The dreaded Flashing PRNDS issue!

[JDMils]

Hi guys, for a week now I've been getting the flashing PRNDS on my LCD. The car seems to drive OK, seems to go thru the gears OK, in manual mode I can get all the gears going OK, but it will not switch to Sports mode. If I'm cruising along and put it into Neutral then I cannot get it to go back into Drive. I have to move over to the side of the road, put it in Park then into Drive and it's OK again.

I've found that after about an hour of driving, I can put it in Park and then back into Drive and the problem is "fixed" and everything works OK. I've also noticed that when the car is in Reverse, the reverse lights don't come on but if I "bump" the gear stick up towards Park while still in Reverse, the reverse lights come on. Seems to me that it may be a problem with the gear shift? Maybe the car is in Drive but it thinks it isn't so it's bringing up a fault?

The error shows on the LCD as soon as I put the keys in ON, I haven't even started the engine yet. Could this be the gear selection on the gear stick which is out of alignment?

I got the fault codes from my mechanic. They show the following:

Address 02, 1 fault found:

17090 Transmission Range Sensor (F125)
P0706 - 000 - Implaisible Signal - Intermittent
Freeze Frame, Fault Status: 00100000
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 10
Reset Counter: 40
Time Indication: 0

Freeze Frame, RPM: 1472 / min
RPM: 0 / min
(no units): 13.0
Torque: -12.0 Nm
Temperature: 24.0*C
T.B. Angle: 0.0*
Bin Bits: 0001 0 0

Address 01, 2 faults found.
001089 - EVAP Emission Control Sys
P0441 - 001 - Incorrect Flow - Intermittent
Freeze Frame, Fault Status: 00100001
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 141
Reset Counter: 255
Mileage: 163886 km
Time Indication: 0

Freeze Frame, RPM: 738 /min
Load: 17.6%
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Temperature: 69.0*C
Temperature: 42.0*C
Absolute Pres.: 1000.0 mbar
Voltage: 13.335 V

001287 - Idle Control System RPM
P0507 - 001 - Higher Than Expected - Intermittent
Freeze Frame: Fault Status: 00100001
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset Counter: 255
Mileage: 175324 km
Time Indication: 0

Freeze Frame, RPM: 1007 /min
Load: 20.8%
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Temperature: 39.0*C
Temperature: 30.0*C
Absolute Pres.: 1000 mbar
Voltage: 13.843 V

Readiness: 0000 0000

Can anyone suggest possible fixes before my mechanic starts ripping my gearbox off to change the TCM module?

BTW, I had the clutch pack replaced in the gearbox by a specialist around 2 years ago.

[JDMils]

I took the car to a transmission specialist and the guy there told me that there was no multifunction switch, just the TCM module inside the gearbox, and quoted me $2K for a replacement of a repaired module.

I've found that after exactly 30 minutes of driving, If I place the gear selector in Park, it comes good, every time. So based on this, is it the (legendary?) multifunction switch or is it the TCM which is faulty? It's looking like a thermal issue from what I can see.

PS. Is anyone on this forum? There does not seem to be much going on?

[liquidforce]

You seem to have mechatronic problem - common issue with them, replacement is the best option and you can get brand new mecha at $2000 roughly from Euro Car Upgrades

[Mali]

Hi mate, I am having similar issues with my 2006 Audi A4 2.0TDi, just purchased the car and the guy didnt tell me about the issue. I went to one of the mechanics and he mentioned it was transmission range sensor and said should be $500-$1000 but will get a quote. Today he called me saying that it will be between $5000-$6000. This car is great nick and I paid good price for it, all service history including major 100,000 was done which included timing and water pump. Currently sitting at 97000km. I can't afford to spend another $5k and was wondering if someone can let me know of any good mechanic who I can take it to. I have not taken it to Audi yet as they are asking $200 to diagnose the same code. I reside in Adelaide, South Australia and will like some sort of help to get it fixed.
Thanks heaps