I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC 97 A4 1.8T QUATTRO. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO FLUSH OUT AND CHANGE THE COOLANT, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT HE WANTED ME TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT MORNING TO CHECK THE DRAIN PLUG.....I DROVE HOME AND OUT FOR THE NIGHT....WHEN I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO GO TO WORK I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT REMAINED IN NEUTRAL AND THE SAME THING WITH PARK I NOTICED, BUT IT WOULD RECOGNIZE DRIVE. WHEN I TOOK IT THE STATION THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR AND NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY TO MUCH OIL GETTING TO IT. I HAVE A FEELING THAT THEY ARE LIABLE BUT AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE....IS ANYBODY FAMILIAR WITH THIS SITUATION AND KNOW IF THE TWO ARE DIRECTLY RELATED....ANY INFO WOULD BE GREAT

 

engine oil wont effect the reverse gear just check the haven't damaged something on the gearbox when they jacked it up also check the fluid level in the gearbox

 

IT WASNT THE REVERSE GEAR IT WAS THE SENSOR....IT WAS THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH....THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DAMAGED FROM OIL MOST LIKELY... AFTER THEY JUST CHANGED THE OIL THE DAY BEFORE.

 

right got you now, if they say it was damaged by oil then they should pay for the repair (but you drove it home) so chances are it was ready to fail which happens, I doubt oil spilling onto the switch would harm it though, only the wires are exposed the switch is internal

 

fuses and relays

[IMG]local://upfiles/12092/17038B84756B493E9414B412659A04F2.jpg[/IMG]

 

THE GUY TOLD ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DRAIN PLUG, BUT SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE HOME.....THIS IS BEFORE ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SWITCH

 

still cant see what the engine oil drain plug would have to do with the automatic transmission unless it leaked all the oil out due to drain plug not being fitted properly then the engine would seize up and not start at all if you see what I mean

 

YEAH I HEAR WHAT YOUR SAYING....I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE ANY WAY IT WOULD HAPPEN THAT WAY WHEN I GO TO PICK IT UP I COULD HAVE THEM EAT THE BILL BUT DOESNT SEEM LIKE THAT WILL.....AIGHT THANKS MAN

 

it does look doubtful mate but try changing that relay it could easily just be that

 

[:-] strange answer