A4 Auto - Stuck in Park - No Brake Lights !

TheTwelveQuidKid · 16-12-10, 06:42 PM

GF's A4 (1997) been great until now. This afternoon, she started it up, pressed the brake pedal and the auto selector lever wouldn't move out of park.
I had a look and the brake lights are not working either. I noticed there are 2 switches on the brake pedal, and one has a cable going into it as well as the wiring connector. I tried bypassing each switch individually but neither put the brake lights on or activated the solenoid.
I checked the fuses and they all seemed to be ok (was going dark so I could have missed one).

The surround for the gear selector is metal with a rubber bit round it. I don't know if it just clips in, and I didn't want to risk breaking anything so I left it and lent her another car.

But for now it's stuck in her works car park which isn't good, so can anyone tell me what to do next, or what might be wrong. And how to take off the gear lever surround and bypass the solenoid that's stopping it going into drive ?

Any info on which fuse does the brake lights would also be really appreciated.

latent · 16-12-10, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheTwelveQuidKid

GF's A4 (1997) been great until now. This afternoon, she started it up, pressed the brake pedal and the auto selector lever wouldn't move out of park.
I had a look and the brake lights are not working either. I noticed there are 2 switches on the brake pedal, and one has a cable going into it as well as the wiring connector. I tried bypassing each switch individually but neither put the brake lights on or activated the solenoid.
I checked the fuses and they all seemed to be ok (was going dark so I could have missed one).

The surround for the gear selector is metal with a rubber bit round it. I don't know if it just clips in, and I didn't want to risk breaking anything so I left it and lent her another car.

But for now it's stuck in her works car park which isn't good, so can anyone tell me what to do next, or what might be wrong. And how to take off the gear lever surround and bypass the solenoid that's stopping it going into drive ?

Any info on which fuse does the brake lights would also be really appreciated.

some auto cars have a lock switch which allows you to only move the lever out of park with brake depressed - you can hear it as a light click when you press the brake pedal sometimes. The electrical signal for this comes from the brake light switch. Possible the brake light switch has gone down or a break in the wire which explains why no brake lights aswell. Id go for that before the solenoid

spongebob · 16-12-10, 08:42 PM

could be brake light switch. similar thing happened on my golf gti dsg (automatic) except our brake lights kept randomly coming on when parked up, flatten the battery one night. was told on gti forum would be brake light switch. anyway with the battery charged up and back on the car I disconnected the brake light switch to make brake lights go out and make sure they wouldn't drain the battery again while a new switch was ordered and with the switch disconnected the gearbox wouldn't release from park. there a common thing to go apparently. best of all only cost £8.52 from vw

steveb · 16-12-10, 08:45 PM

Have you checked the brake light bulbs ?

tttoptotty · 16-12-10, 09:01 PM

Had a similar thing in the old Rangie let off handbrake (obviously not on a hill) foot on footbrake and put into neutral and then try it. I worked for me failing that make sure stupid I know but make sure it is actually fully in Park and if not it will lock the brakes and you cant put in any gear until it's in full lock on park this also found out in the Rangie but it might work for you hun. Sorry if you've already tried this.

TheTwelveQuidKid · 16-12-10, 11:51 PM

Thanks for the replies.

We're going to have to move it tomorrow as she finishes for Christmas and the gates will be locked until the new year. I'll tow it if I have to but knowing it's probably some daft electrical fault it would be nice to suss out what's wrong and fix it.

yeti · 17-12-10, 09:28 AM

You'll need a spec truck, autos stuck in park don't move easily.

Unless it's a quattro, then the best of luck to you

20vcqdriver · 17-12-10, 10:52 AM

If you feel upto it you can fool it by removing one of the brake lamps, put side lamps on and using a spare wire put 12V from the centre connector of brake lamp and centre connector of side lamp holder this should be the same as pressing the brake pedal and should at least get it out of park, will need two people mind one to hold wire and one to pull it out of park

.
But would certainly suspect switch

.

TheTwelveQuidKid · 17-12-10, 05:15 PM

Fixed.

Was a fuse.

Thanks for all the replies and ideas.

16-12-10, 08:45 PM	#4
steveb Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West Berkshire Posts: 1,155	Have you checked the brake light bulbs ? __________________ [FONT] '76 Leyland Princess 2200 HLS '79 Scirocco storm '84 WR '89 coupe quattro '01 A2 1.4 TDI SE '14 A3 1.4 TFSI COD [/color][/size][/font]

16-12-10, 09:01 PM	#5
tttoptotty Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Middle of Nowhere anyone knows Posts: 1,832	Had a similar thing in the old Rangie let off handbrake (obviously not on a hill) foot on footbrake and put into neutral and then try it. I worked for me failing that make sure stupid I know but make sure it is actually fully in Park and if not it will lock the brakes and you cant put in any gear until it's in full lock on park this also found out in the Rangie but it might work for you hun. Sorry if you've already tried this. __________________ Audi the ride of your life

17-12-10, 09:28 AM	#7
yeti Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Derby Posts: 1,166	You'll need a spec truck, autos stuck in park don't move easily. Unless it's a quattro, then the best of luck to you __________________ 1990 Coupe Quattro (WTF did I buy that for?) Half a 1983 Coupe FI (long term parts shelf) 2003 Cors-arrrgh More Polos that you'd ever believe No time, no money, all the wrong tools and a workshop that's too far away

17-12-10, 10:52 AM	#8
20vcqdriver 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 3,910	If you feel upto it you can fool it by removing one of the brake lamps, put side lamps on and using a spare wire put 12V from the centre connector of brake lamp and centre connector of side lamp holder this should be the same as pressing the brake pedal and should at least get it out of park, will need two people mind one to hold wire and one to pull it out of park. But would certainly suspect switch. __________________ Coupe quattro 1986:-~450bhp + loooong list of mods! Audi A7 Bi-TDI SLine Black edition 2015 mapped to produce 600lb/ft torque! Audi S4 4.2 V8 cabriolet 2004:-

16-12-10, 08:42 PM	#3
spongebob Grown up member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 50	could be brake light switch. similar thing happened on my golf gti dsg (automatic) except our brake lights kept randomly coming on when parked up, flatten the battery one night. was told on gti forum would be brake light switch. anyway with the battery charged up and back on the car I disconnected the brake light switch to make brake lights go out and make sure they wouldn't drain the battery again while a new switch was ordered and with the switch disconnected the gearbox wouldn't release from park. there a common thing to go apparently. best of all only cost £8.52 from vw

16-12-10, 11:51 PM	#6
TheTwelveQuidKid Grown up member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 422	Thanks for the replies. We're going to have to move it tomorrow as she finishes for Christmas and the gates will be locked until the new year. I'll tow it if I have to but knowing it's probably some daft electrical fault it would be nice to suss out what's wrong and fix it.

17-12-10, 05:15 PM	#9
TheTwelveQuidKid Grown up member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 422	Fixed. Was a fuse. Thanks for all the replies and ideas.