I have searched the forums but i have found very little relevant information to my problem.

I have a 1996, Audi A4 Quattro/ automatic

i recently repaired a coolant leak (bad pressure tank) and after i repaired the leak I wanted to make sure i had repaired it, so i sprayed gunk cleaner around the pressure tank (on the driver side) and sprayed it out good with water. Upon completing of this I went to fire up my car, and suddenly reverse no longer worked, it seemed electronic because it wouldn’t try to engage at all. it would however engage into drive no problem at all.

i also noticed that the light in the instrument cluster "PRND432" all of them were selected like all of the gears were on.

i talked to one mechanic and he told my my problem was in my Neutral safety switch and that i had fouled it up and should take it apart and clean it and it should fix my problems, I looked through my Bentley manual, to no avail in finding this item. for my year car.
i did however find that there is a "multi-function transmission range switch" which appears to be the sending unit for the lights on the instrument cluster for which gear I’m in.

anyhow i got under the car and i cleaned the 2 wire groups that go into the transmission they were fouled up with coolant and water, i cleaned them out and dried them with an air compressor when i was done, after i did this my reverse now works more consistently, however sometimes i will have to leave it sitting in reverse like 5 seconds before it will try to engage, so obviously i have a bad connection somewhere still.

My questions are as follows.
i talked to one mechanic and he has told me that the transmission, by fouling it up has thrown some codes that can only be reset by diagnosing the problem which he charges 85 bucks to do. i disagree, i think there is a still a problem in the system.

as for taking out that multi function switch... is is possible to do this without removing the transmission? The switch is located directly behind the driver side front axel, and the transmission mount is in front of this switch. can i remove this mount without disconnecting the trans? also do you guys think my problem is in this switch? Or have I likely thrown a code that has disabled the trans?

some other things... i let the car warm up the other day and was able to drive it, sometimes it shifts hard now into first, and a few times when i was climbing an overpass it seemed like it dropped out of gear ie from first to neutral or between first and second it went to neutral, kind of like a loose electrical connection...
when driving the transmission does not usually shift hard, and once its warmed up it will go into reverse fine. when accelerating in first gear, if you let off the gas shouldn’t the car coast? now my car seems to stay in first gear and slows down very fast.

Will removing the transmission control module reset the codes in it? if there are any...?
Do you guys have any recommendations on other things I can check before I try taking it in?
Removing the transmission and checking that switch is beyond my capabilities because i do not have the tools or equipment to do this...
Do you guys think it will seriously damage the transmission to drive it? it shifts fine from first to second and so on... but since this problem has occurred i have not driven it more then 5 miles... tonight I am headed to school ~20 miles...

Any help is appreciated.
-William

 

Do a search for VAG COM TOOL LOCATOR. Get the error codes if any. Try Radio Shack Contact Cleaner Spray.

 

you probably shorted the range sensor or made a loose connection somehow. When it slips climbing hills or not going into reverse the tranny is probably running in limp. Pulling the tcm will not clear the codes because they are most likely not hard codes they are stored. But it can’t hurt to try. Just pull the batt (that will power down the tcm) for 10-20. If all else fails after that or you are not sure drive it and see what happens. Stored codes will not hurt your car... but if it keeps acting up then there has to be a current fault and that is all that needs to be addressed

 

i drove to class, and the trans shifted fine through all 5 gears on the freeway. i did notice that the downshift does nothing.
i went from driving changed it to 4th.... on the freeway and it didnt downshift... so i tried 3rd and second nothing happened, also tried it when i stopped, i put it in 2nd and took off it shifted on up past 2nd.
thanks for the responses.
as for vag tool scanner, i can borrow one to check the ODBII interface, for things such as the check engine... is this the same place you would check for the tranny even though the check engine light has not come on?

-William

 

yes you can read all the codes in the tcm if any and clear them yourself with the correct software.. got to love obd2

 

How many miles do you have on your car?

 

215k miles

 

I shorted out my tiptronic shifting when I gave my car an engine wash one time. My guess is thats what happened to you. It cam back in about 3 weeks or so, I guess it dried itself out.