Quattro left me sit, won't go into drive

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

It would help if you mentioned which year/model Audi is involved.  Assuming 
it is a manual shift quattro, maybe late 80's, the problem is likely a 
shift linkage failure.....small plastic bars with socket/ball on the ends, 
or maybe a plastic ball .......and they wear down and the ball slips out of 
the socket. Sometimes the part breaks, or falls off and is gone. Anyhow, it 
is probably a linkage problem that can easily be fixed in a few minutes 
with a replacement part. If the part is still there, maybe you could pop 
the ball back into the socket and get it to a mechanic that way. Anyhow, it 
is probably a linkage problem that can easily be fixed in a few minutes 
with a replacement part.

I carry flatbed insurance (State Farm....about 4 bucks a year....huge 
bargain) and when I had a similar problem I used it and got my car to the 
guy who I depend on to fix such things. He is an independent who has a car 
similar to mine, and he understands and appreciates our cars. It sat on his 
lot for a few days until he got the correct part from his supplier, and I 
drove one of my other cars until it was ready.

DWE

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 11:26 PM 8/5/2006, you wrote:
>Hi everyone,
>
>I was on my way to a wedding today when I stopped at a store to call for
>directions.  When I got back in the car and started it up, my car
>wouldn't shift into drive.  It would go into reverse (and indeed back
>up) but no matter how many times I tried to "shift", it stayed in
>reverse.  It would shift back into neutral and park, but there was no
>way it was going into drive (or 3, 2 or 1 for that matter).  Needless to
>say, my car is still sitting there, 50 miles from home, and I'm
>wondering what to do.
>
>Does anyone know what the problem likely is?  Is it my transmission?  It
>drove great on the drive before that, easily climbing steeps hills and
>automatically changing gears perfectly - no hesitation whatsoever.
>
>Am I screwed?  Lay it on my guys.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Tony
>
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>11:39:51 PM ET - 8/5/2006