ive got a 99 a4. and my steering wheel has a +/- button on either side of the steering wheel. i dont know what it does..? doesnt do anything to the volume.. maybe it has something to do with the 6 disc changer? anyone? i just got my car 2 days ago

 

They control tiptronic shifting when it's selected on the shifter.

 

both buttons? how does that work? press both at same time?

 

Move your gear selector into the tiptronic mode (to the right) and use the + to upshift and the - to downshift.

 

you can't press both at same time and you can't use this button if your transmission still on automatic mode. as jwicker said you have to move your gear selector into the triptronic mode.

 

Come on you guys, it's tiptronic.

Mind posting a picture of the buttons? I've got a 99 A6 and i don't know what you're talking about (how similar are the a6 and a4?)

 

haha funniest thing...I have had my '02 a4 since about may or so and for thelongest time I had no idea what those stupid buttons were for. I thought maybe they were for the radio and were just broken...which of course pissed me off cuz I had just gotten the car...but then I accidentally hit one of the buttons when I had my car in the tiptronic (sp) mode and it shifted...I felt so stupid lol...anyway ya thats what they are for...to me it seems stupid to have 2 of them...

 

If you have a tiptronic transmission then the +/- buttons on the steering wheel should be to change the gears when you push the shift lever to the right in "manual" mode. I figured it out by chance as well. If this doesn't work, read your manual

 

i disagree. the paddle shifters work in any mode, whether its in D, S, or shifted to the tiptronic mode.

 

you guys should really watch more Formula 1 racing.