I was racing a buddy of mine and once I got it up 105-110mph three or four dash lights lit up, break light, battery light, and the voltage gauge pegged at 16 volts then the transmission locked itself into 3rd or 4th gear And wouldn't down shift or up shift even from a dead stop.

Continued this the rest of the way to my parents. The voltage would go back down to normal at a stop when it was idling and as soon as I would apply throttle the voltage would peg and battery light come on with a high voltage warning beep.

On the way back home later on it was still doing it then finally chilled out and seemed to go back to normal except for the transmission not shifting. Turned the car off and then back on and the transmission started behaving normal again. Regained my bump shifting and everthing seemed normal.

My question is what made it do this? What exactly happened and should I be worried?

It's an 01 A4 with 2.8l and 80k miles

 

Hitting that speed is pretty frequent for me, and as these are german cars that shouldn't be an issue.

Now, were you redlining it in 4th when this happened is the question?

 

It seems like it was right before I was going to shift, so pretty close to redline

 

The transmission went into limp mode.

Sounds like you have an electrical problem of some type. My first thought, based on your description, is the voltage regulator in the alternator. If it was spiking your voltage the computer probably "shut itself down" as protection. No computer=no TCM, no ABS, explaining your MILs.

 

Makes sense, can the regulator in the alternator be replaced or do you have to replace the whole alternator?

 

+1 to voltage regulator. I'm pretty sure they can't be replaced independently.

 

I though manual A4 B5's don't have a TCM=Transmission control module? only Automatics like mine do.

 

His is auto - it locked itself in gear. When he was talking about shifting I'm pretty sure he meant tip-shifting.

 

oh,i see now...

 

Thanks for all the help!!