Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Selector Mechanism, Checking
The starter does not work when the selector lever is in the "R" , "D" , "S" and the Tiptronic gate position.
Over 5 km/h (3 mph)
The shift lock solenoid must not block the selector lever when the lever is in the "N" position. The selector lever can be moved back into a another gear.
Under 5 km/h (3 mph)
The shift lock solenoid will block the selector lever approximately 1 second after the lever is moved into the "N" position. The selector lever can be moved out of the "N" position only when the brake pedal is pressed.
Selector Lever in the "P" Position and the Ignition Turned On
- If the brake pedal is not depressed:
The selector lever is locked and cannot be moved out of the "P" position when the button is pressed. The shift lock solenoid blocks the selector lever.
- If the brake pedal is depressed:
The shift lock solenoid releases the selector lever. It is now possible to shift into a gear. Slowly move the selector lever slowly from "P" through "S" ; while doing this, check whether the display of the selector lever position in the instrument panel insert matches the actual selector lever position.
Selector Lever in the "N" Position and the Ignition Turned On
- If the brake pedal is not depressed:
The selector lever is locked and cannot be moved out of the "N" position when the button is pressed. The shift lock solenoid blocks the selector lever.
- If the brake pedal is depressed:
The shift lock solenoid releases the selector lever. It is now possible to shift into a gear.
Selector Level in The "Tiptronic" Gate Position
- Move the selector lever into the Tiptronic gate position:
The "D" symbol illumination must go out in the cover and the "+" and "-" symbols must turn on.
The selector lever position display in the instrument cluster must change from "P R N D S" to "6 5 4 3 2 1" when the selector lever is moved into the Tiptronic gate.
Ignition and Lights Turned On
The appropriate symbol is being lit up in the selector mechanism cover.
Transmission Range Display
Simultaneous lighting of all segments of the transmission range selector lever display indicates the transmission is in the emergency running mode.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.