I have an 2001 A4 Avant quattro. Last night I got a battery warning light and noticed the volts fluctuating. Car eventually died on side of road. I assumed it was my alternator - gone bad so not charging the battery - and since I was running lights, heater, wipers, radio it died that much faster. But car was stuck in 4th gear and auto transmission would not shift. Strange? Is this all due to dead battery and engine mgmt system failure? Anyone, any thoughts?

 

you need to check if the battery is dead first then the alternator also are the wires ok, personally I would agree the alternator is done in because what you describe is exactly the result of the alternator and yes everything would lock up because of the computers control over everything in the newer cars ( the price we pay for tech )