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View Full Version : Troubleshooting the ESP light/TIP Fail to shift in (D)/Brake lights on combo



Toasted Coastie
01-02-2014, 08:05 AM
I've seen a few threads with the issue, this one being the same exact issue I am having (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/545252-NEED-HELP!-07-b7-brake-lighs-stay-on-after-starting-ignition!):


**When turning on ignition, the brake lights (rair tail lights) come and stay on at all times.
**Transmission will not shift out of 1st gear unless I switch to tipronic manual mode
**esp light is on

I'm having the same exact issue right now. I've google fu'd the crap out of this, and have found the following fixes:

Brake Light Switch (throws ESP light, and leaves brake lights on all the time while driving)
MAF (throws ESP light, but did not find anything else saying it caused the rest)
ATF low (throws ESP light, but did not find anything else saying it caused the rest)

I ordered the brake light switch & the MAF, and am going to schedule an ATF flush and fill and report back if one of these was the definitive issue. I don't have a VCDS (VagCom) cable, so reading for codes is out (unless of course some one in the greater Nashua, NH area has one and wouldn't mind flipping me a read and deleting the seat belt chime.......)

It seems like a unique combination of things to happen all at once. Happened on Monday morning (was like 6 deg out) the day after I washed the car, so I'm thinking it's the MAF more than anything else. My gas mileage has gone down on the last tank by almost 70 miles, after having new plugs, oil change and new tires installed. Funkiness didn't happen until after I washed car and the temps dipped way down.

Anyone else have this exact same circumstance occur that is active on the forum? Am I on the right track? Money is somewhat tight right now (which is why I haven't been participating here as much) and I would hate to throw money at this.

Edited to add: I'm having some other issues as well, such as excessive engine vibration, a sort of clunking upon start up as well as going over bumps/potholes, which looks to be associated with the motor mounts, so I ordered a set of street density 034 mounts.

your daddy
01-02-2014, 12:16 PM
brake switch.

Toasted Coastie
01-02-2014, 01:44 PM
brake switch.

That would also cause the tiptronic not to shift out of first whilst in (D)? Interesting. Like I said, I ordered parts, I guess we'll see what's what when they come in.

fly300kts
01-02-2014, 02:18 PM
Before pulling your hairs, replace the brake switch because this little guy is tied up with a lot of electrical components and then see.
Keep us posted

Phil

Toasted Coastie
01-02-2014, 02:33 PM
Before pulling your hairs, replace the brake switch because this little guy is tied up with a lot of electrical components and then see.
Keep us posted

Phil

Thanks. It's probably time to change the MAF anyway.

Parts will be in Mon/Tues, I'll update as I get stuff done.

fly300kts
01-02-2014, 02:35 PM
When you replace the MAF, make sure to disconnect the battery for 15mn for the ECU to reset

Phil

Toasted Coastie
01-02-2014, 03:17 PM
When you replace the MAF, make sure to disconnect the battery for 15mn for the ECU to reset

Phil

That won't ruin my tune? Ok, sounds good. I'll disconnect while rolling through everything.

Toasted Coastie
01-06-2014, 03:25 PM
Ok. Parts came in today.

Started with MAF. Changed out whole unit, as well as vacuumed out air box and changed out filter while I was in there. Switched back to oem filter. Did not solve brake light issue, but you all knew that already.

Switched out brake switch. Took all of 10 minutes to do. Got rid of the brake lights upon start up. Battery is unplugged right now, will update on test drive.

wildcat333
01-06-2014, 04:02 PM
Nice... sounds like a good solution.

Toasted Coastie
01-06-2014, 04:24 PM
Nice... sounds like a good solution.

Yeah, I thought so. But there's more. I forgot to move a switch over on the brake switch to activate it, as the switch thread said the new revision was good to go. Well, I must have gotten an old revision.

I put everything back together, started the car up, and that mf wouldn't even go into reverse. Then I remembered the switch. Took it all back apart, flipped it, tested it AND THEN put it all back together again.

Took it for a test run to pick up daughter at basketball. Everything working as advertised. The fix definitely was the brake switch in my situation.

Putting in a new MAF & filter gave some pep back to the car for sure though.

Thank you everyone for your help. I'm going to throw some search tags for search purposes for the next person that has this issue.

diond
01-06-2014, 05:25 PM
What's happening if you replace the MAF and ECU is not reset?

wildcat333
01-06-2014, 07:12 PM
Is the switch pricy? $?

Toasted Coastie
01-07-2014, 03:02 AM
What's happening if you replace the MAF and ECU is not reset?

I reset it (unplugged batt), didn't seem like anything happened to my tune.

Brake light switch was $10.95. I'll link the DIY I followed.

Toasted Coastie
01-07-2014, 04:15 AM
Brake light switch DYI (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/331013-DIY-B6-B7-A4-S4-Sticky-Brake-Light-Switch)