Faulty S6 Gear Display Leads to Transmission Crisis

I had a similar issue with my 2013 Audi S4, which shares many components with your S6. I have some experience working on Audi transmissions and electronic systems. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, unresponsive gear selector, failed electronic display on the car dashboard, and rough shifting. Initially thought it was just a sensor problem, but it turned out the transmission control unit was defective. The grinding noise during shifts is particularly concerning, as this suggests the issue goes beyond just display problems. In my case, the faulty control unit was causing incorrect gear engagement timing. Had it fixed at a specialist workshop. The repair involved: Complete diagnostic scan, Replacement of the control unit, Recalibration of the transmission, Testing of all gear shift functions Total cost was 1000 Euro for parts and labor. The repair resolved all symptoms completely. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Current mileage, When did symptoms first appear, Any previous transmission work, Check engine light status, Any other electronic issues This would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced.

Thanks for the feedback. My odometer shows 186988 KM and the last service was just 2 months ago. The gear selector started acting up suddenly last week. The problems match your description exactly, the digital display on the dashboard went blank when showing gear positions and the transmission began making those grinding sounds. The electronic display issues seem to coincide perfectly with the transmission problems. None of these symptoms were present during the recent service. The check engine light came on right after the gear shift issues started. No previous transmission work has been done on the car. Based on your experience, 1000 Euro for the full repair actually sounds reasonable. Will schedule an appointment to get the transmission control unit checked.

Thanks for providing those additional details. It does sound nearly identical to what I experienced, especially the sudden onset of symptoms and the timing of the gear selector and automotive electronics issues appearing together. The mileage on your S6 is similar to when my problems occurred. Since you mention no previous transmission work and the issues started right after a service, have the shop check if the recent service could have disturbed any transmission-related sensors or connections. In my repair, we found that water had gotten into one of the transmission control unit connectors, causing corrosion and sensor signal problems. This explained why both the gear shift indicator display and actual transmission operation were affected simultaneously. The 1000 Euro estimate should cover it if your issue is the same control unit problem. Make sure they do a full diagnostic scan first, in my case, they found additional error codes that helped pinpoint the exact cause. Would recommend asking them specifically to: Check all transmission sensor connections, Test the control unit ground points, Verify transmission fluid level and condition, Scan for any additional stored error codes The lack of warning signs before the sudden failure matches my experience exactly. Good call getting it checked soon before any potential transmission damage occurs.

Thanks everyone for the detailed replies about the transmission control unit. This has been really helpful in understanding what I'm dealing with. Just wanted to update that I took the car in today based on the advice here. The diagnosis confirmed exactly what was discussed, the gear selector and shift knob issues were linked to a faulty transmission control unit. The automotive electronics scan showed multiple sensor problems, just like the other case described. The repair quote came in at 950 Euro, slightly under the 1000 Euro mentioned. They found similar water damage in the connections. The gear indicator and transmission control unit will be replaced together since they're interconnected. Really glad I checked here first, saved me from worrying it was a complete transmission rebuild. Will update once the repair is completed next week. This has been super helpful in understanding the exact issue. Thanks again for sharing the detailed repair experiences.