water on floor of 2001 A6, trans controller fried

[Kent McLean]

VFChris at aol.com wrote:
 > This happened to a friend of mine, so I don't know all the details,
 > but basically the symptoms are a wet floor and a transmission that
 > wouldn't  shift. So, he had it towed to the dealer, and they gave
 > him an estimate of  $4000 (GULP) to change a damaged transmission
 > controller, carpets, and a bunch  of other things.  All of this is
 > due to water getting on the floor, and the  dealer claims it is due
 > to a clogged "cowl drain."   This is my  friend's fault because he
 > parks it under trees that shed leaves and/or  buds.

Maybe. I got my '94 100 S Avant for cheap because it had a fried ECU
and corroded wiring to the ECU. [1] The cause -- clogged drains that
let water find its way down the wiring harness and into the ECU,
corroding the wiring and killing the ECU. You can learn more about
it here:
<http://www.audifans.com/twiki/bin/view/Audi/PlenumDrains>

I suspect the newer bodies have a similar problem. Have your friend
ask his dealer/mechanic *where* the transmission controller is. If
it is in the passenger foot well, then that might very well be the
problem.

--
Kent McLean
'94 100 S Avant, "Moody"
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy" up in smoke

[1] I got a used ECU and connector from Chris Semple at Force 5
Automotive and spent an afternoon splicing it into the good part
of the harness.  Maybe your friend could do something similar
with the transmission controller.  And let the carpets dry out
really well.  I wouldn't think they'd *have* to be replaced.