Changing the F125 - can it be easier?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by steamship

When I had issues with the F125 switch, it was always a case of it going into limp mode i.e. everything highlighted, and usually happened after being in reverse.

Indeed, I had a few good examples of that this evening, manoeuvring in a tight pub car park and not taking my time with the shifter! Got home OK though after a restart to clear limp mode.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Insurance policy; as I happen to be nearing the end of an Amazon Prime free trial I had a quick look at suppliers there. Found some cheap Chinese copies "SURIEEN" branded in UK stock and less than £40 so that will arrive tomorrow.

I bought two of the Chinese copies off eBay back in 2019, and eventually got around to fitting one in mid 2022. Never had any issues with it since.

[HPsauce]

Luckily my local VAG specialist is only about 2km away and they changed my F125 some years ago.
Just called in and it's the same guys and they remembered me and also doing it!

They're happy to tackle it again and to use my Chinese F125 if they can't get a genuine one. Not for 2 weeks though, they're very busy.

I'll give them a print of the Audipages guide (as I did last time) plus MJs additional tips.

Edit: The garage have just been in touch and say that 01V919821B is obsolete and unavailable, so it's Chinese copy time!
(Also not findable at Audi Tradition)

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by steamship

I bought two of the Chinese copies off eBay back in 2019, and eventually got around to fitting one in mid 2022. Never had any issues with it since.

I've just followed your example Sean as genuine ones are NLA I've just ordered a second Chinese one (for the next time!) which looks absolutely identical to the one I just bought that arrived this morning from UK stock.
Only difference is it's shipping from China and is barely half the price, just over £20. Cheap insurance.

Incidentally, while doing some further checks running VCDS this afternoon I did actually see gear Z4 with code 0011 so I've noted that in the other thread about F125 specifics.
Given what I was doing at the time (moving around between D and S) that looked as if I'd lost the contact with track 3 that at other times has been there when it shouldn't be! Definitely something broken/moving/blocking inside.

Edit: Next morning, during a short drive, I was parked up with the engine running and selector just in N. I noticed the highlight flickering on and off around the N!
Probably not noticed that before as N is just normally a position you go through and don't linger in.
When I got home I plugged VCDS in and could see it was changing between N and Z3, implying unwanted intermittent contact was being made on track 5. This is only "live" when selecting a forward gear (D, 4 or 3 but not 2) so there's obviously damage/debris spreading!
Incidentally the only error code was the ubiquitous 0119 Gear Recognition Signal (intermittent) in ABS, the TCU was clean this time.
There was another observation, relevant to (and added to) the other F125 thread.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

The garage have just been in touch and say that 01V919821B is obsolete and unavailable, so it's Chinese copy time!
(Also not findable at Audi Tradition)

So they hit a problem, one that I recall reading somewhere long ago: the Chinese cable was too short!

However, the mechanic, as the manager put it, "got creative" and with some careful rerouting got the job done. Fitted and tested, just need to go and collect it now.

Does anyone else recall hearing of this problem and have a link to an ideal solution?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Looking at the insides of the F125 it's track 3 that's relevant and there's a thin section of it between N and 4/S so I think that contact must be damaged

And indeed it is!



That fourth contact is for Track#3 and looks burnt or contaminated. No obvious marks on the track though.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Does anyone else recall hearing of this problem and have a link to an ideal solution?

Just checked my old one next to the spare new Chinese one, and the Chinese cable is two inches shorter, the exact length of the electrical connector. I wasn't even aware of this, and from memory, I don't recall having any issues getting it to fit correctly, as I just fitted it along the route of the old one.

[HPsauce]

Interesting Sean, I just checked my spare (it arrived today) and it's 90mm (3.5") shorter. It looks identical to the one they fitted.
The mechanic actually removed the support bracket and bolt (I have them now) and I think cable tied a shorter route.
(As I bought it on Amazon I've lobbed a complaint in, with photo evidence)

Also cleaned up the contacts:

Just need to get some suitable bolts to fix it back together and I'll have a genuine spare.

[HPsauce]

You can buy a 10-wire VAG extension cable on AliExpress for about a fiver delivered!
See: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004719243387.html
Might just get one as insurance against short F125 cables.

Edit: Ordered one anyway, nearer £7 with VAT added. I'll test it thoroughly.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Interesting Sean, I just checked my spare (it arrived today) and it's 90mm (3.5") shorter.

Also cleaned up the contacts:

Just need to get some suitable bolts to fix it back together and I'll have a genuine spare.

When I measured them, I thought it might have been a case of 'lost in translation' when they were copying them, where someone measured to the end of the original cable, and the other person took that as meaning to the end of the connector. How they've managed to lob off another 1.5" is puzzling.

Saw that photo after I posted. I must disassemble mine sometime to see what happened, but might try and find replacement bolts first.

Originally Posted by HPsauce

You can buy a 10-wire VAG extension cable on AliExpress for about a fiver delivered!

Hmmm, where there's a gap in the market (or in the length of the cable), let's come up with a solution.