Who's the resident VCDS expert? (clutch switch issues)

[zmw]

So my threw a MIL the other day, I didn't have a cable so I bought one from ross-tech - it arrived today and I scanned the car, the DTC that threw the MIL was a knock sensor, over the course of about 25k miles - I auto-scanned and cleared all DTCs - one other DTC I had though was for clutch switches "Implausible signal" - I have manually bypassed BOTH clutch switches, when I bought the car I was having issues with cruise control and I couldn't get it figured out - and instead of messing with it I figured I'd just open the switches up, I soldered the two leads together IN the switch (the harnesses are untouched) - car would start and cruise control worked perfectly. However NOW today that I have cleared that DTC it seems like the car will no longer start?

Is there a way in VCDS to IGNORE or BYPASS the clutch switch check? I would assume the DTC code was allowing the vehicle to start and once I cleared it it's expecting normal operation again.

Thanks.

[PetrolDave]

Is there a way in VCDS to IGNORE or BYPASS the clutch switch check?

Nope, VCDS can only change the settings that Audi included in the software as customisable - and ignoring the clutch switch check isn't one of those.

Replacing the clutch switch(es) is a simple job that should only take 15 minutes and even at dealer prices the switches aren't crazy money.

[zmw]

Nope, VCDS can only change the settings that Audi included in the software as customisable - and ignoring the clutch switch check isn't one of those.

Replacing the clutch switch(es) is a simple job that should only take 15 minutes and even at dealer prices the switches aren't crazy money.

All of that is true, except that I can't start my car right now and it's stranded lol. I'm not worried about the money, worried about the time.

[PetrolDave]

All of that is true, except that I can't start my car right now and it's stranded lol. I'm not worried about the money, worried about the time.

It's so simple a job most people do it themselves instead of paying a dealer to do it, so it doesn't matter that your car is stranded.

By "dealer prices aren't crazy money" I meant the price of the switches for you to do a DIY.

[zmw]

It's so simple a job most people do it themselves instead of paying a dealer to do it, so it doesn't matter that your car is stranded.

By "dealer prices aren't crazy money" I meant the price of the switches for you to do a DIY.

I'm more than capable of rebuilding that car from the ground up - the point was that my car was stranded and could not be started or moved easily - I replaced both switches and it's fine, but it was terribly inconvenient to have my car stranded over something so trivial and not have a way to bypass it. I overnighted two switches from europa parts - it was fixed quickly enough but it still was aggrevating particularly when me bypassing the switches had worked for 6 months and me clearing the DTCs made it stop working.

[PetrolDave]

it still was aggrevating particularly when me bypassing the switches had worked for 6 months and me clearing the DTCs made it stop working.

IIRC the switches have both NO and NC contacts and them not being always opposite is what triggers the "Implausible" DTC.

My best guess is that with the DTC present the ECU ignored the clutch switches, but by clearing the DTC the ECU then tried to determine the clutch switch position but was unable to do so (as they were not opposites) and decided it was unsafe to start the car.

Annoying? Yes, but given the possibility that the clutch might be engaged and the car jump forward injuring someone I reckon Audi decided to err on the side of safety by preventing the car from starting AND not providing an override?