'01 allroad transmission issue (works with tcu unplugged)
 

So I currently have an 2001 allroad that won't engage in any of the gears while the tcu is plugged in. On my xtool vag401, im getting a fault code saying that solenoid 1 (n88) has a short to plus.

So my question is:

if n88 is suppose to control reverse, 1st, and 2nd, then why does reverse work when the tcu is unplugged?? when tcu is unplugged, it's just reverse and 4th.

any insight would be amazing!

Not sure if this is your issue, but once in the past I found a gravity fed coolant leak had caused coolant to enter the transmission wire harness and the jacket fed coolant directly into the back of the transmission wire harness connector which was causing bizarre transmission running issues and codes. Repaired coolant leak and blew out coolant from the harness connector at the transmission and voila!

there is a coolant leak, but I cant seem to find any issues with the harness, how visible was your issue? I dropped the pan and tried switching the solenoids. still get the 'short to plus code for solenoid 1' which leads me to believe its a wire somewhere or a connector. I blew out the connector with compressed air but still says short.

what's the best way to test or find out where the short could be??? this is driving crazy