I own a 2006 Audi A6 (FWD / Triptonic). When i turn engine on the EPC light on the dash stays on and the shifter is locked in park. The first time it happened i took i to the audi dealer and they concluded i needed to replace the transmission control module ($1500 parts and labor). I was not conviced however they were truly 100% confident this part was the reason. It happened again the second time and when I pressed the disengage button under the ashtray to release the shifter, the EPC light goes off & car drives normally and once again i can start car fine, no EPC light, and car shifts and drives without problems. Can anyone who has had similiar problem or has knowledge how to diagnose this issue, please give me some suggestion?

 

my friend, the J217, which is gearbox control unit does this thing, what happened is that the signal is interrupted via the gearbox CU and the shifter goes stuck at park and won't release untill you press on the emergency button. brake light switch do the same problem however you can know it's faulty when you that the brake lights are always on even when you turn off the car. mainly if the diagnosis log show a fault which is : tiptronic switch F125 implausible signal or short to positive that would be a a faulty gearbox CU and need to be replaced.

 

Is the Gearbox CU the same thing as the Transmission Control Unit?

 

yes it's the same

 

Removing the front ash tray, I used a small flat head screw driver to pop off a plastic cover located basically in the front right side of the cavity under the ash tray. Looking down through the opening with a flashlight I saw a white button about a quarter inch round with a silver encasement around it. I started the car (EPC light still on of course) and depressed the button by using the end of a chopstick. The EPC light went off and I was able to then get the car out of park and drive it in to my garage.

I am not sure what to do now or whether the issue will reoccur etc. but wanted to pass along this information.

 

I have also been suffering this very same problem. It has happened twice. I have been doing it the long way around and using my lap top with a VCDS to clear the DTC's and OBD2 codes. I never knew about the reset under the front ash tray. Cool. It seems to happen after my wife uses the CD player. Within the last 6 months the car has suffered a front and a rear end collision. Both were repaired with no side affects. I can only beleive it will happen again and the problem has to be found. Does anyone have an answer that is absolute? Could this condition have been caused by the rear end collision. Are there any transmission controllers in the back of the vehicle?

 

I have the 2006 A6 that has the same problem with my shifter stuck in Park. I was able to get it out of Park followed the instruction with the reset switch under the ashtray. Thanks god!

So does anyone have to replace the gearbox CU to fix this problem? Where is the gearbox CU located at?

Thank you for any response.

-Phil

 

Hi guys hope you can help.
I have had this problem for about 2 months. Each time it happened I rang mechanic who in fairness is very honest and he diagnosed problem through vag and got it out of park. He then cleaned the gearbox selctor switch and all was good for another week until it happened again.
He then replaced the gear selector switch and everything was ok for a month until this morning.
Luckily I have been reading the threads here and I was able to get it out of park by lifting the front ashtray and flicking the black cover off at the front and depressing the white button. I then could get into neutrel, moved the car a small bit and pulled the handbrake and hey presto cars is grand now.
What can be done to fix this, its very intermittent and I would just to get it sorted.
Is there a way I can get something I can get reprogrammed, many thanks

 

Hi all,

I now have a 2005 A6 C6 2.4 MLT with the exact same issue as described here. My audi dealer seems to be guessing what the issue may be as they had challanges with getting the error to reoccur when I got my car towed to their facilities

My A6s EPC light comes on when I put the car in park and as I am removing my foot from the brake. I am aware of the ashtray procedure, and I am using this as a work around for this issue.

I want to get this fixed, but by fixing the actual issue and not by letting Audi exchange several expensive parts hoping to solve the issue solves it self in some way. First quote was for $4000 (in Norway)...

Seems like a reoccuring issue as its mentioned several places on the web and in these forums.

How did you get this fixed, what was the actual issue and what was the cost?

 

Hi Mate, I got the issue sorted by a gearbox specialist. What ever you do stay away from Audi , they wanted €2550 for the part and about 2k on labour.
If its getting stuck in park and wont start like my last post above its your edu unit in the gearbox.
2006 model unfortunately has to have the gearbox removed and the EDU unit taken out and reprogrammed. it cost me €800 in the end.
So find a gearbox specialist first off, tell him you need the unit reprogrammed and thats that.
You can get a service from ebay as well, where by you send the unit away for reprogramming but I would say your gearbox man would have his own guy. Hope this helps, ask away if I can help I will