Oil Level Thermal Sensor Locks up Shifter

[greenxk]

2003 Automatic A4 1.8T Quattro

Recently bought my Audi and noticed the oil sensor light coming on. After looking underneath the car one of the three wires going to the sensor came undone so i had it reconnected. Now after it's been reconnected the gear shifter will stay locked into what ever position it's in. I've noticed that the red crossed out shoe light, signifying the brake being pressed down, next to the shifter also doesn't come on at all. The brake lights do work when this happens. Also when I put the key in accessory position the Battery and EPC warning indicators stay lit.


So I unplugged it and the stuck shifter problem went away.

- My first thought is the oil pressure sensor is internally shorted somehow and causing related failures in its circuit.

- I bought another sensor and connector but didn't want to install yet it if there was a bigger possible problem and i would just fry the new sensor.

I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and can give me advice. I've look all over the internet for a related issue and came across one instance but it didn't explain how it was solved or why it happened.

Thanks

[reed930]

I'm having the same issue. I'm surprised it's been so difficult to track down this problem. And there doesn't seem to be much on the internet. The few people who had this issue never reported a solution.

[greenxk]

Update...

I replaced the bad Oil Level Thermal Sensor and now i can move my car into any gear I want without issue. But.

1. Instead of the red shoe light not turning on at all when i pressed on the brake pedal with the bad Sensor connected before, the "P" park light alone gets brighter than all of the other gear selection lights when i press on the brake and the red shoe light still doesn't work.
2. If the car is at a stop and in the Parked gear position the oil sensor warning light will come on after about 30 seconds. Once i press on the brake the yellow light goes out and after another 30 seconds i will happen again and again. This doesn't seem to happen at all while i'm driving.
3. Changing the Sensor caused the Battery and EPC red warning lights to turn off but now the Electronic Stabilization Program light and the Check Engine lights are on "RELATED ISSUE?"
4. I've noticed that some times when the car is in drive i can hear what i believe to be the "Gear Shifter Locking Solenoid" turning on and off repeatedly. When i stopped the car and changed gears/jigged the shifter the problem seemed to go away for now.

If anyone has had any of these problems please let me know what could possibly be done to correct the problem.

P.S.
I hear you Reed930, What a frustrating problem to have. Please let me know if you find a solution.

[reed930]

Over the weekend I replaced the oil level sensor. After the change, nothing has changed. I'm still getting the oil level sensor warning and am still having problems shifting out of park. I also have all of the other symptoms/signs you're having, i.e. solenoid clicking inside the shifter, odd shifter lighting. I can't believe you and I have the same symptoms and are alone in this. We can't be the only ones out there.

[greenxk]

One other thing i failed to mention is that when i purchased the car the previous owner installed a switch where the cigarette lighter is in the middle console. For the life of me i couldn't figure out where the wires went to and for what the switch controlled. I ohmed out the switch connections and replaced it with an after market cigarette lighter port. Maybe they fooled around with some important connections?

Also,
I was going to get around to doing this when the weather outside was nicer and maybe you should do it too. I was going to ohm out every single fuse with a DMM and unplug and reconnect any relays i can find. I noticed last year that when the weather changed from very cold to warmer i experienced some intermittent electrical issues that worked themselves out over time, IE. my Electronic Stabilization Program light came on and turned off after a few hours of driving.