Car won't shift in tiptronic

I don't normally ever use the tiptronic in my car but today decided to try it. I was disturbed when it didn't do anything! Does anyone know what the problem could be? It drives fine, no clunks, thumps etc, and shifts smoothly, but there is no tiptronic. It used to work but doesn't now

Any advice greatly appreciated etc.

Jon

[IT]

The tiptronic on the shifter is a simple electrical push to make type switches (2 of) - For them both to fail would be very unlikely ?

Can you confirm that tiptronic wont shift up or down?

Does the DIS change to 12345 instead of PRND432 when you slip it to the right ?

Yes, the dash switches to the tip 12345 lights as usual but there is no change when I shift up or down. I was thinking that it might be some sort of switch at the base of the lever that wasn't picking up the movement of the lever.

Jon

I think I will have to have a look under the shifter to see if there is anything obvious - dirt etc, that might be causing problems with the connection. The car still drives perfectly but doesn't let me shift in tiptronic. It always used to so I don't know what the issue is. On another note I have fixed my randomly (and bl**dy annoying) hazard flasher problem by swapping the hazard switch for one sourced from a8parts. Now works perfectly.

Jon

I opened up the shifter area as detailed in Audipages here, http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...erremoval.html

and had a good look around (like a blind man at night in the fog). Vacuumed out two ketchup packets, put everything back together again but to no avail - the car still drives beautifully, shifts cleanly without any issues but it just doesn't shift in tiptronic mode. Now I will have to see if there are any switches that I can replace. Any ideas anyone?

Jon

[B@fink]

stop keeping ketchup packets in there is probably my first idea...............

I was hoping that with the ketchup packets removed that I will get an extra couple of mpg

I have been googling this tiptronic problem like crazy and have come across a problem with the magnets within the shifter unit. I have seen this thread but don't know whther it si relevant to A8 tiptronic gearboxes:
http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?p=2637163

Jon

[IT]

I've never heard of an A8 tiptronic change failing but I guess its not impossible. That shifter certainly looks very similar to an A8 one, although it could be cheaper to buy a second hand whole gear lever than to source those parts new....

The tiptronic shift is literally 2 wires connected to (effectively) 2 push to make contacts which connect directly to 2 pins on the gearbox ECU in the plenum chamber under the bonnet.

I fail to see how the wiring could have 'gone faulty' unless some did a botched attempt at changing round the way it works (so pull back goes up gears instead of down) in which case I guess the switch is the only possible culprit....

Unless there is some way to code out the tiptronic function on the ECU to prevent it recognising the switches, but then I wouldnt expect it to get as far as the '12345' in the display....

How odd... !

Thanks Ian.
How much would a whole new shifter be?
The fact that it used to work pefectly and then just stopped made me wonder whether a switch had gone wonky.

Jon