codes checked?

jumpinjohnson

Original Poster:

79 posts

217 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
Yup, you're all right on that - my mistake. It's a multitronic... I'm getting a little worried by reading other posts on Audi forums TBH!

It did only happen the once since the switch was replaced and the code did come up as 'brake switch fault'. I suppose the switch might not have been seated properly - it was done by a really spot on garage but that is definitely possible.

jumpinjohnson

Original Poster:

79 posts

217 months

Thursday 10th April 2014
quotequote all
I am tempted to keep the car for a while - run it and hope it doesn't happen again... see if it happens again and hope there's a fault code when it next goes through diagnostics. Hopefully that'll work - unfortunately though, the last time the fault occurred and it went back into the garage no fault code flashed up. Who's to say whether a code will appear next time the problem raises its head?

jumpinjohnson

Original Poster:

79 posts

217 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
Right... there's a new symptom now! The car's been absolutely fine for a good few days but I've just come home, tried to reverse into my drive and, whilst the car will 'creep' in reverse, apply any throttle and it just revs freely with no effect on the car's speed. Press the throttle = revs but no additional speed in reverse. Going forward is fine.

Then I put it into park and, lo and behold, it won't come out.

Does this additional symptom prompt any different thoughts?!

jumpinjohnson

Original Poster:

79 posts

217 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Just gone into the garage and come up with a fault with the 'range sensor'...?

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
ECU sounds likely at this point.

jumpinjohnson

Original Poster:

79 posts

217 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
Yup... unfortunately I think you're right. My local garage has finally got an answer back from Audi and the range sensor is built into the ECU. The ECU either needs replacing with a new one (£1000) or it can be refurbished (£500)... then there's fitting on top. Apparently about 4 hours plus a few consumables - gaskets etc.

The garage doesn't make any more/less money whichever I go for but they have spoken to a number of people who counselled against the refurb route... apparently many people have seen it just not work at all and have been left with a completely immobile car! Tough one...

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
We've had 'limited' success with refurbishing ECUs. A few come back and been fine but others DOA and ended up needing a new one anyway.

If you want to hit the nail on the head I'd bite the bullet and go brand new.