In need of some suggestions. Recently purchased '98 A4 2.8 quatro (5-speed Triptronic A/T). Test drove great, next next drove great home 45 minutes with no transmission problems.

The next morning on a short drive in DRIVE, I noticed the RPMs rising without response from the transmission, as though the car was in neutral. I pulled over and had no gears. I was able to get the car home by shutting off the ignition and restarting, which gave me momentary gears (on the third try I had gears for the two minute drive home. It hasn't moved from my driveway since. Current issues are no reverse (tranny whines, when I give gas it won't rev feels like tranny is engaged but fighting itself so won't move (opposite clutch packs engaged?). In forward gears, the car will move but with mild clunking and roughness.

Known issues:
1) ABS code D1203 Electrical connection between ABS and instrument cluster and 00283 ABS wheel speed sensor front left (G47).. I haven't dug into this yet, but suspect I will need to send in my ABS controller for repair but the tranny has taken priority at this time
2) Gear indicator on dash mis-aligned with shifter position, requiring car to be started in neutral (Park never indicated),Shifter & dash indication was off 3/4-1 gear (shifter in drive, dash indicated neutral)

After reading several posts regarding issue #2, I suspected an issue with my switch on the tranny (neutral safety switch) and or shift cable adjustment. For the switch, I found that one of the pins in the connector (red wire) was broken off. Thinking I found the problem, I replaced the switch with used switch, cleaned and dried both halves of connector, applied dielectric grease and reconnected. No change to drive-ability. After more post reading, I next dove into the shifter cable adjustment; loosened two cable attach bolts, shifter in neutral, tranny in neutral, re-tightened. I sould have stopped here, but dummy me decided to see if I could see each dash indication by turning the switch manually with a screw driver. I was able to see individually 4-3-2 & D, but never saw N-R or P and then ALL GEARS lit up. Tranny was in neutral/ignition on, so I suspect I have triggered a fault in the TCM. Results, no change in drive-ability and now PRND21 is ON (Red)and it won't clear itself.

Later today, I am going to pull my TCM & check for wetness and corrosion in connector & TCM circuit board I will do the same with my ECM. Also am going to inspect/clean/grease/re-rack my instrument cluster connections (for D1203 code).

I want to believe my tranny is mechanically OK and I want to believe my TCM is OK but with current faults (because car drove great twice). The only code I have pulled from trans is 18152 Triptronic Recognition switch (F189) short to ground DTS status sporadic. I have a Icarsoft Vag II scanner, but often am getting a message that it can't connect to the ECM, so can't always pull codes and haven't figured out yet how to pull live data.

So my questions:
1) Could the ABS faults have anything to do with tranny symptoms?
2) Could the shifter/indication (cable out of adjust) been the problem the whole time, but now I have induced a TCM fault (Can't connect to check and clear with my VAG II)
3) I have read a few times of people disconnecting their TCM connector/ABS controller connectors for troubleshooting. Will car drive with these connectors disconnected?
4) Is there any way to clear TCM faults other than with a VAG?
5) What issues can cause a VAG to not be able to connect to the car?
6) Looking for next steps to try? My time to work on this car is limited right now, so my responses may be slow, but I will get back ASAP.

I am excited to make this car a daily driver as am pumped about the "on paper" features of the 4-wheel drive and a 2.8 in such a small car, but am proceeding cautiously as I am aware their reputation as being an expensive car to maintain. The car is in beautiful original un-hacked condition (black on black, 156K) I greatly appreciate any and all responses & suggestions as I try to get this beauty back on the road.

Thanks everyone and have a great day! Dave

 

TCM is clean & dry, no evidence of ever getting wet, all connector contacts & circuit board are clean & shiny, no corrosion. Same with instrument cluster, clean & shiny contacts.

Your help and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

Update...I was able to get my VAG II to connect this morning and checked codes and again had the "18152 Triptronic Recognition Switch (F189) Short to Ground DTS Status sporadic" I was able to clear this fault and good news is the PRND21 on the dash is now functioning properly (No longer lit up red and indication moves with shifter selection, all gears including Tipronic indication). Bad news is, still no response from my tranny. Starting to get concerned my tranny is toast...I guess next I need to check fluid level and condition (black or burnt smelling vs. clear/brown and "normal" smelling. Any suggestions or recommendations? Thanks! Dave