When I shift to drive on a cold morning sometimes it goes into sport shift instead. If I shift down to 4 and back it usually finds itself. If it doesn't I usually take it as a sign and give it what it's asking for

I want to take the console apart and clean the magnetic sensor. How do I get to the sensor?

and how come my name says "2nd Gear"? especially when it feels like I'm in reverse!

 

LOL, the forum layout changed again and all the member designations have changed as well.
If its not picking a gear and you notice it being in D mode when you select S its NOT the magnetic sensor. You most likely need to adjust the cable at the transmission range switch located on the side of the transmission.

If it had a problem with the magnetic sensor it would throw the car in limp mode and lock you in third gear, so it has to be mechanical.

 

Actually when I shift it from Park to drive, only on a cold morning, instead of reading PRND... it is reading the 1234 as if I had shifted sideways through the gate. If I shift it straight down from D to 4 it registers PRND and then if I shift it back up it stays in PRND as it should so that's why I thought it might be the sensor not making a good connection.

Probably 10 years of excessive Armor-all

What tells the TCM or ECM that you have shifted through the gate into Sport or regular drive?

Thanks
Jack

 

Well then its the magnetic strip under the shifter then, normally when it gets a false signal it will shut it down, but yours is kind of a unique problem. You won't be able to clean it most likely, i would bet the magnet would fall out as soon as you took it apart.

The problem i was talking about is if you selected reverse and got neutral for instance, that would be the mechanical linkage. But if its popping back and forth from drive to tip mode its gotta be the magnetic switch.

 

So how do I get to it without cracking everything. I haven't checked the Bentley yet but usually they aren't the best on how NOT to do things.

 

Its pretty easy to get out, you have to remove the shifter **** and the wood trim around the shifter assembly. On some models (i think the A8 as well) you need to pull out the A/C control head and ash tray, which means pulling the radio as well. Once thats out of the way its just a matter of releasing the clips and up the whole thing comes.