A6 Transmission MFTS No place for newer cars? WAS: type 44 steering rack r&r

[SuffolkD at aol.com]

Tom:  Come on.  You jist right?  The generic Q list must adapt to the newer 
cars.

Audifans has Specific lists for those Specific "models".  Maybe a new "B" 
chassis mother list?

This post is the MOST useful and insightful A6 post I've EVER read.  It 
answers the unknown on sooo many different levels...............

"From: Franco Barber <feb at febsun.cmhnet.org>
Subject: Re: 95 A6Q with grinding sounds when in NuEtral and Park.
Tyson,
On the 96 A6q, the reverse lights (and the passenger mirror tilt down
feature if equipped) are driven from the
Multi Function Transmission Switch (MFTS).
This switch costs about $180 and is mounted behind the left hand
side transmission mount.  To get to it, you have to support the
engine tranny from underneath and remove the tranny mount.
The MFTS also drives the instrument panel display of selected
gear and the neutral safety switch.
The MFTS is a 5-pole, 7 position switch.
3 poles drive the instrument panel display using a gray code.
1 pole drives the neutral safety switch.
The remaining pole drives the reverse lights/dipping mirror.

The gear pre-selector in the console does not drive those lights.
The pre-selector contains a bowden (??) cable to the
ignition switch which to keep the selector in P unless the key is
in the ignition.
It contains a solenoid that prevents the selector from going into
(R or D) from (P or N) unless the foot is on the brake.
This solenoid is only energized if the key in the ignition switch
is in the run (or start) position.
And it contains another bowden cable that goes to the tranny where
it moves a gear selector.  I am not sure how this cable is attached
to the tranny and how this cable and the MFTS are related to each other.

The noise you describe could be inside the selector itself as the
selector fights against the "foot on brake pedal" solenoid,
or it could be in the tranny as the bowden cable moves whatever it
is that it moves, possibly the MFTS, or I suppose it could be something
else that I haven't even thought of.

The foot on the brake solenoid, by the way, appears to be driven
from the brake light circuit, so if your brake lights are out or
the circuit is having problems the solenoid will not engage or disengage
fully.  So, for example, the famous problem of frayed wires in the
trunk lid causing the brake lights to behave erratically could actually
cause the solenoid to fail to engage or disengage correctly.
This happened recently to a friend's 97 A6q wagon.
Good luck,
Franco"

and yet there is NO place for me to post it for future reference in the 
Knowledge base.

How was I to know every time I put the key in the iginition the mirrors would 
dip, (for the reverse feature) yet on our 99 A6 Avavnt they never come 
back........  Here he's explained WHY these systems work the way they do in some 
behind the scenes engineering method.  Who'da thunk the mirrors where tied to the 
gear box in an automatic?  
Lights out by the rear plate?  Check the glove box?  
Three windows don't work check the drivers door jamb?
Adapt or become extinct!
-Scott by BOSTON
86 4000Q
(2) 91 200 20V
99 A6 Avant
99 A4 next door
> 
> >But I  agree, this community is beginning to display more and more 
> >knowledge of  the "even numbered cylinder" Audis, so there should be a 
> >home for it on  the KB.
> TOM SAYS: Phooey.  If you want an even number of cylinders, buy an even 
> number  of cars.
> 
> By the way, do newer cars have the bouncing speedo issue?  I am really  
>