i got a 1998 audi a4 quattro 2.8l auto with tiptronic, has no reverse. the only wierd thing i notice is that when i put it in park or reverse it wont show it being selected on the intrument cluster, sometimes when i keep shifting the lever down into the other drives it jumps around. now i know it could need a pnp switch but would that cause it not to go into reverse? racso237 aim

 

I have a similar problem with my 97 1.8 turbo. Except I don't have 4th or 5th gear either. Get it VAG COM'd. When its not showing you what gear its in on the display.... thats the "warning light" that theres a transmission problem. I'm getting mine scanned today... and I'm thinking its my TCM (Transmission Control Module). Which is about $1600 from the dealer! Hopefully I can find a used one for cheaper.

 

Probably your trans range switch. Are all the gears on the dash lit up in a red box?

 

all the gears on my dash light up but when i put it on reverse or p it doesn't get highlight. if that makes any sense>

 

now reverse works but i cant use tip tronic. and it seem to not shift into 4th and 5th. PRND321 they are all lit at the same time. weird. and i ordered the vag com update when i get it.