I'm pretty sure my TCU is fried... i've been in safe/limp mode ever since i drove through a lot of water and almost got stuck (and VAG-COM reports that the engine compter cannot communicate with the transmission computer). Thankfully there is no water in my transmission fluid.

What i'm wondering is how did that amount of water fry the TCU if it wasn't bad enough to get into the trans fluid? How do I get to the TCU to swap it out? Is that a do-it-yourself job?

 

Does the tranny shift OK?

 

The TCU is on the floor of the passenger side under the carpeting. Removing it is a 5 minute job. Water may have gotten into the car and shorted it out.

 

nope... it's in safe mode

 

I tried... the carpeting is IMPOSSIBLE to get up without taking the seat out... any suggestions?

...no water got into the car... i find it hard to beleive that driving through a lot of water shorted it out, but stranger things have happened i guess!

 

is the floor under the passenger seat wet?? if not it cant be the TCU but it could be the connections to the external side of the wiring harness going onto the gearbox (might need drying out) remove the fuses to the tranny and check them.


edit removing the fuses and putting them back should also reset the TCU

 

No, it's dry... the water came from below, not above when it fried, so I guess it is maybe the wires?

Were do I find the connections that may need drying out?

Which fuses should I remove?

THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS!!!

 

Check your owner's manual.

 

I don't have the fuse locations on the 2002 3.0 but it will show a picture of the tranny (same as the CEL) and the wires are on the tranny under the car