New quattro owner - my list of questions!

[durham-dazzler]

Hi there guys, just got my first Audi, an A4 2.8 quattro. While I'm already in love with her, there's some niggles that I want sorting, and some questions that may be easy for you seasoned pros to answer for me!

So, here we go, brace yourselves!

1) The water and oil temp don't go above about 80 degrees... even after a long drive. Is that normal for this engine?
2) The battery meter is registering 14-15 at all times - again, should I be worried?
3) The front left ABS sensor is shot. I've got a new one with the car, but have no idea how to replace it. Is it a big job? Can someone point me in the direction of a guide?
4) Both the radio and computer displays are missing pixels - can they be repaired/replaced?
5) There's a wheel bearing-type drone from the rear of the car - are they difficult to replace DIY style?
6) The belts will need doing soon, are they difficult DIY too?
7) lastly, what mods should I be thinking of, both cosmetically and mechanically? I was thinking coilovers, but are there any other easy bolt ons from later cars, etc?

Thanks y'all!!

 

[205man]

1 - no thats not far off especially in this weather, mine sits at halfway all the time on the water (which i think is 90 tho)
2 - no again 14 is right when driving
3 - hav a guide id need to dig out tho
4 - yes can be repaired but not a diy job tho, do a search here as this was talked about recently as there are companies that can do it
5 - not done so can answer
6 - can be done diy , no not that easy tho, as they pain to get at and which belts you looking to do exactly?
7 - what year your car? ..... if pre facelift then get headlights from facelift model, lower suspension coilovers are best choice but there are other options if cost an issue, change wheels, s4 bumper and skirts............

how much you want to spend??????????

 

[pjw]

1) IT should sit at 90, i think you should look at replacing the thermostat.
2) Whilst driving? Fine.
3) Unplug and plug in. Easy to do.
4) Computer displays can be sent away and fixed but they aint cheap. Not sure about radio.
5) Yes, wheels bearings not difficult.
6) Depends on your level of confidence. Certainly not easy to do on that engine. You would need to remove the crash bar, bumper, headlights and radiator etc before even getting to the engine. Youtube a video about it.
7) Coilovers and big alloys for the win. What year is it? If its prefacelift then facelift lights always transform the back and front. I wouldnt worry about engine mods as your not going to get too much out of that.

 

[kriswa428]

Welcome to the club, 2.8 Quattro for the win! I expect your rubber door trims have seen better days! I need to get mine changed... £130 all in from the main dealer, haven't seen them much cheaper than thi.! February should be a big month for my Quattro. facelift lights, door trims, clear side repeaters, pressed plates are on the list. Any other suggestions?

 

[durham-dazzler]

Thanks for the advice guys! It's a 1997 (R) so definately pre-facelift... Are the lights 'plug and play'?
The belts I'm thinking of are the cambelt and tensioner as the receipts I have say they were changed at 105k... it's now done 207k!
ABS sensor how-to would be good - thanks!
Will look for displays at the scrappy then, can't be doing with expensive repairs!
Wheel bearing how-to would be useful too
Are the thermostats tricky to replace?
I'm all for fairly cheap dress up/tune up parts. Happy enough to fit myself if they're fairly cheap to buy! I used TA Technix coils on my last car, what would you suggest for the audi?

Also the wheel sits at about 10 o'clock when driving. Is it difficult to remove and refit at the right angle? Does the airbag cause a problem?
The engine also has a slight stutter, both under load and idle. The previous owner replaced the plugs for me, but it's still doing it. Could this be the leads? My old VW Polo had a similar problem and it was the coil pack, does this engine have something similar?
Last thing, the front speakers dont work - is this likely to be just a loose connection on the headunit?

Sorry for all the questions! Here she is (from the for sale ad, so sorry about the quality)

 

[205man]

no point trying to get a display from a scrappy as its built into the clocks and it defo no a diy job to swap them, also i cant remember exactly but if its like the facelift model , you cant just swap the clocks as the immobilser is built into them and will mean you will have to get the clocks re-programmed otherwise car wont start

removing any steering wheel with an airbag always has risks, but follwoing basic rules like making sure battery disconnected and left for a while before you start, also you may get airbag error after refitting and that can only be removed by someone with copy of vagcom to plug in

h&r for your coilovers, but to sane money try fk also

if you doing cambelt also do oil pump and water pump at same time as you dont want to have to take it all off again to do them

 

[aragorn]

Your thermostat is probably stuffed, the coolant guage should stay at 90.

The rear wheel bearings on the quattro will require a big vice or hydraulic press. If you dont have one then leave the job to a garage, or strip the hub off yourself and take the hub to a garage to get the bearing installed.

ABS sensor just pulls out, but it will undoubtedly be siezed solid and take several hours of swearing

Personally, the first mods should be getting it all back to how it should be. Folk dive in with coilovers and alloys for instant gratification, but when every bush and balljoint on the car will be completely knackered (and they will be, as its a 12 year old car) it seems wrong to me. No point having some nice coilovers between the tyre and the car, but then every other component controlling wheel position flapping about under you. I guess people dont like spending money on parts they cant see and arent so broken that they're hanging off, but it will make a HUGE difference to how the car drives.

New subframe mounts all round, new front arms, ARB links and TRE's, new snubmount and engine/transmission mounts, new bushes on the rear end, upgraded bushes on the rear diff.

Some of the mounts can be beefed up by filling them with polyurethane (ie sikaflex or similar) like the rear diff and the tranny mounts.

 

[nwmlarge]

take several hours of swearing

Personally, the first mods should be getting it all back to how it should be. Folk dive in with coilovers and alloys for instant gratification, but when every bush and balljoint on the car will be completely knackered (and they will be, as its a 12 year old car) it seems wrong to me. No point having some nice coilovers between the tyre and the car, but then every other component controlling wheel position flapping about under you. I guess people dont like spending money on parts they cant see and arent so broken that they're hanging off, but it will make a HUGE difference to how the car drives.

New subframe mounts all round, new front arms, ARB links and TRE's, new snubmount and engine/transmission mounts, new bushes on the rear end, upgraded bushes on the rear diff.

Some of the mounts can be beefed up by filling them with polyurethane (ie sikaflex or similar) like the rear diff and the tranny mounts.

i'll second this. my car appeared to be fine until i lowered it and now i've decided all 8 of the front arms need replacing.
hopefully being done on saturday.

they seem to get through a few track rod ends too so worth replacing them.

 

[durham-dazzler]

It's had a lot of work done on it to date, so I'll have a dig through the receipts and see what has been replaced to date (and when).

I'm going to order the new leads tonight and hopefully that'll sort the stutter.. unless anyone can suggest anything else?

 

[CHRIS555]

Welcome to the site mate

 

[riverstyx]

I've just replaced my front-right ABS sensor. I had a fault and took them all out for cleaning but that one was seized solid so i had to chisel it out with a screwdriver and hammer and fit a replacement.

Basically jack up the vehicle and remove the wheel and the ABS sensor can be seen going in to the front of the hub. In theory you should be able to just slide / wiggle it out but in practice it's not always that easy. If you do have to break it up to get it out you will need a new copper sleeve in addition to the sensor - about 10 quid plus VAT from the dealer.

Other than that it's just a case of routing the cable as per the old sensor and plugging it in. 20 mins from start to finish if the old one will just slide out, a couple of hours if it wont...

Good luck.

 

[durham-dazzler]

Superb! He's supplied the copper sleeve with the sensor, so I should be good to go with it! Job for Saurday morning I think!

Can anyone suggest a good supplier for the cam belt, tensioner, water and oil pumps and wheel bearings? I'm not sure if I'll tackle the jobs myself yet, but want to get the parts cheap even if I then have to then pay someone to fit them!

 

[aragorn]

Give Jason a call at All German Parts.