What have you done to your Audi A4 B7 today?

[Charlie Farley]

I've been thinking, given a sensor replacement will mean a sump drain, and I've just refilled it with new oil, I'm just going to change the oil level parameter in vcds so it doesn't ping up the yellow alert.
Not best practice but given there are no oil leaks, oil level is spot on via the dipstick and the oil pressure is spot on , temporarily disabling it for a better word isn't an issue.
I check my oil weekly anyway and never rely on sensor alerts.
when I do the next oil change probably when I do the turbo, clutch and freewheel mod then I'll swap it over for a new one.

 

[Matt275]

Air filter last night on the BRD. Back in about Feb I put in a GSF Mann filter, ok for the money and same amount of pleats - yes I counted 98 lol
But parts at work sold me an original VAG air filter for about £10 + VAT...which from memory was the same or less than the Mann one.

The genuine one fits better and is heavier....generally more quality, and the car loves it.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Air filter last night on the BRD. Back in about Feb I put in a GSF Mann filter, ok for the money and same amount of pleats - yes I counted 98 lol
But parts at work sold me an original VAG air filter for about £10 + VAT...which from memory was the same or less than the Mann one.

The genuine one fits better and is heavier....generally more quality, and the car loves it.

 

[markthenewt]

There was some mention that the low oil level sensor is connected to the bonnet catch , can anyone confirm this function.

Yes that is correct. When the low oil light comes on you open the bonnet to check the oil. Once bonnet is closed the oil light goes off. If you have not topped the oil up then the low oil light will come a day later. It's to remind you to top it up.

However the oil sensors do go bad as I have experienced. My oil was fine but as I just said, it was doing what I described about reminding you to top up the oil.

I put another genuine sensor in and all was well again. Before that though this cheapskate put a cheapo eBay one in. Don't do that, they don't work!

 

[Charlie Farley]

Yes that is correct. When the low oil light comes on you open the bonnet to check the oil. Once bonnet is closed the oil light goes off. If you have not topped the oil up then the low oil light will come a day later. It's to remind you to top it up.

However the oil sensors do go bad as I have experienced. My oil was fine but as I just said, it was doing what I described about reminding you to top up the oil.

I put another genuine sensor in and all was well again. Before that though this cheapskate put a cheapo eBay one in. Don't do that, they don't work!

I never knew that about the bonnet being linked to the oil level sensor.
I haven't tried it since closing the bonnet and locking the car , i may nip out now and check.
thanks for the heads up chap.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Nope no change......looks like its the sensor that failed, i'll have a go at disabling it or something via vcds.

 

[markthenewt]

I never knew that about the bonnet being linked to the oil level sensor.
I haven't tried it since closing the bonnet and locking the car , i may nip out now and check.
thanks for the heads up chap.

No worries. Must be completely dead then. Bearing in mind mine is the diesel so not sure if the same thing happens with the petrol models. But it is definitely a 'thing' . I read it somewhere when I first got mine and I was getting the trouble with the low oil light. Btw it was a orange oil light, not red with mine.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Its yellow/amber colour dash lamp in DIS, really irritating too...lol

temped to remove it and give it a clean but it's the sump draining again, but if it doesn't change then it just wasted more oil.

Really irritating as it was fine before the oil change, really struggling to workout why its failed now, seems a bit too coincidental to be honest.

 

[markthenewt]

It should have thrown up a fault code. Have you tried clearing it? That might work if it's had a moment. And yep it's right in your face when it's on. If you clear the code and it comes back then it's definitely dead and won't be worth faffing with.

 

[northpole]

I had it and after I replaced it the light went out... standard thing apparently... the sensors don't live long especially not since they have 2 functions, oil temperature and oil level one of the 2 will stop working way before the other one and it's usually the oil level sensor that goes.

And as said get a good quality one or get it from the dealer... they last longer. Buy cheap and soon you'll have to replace it again... oww and make sure you clean the mating surfaces and put some fresh oil on the gasket so it properly seals it off or find oil leaking from it.

 

[Charlie Farley]

It should have thrown up a fault code. Have you tried clearing it? That might work if it's had a moment. And yep it's right in your face when it's on. If you clear the code and it comes back then it's definitely dead and won't be worth faffing with.

No fault codes or errors at all in vcds, engine functions are all spot on too.

dipstick is spot on and no leaks anywhere.
maybe its an electrical fault that causing it.

 

[Charlie Farley]

As the same sensor reports oil level and temp , I'll check vcds again and see if both are showing any realtime readings etc, that may indicate if its the sensor full stop .

 

[markthenewt]

No fault codes or errors at all in vcds, engine functions are all spot on too.

dipstick is spot on and no leaks anywhere.
maybe its an electrical fault that causing it.

Dunno then mate. Suggested all I can with what I know about them. Sound just like you need to replace it. Don't know if mine has ever failed before which I'm sure it probably would have but changed mine around 210k miles. There is always something lol

 

[northpole]

As mentioned the cable likes to act up to... make sure it's dry and clean.. worst i have seen (car i went to look at 2.0 tfsi a4 avant quattro) had that problem and so many others I walked away.

 

[B7Tourer]

Yes that is correct. When the low oil light comes on you open the bonnet to check the oil. Once bonnet is closed the oil light goes off. If you have not topped the oil up then the low oil light will come a day later. It's to remind you to top it up.

Very interesting, Mark, I didn't know that. I recently had trouble with my bonnet sensor; saying constantly open. I seem to have to sorted it, by cleaning the microswitch. But the other day taking my car in for the new wheel bearing, the yellow oil sensor warning light came on. It disappeared later but on the way home I had the 'oil sensor min' warning. I duly added a quart of 5W30, as normal. But ever since I had the KMB oil hex key/balance shaft fitted, I've never entirely trusted that sensor - though I've asked for it to be checked out; and I've never had the 'oil sensor' warning before either. Could it be related to the bonnet sensor, in my case too?

 

[markthenewt]

Did the low oil level light go out after you had closed the bonnet before topping it up?

 

[markthenewt]

Well I have just fixed my avant rear light. It has been playing up for a while with intermittent brake light and indicator faults on the dash. I knew exactly what it would be. It's the pin on the bulb holder gets corroded. Now you can just add a wire and bypass it but I found an easier way if anybody wants to do the quick fix. Not sure how long it will last but it's worked. Basically just get a staple, cut it down and put it the electrical connector pin hole. It then makes a decent connection again.

Also my light was full of water! I wondered why it was a it misted up. The seal around the lens had broke away. So I took the whole lot in the house, drained the water, hair dryer it out so it dry inside then I resealed it with a hot glue done.

Got to be one of the quickest fixes I've ever done

 

[markthenewt]

Regarding the oil sensor. Just found this on another forum...

Just a quick note to say that the bonnet sensor was stuck and after removing, cleaning and re-fitting, both the low oil level warning has disappeared and the open bonnet warning display on the dashboard now work.
Reply

 

[B7Tourer]

Did the low oil level light go out after you had closed the bonnet before topping it up?

The low oil level has always gone out after I've closed the bonnet. What I had the other day for the 1st time I've ever seen it was the 'Oil Sensor' warning as opposed to the 'Min' warning. That went out and when I picked up the car on the way home, I got the 'Min' warning - I filled up, always a quart in my case, and it's out again as normal. The dipsticks on the diesels are notoriously difficult to judge and when I had the hex/balance mod, I discovered there had been a revision to them, at some point, as they were not accurate. The garage said something about needing a new dipstick for the 100mm shaft, which they duly fitted. Then for a long time, much longer than before, I never got any 'Min' warning; which just could mean it burned less oil afterwards; but it has led me not to trust the sensor - I thought maybe they damaged it when the sump was off. I had another place check; all OK. And it has functioned since. But as I say the 'Oil: Sensor' warning is a first on me.

Well I have just fixed my avant rear light. It has been playing up for a while with intermittent brake light and indicator faults on the dash. I knew exactly what it would be. It's the pin on the bulb holder gets corroded. Now you can just add a wire and bypass it but I found an easier way if anybody wants to do the quick fix. Not sure how long it will last but it's worked. Basically just get a staple, cut it down and put it the electrical connector pin hole. It then makes a decent connection again.

Yes that's an old trick I came across the other day too. If the earth pin is still there you can file it down to make contact too, as I did the other day. The nearside is always the worst, which I replaced the holder on with new a while back. But now the offside was playing up. If this doesn't last, the only solution is another holder; they're about 40 quid off ebay. The other pig on the Avants is always the number plate lights; I replaced my complete light assembly there too about a year ago. It was quite difficult finding the right one, I sent a couple back. Basically there's one with a camera hole, that was the wrong type for my 2006 140 TDI; they don't always have the right photo on eBay neither.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Well the low oil sensor warning lamp problem is resolved.
I suspect it was a poor contact in the plug, maybe grit or water ingress.
I gave both parts a good bast with contact cleaner then with an air line, then with wd40, reconnected and the light was no longer illuminated, all seems fine again, and no extra outlay ...happ days once more.

 

[markthenewt]

The low oil level has always gone out after I've closed the bonnet. What I had the other day for the 1st time I've ever seen it was the 'Oil Sensor' warning as opposed to the 'Min' warning. That went out and when I picked up the car on the way home, I got the 'Min' warning - I filled up, always a quart in my case, and it's out again as normal. The dipsticks on the diesels are notoriously difficult to judge and when I had the hex/balance mod, I discovered there had been a revision to them, at some point, as they were not accurate. The garage said something about needing a new dipstick for the 100mm shaft, which they duly fitted. Then for a long time, much longer than before, I never got any 'Min' warning; which just could mean it burned less oil afterwards; but it has led me not to trust the sensor - I thought maybe they damaged it when the sump was off. I had another place check; all OK. And it has functioned since. But as I say the 'Oil: Sensor' warning is a first on me.


Yes that's an old trick I came across the other day too. If the earth pin is still there you can file it down to make contact too, as I did the other day. The nearside is always the worst, which I replaced the holder on with new a while back. But now the offside was playing up. If this doesn't last, the only solution is another holder; they're about 40 quid off ebay. The other pig on the Avants is always the number plate lights; I replaced my complete light assembly there too about a year ago. It was quite difficult finding the right one, I sent a couple back. Basically there's one with a camera hole, that was the wrong type for my 2006 140 TDI; they don't always have the right photo on eBay neither.

Ah could actually be faulty then. Get it scanned and see what it's saying.

Obd11 has been a godsend for me. It's saves having to plug a laptop into your car and you can just keep it in the glovebox as I do.

Yes the dipstick is hard to read but whoever owned my car in the past painted the bit where you check the level on the stick white so it's easy to read on mine.

 

[markthenewt]

Well the low oil sensor warning lamp problem is resolved.
I suspect it was a poor contact in the plug, maybe grit or water ingress.
I gave both parts a good bast with contact cleaner then with an air line, then with wd40, reconnected and the light was no longer illuminated, all seems fine again, and no extra outlay ...happ days once more.

Lovely. These cars are so temperamental. Happy it was an easy fix

 

[Matt275]

Ah could actually be faulty then. Get it scanned and see what it's saying.

Obd11 has been a godsend for me. It's saves having to plug a laptop into your car and you can just keep it in the glovebox as I do.

Yes the dipstick is hard to read but whoever owned my car in the past painted the bit where you check the level on the stick white so it's easy to read on mine.

I was thinking of painting the end of my BRD non KMB dipstick. Virtually black oil on a black dipstick...really?!

 

[B7Tourer]

Obd11 has been a godsend for me. It's saves having to plug a laptop into your car and you can just keep it in the glovebox as I do.

I have OBD11, early adopter so for life sub. I'll run it through, never seen it check for oil sensor though.

Interestingly, I'm having a wrangle with my armrest universal cradle not charging, at the moment. No one uses them but I find mine useful because wireless Android Auto uses a lot more phone juice; and my Samsung is due a battery replacement anyway. And it also has a proximity antenna feature that boosts data reception signal strength. Anyway thinking it was the fuse, I checked the manual - No. 5 fuse is for the telephone, but it is also for the oil sensor. The fuse was fine; some Isopropyl alcohol on the gold plated contacts, sorted the cradle for a while, but it's flaky again; have to try a new cable; but it is the pricey Audi curly one, so should have been good.

 

[markthenewt]

I was thinking of painting the end of my BRD non KMB dipstick. Virtually black oil on a black dipstick...really?!

Yeah I know. Hopefully now I have a egr delete my oil will stay golden. Will be interesting to see if it does stay clean after the next oil change.

 

[markthenewt]

I have OBD11, early adopter so for life sub. I'll run it through, never seen it check for oil sensor though.

Interestingly, I'm having a wrangle with my armrest universal cradle not charging, at the moment. No one uses them but I find mine useful because wireless Android Auto uses a lot more phone juice; and my Samsung is due a battery replacement anyway. And it also has a proximity antenna feature that boosts data reception signal strength. Anyway thinking it was the fuse, I checked the manual - No. 5 fuse is for the telephone, but it is also for the oil sensor. The fuse was fine; some Isopropyl alcohol on the gold plated contacts, sorted the cradle for a while, but it's flaky again; have to try a new cable; but it is the pricey Audi curly one, so should have been good.

Iirc the fault for the oil level sensor on obd11 will be in the central electrics tab.

I don't have android auto, I'm still using a fm transmitter on my rnse lol

 

[northpole]

Yeah I know. Hopefully now I have a egr delete my oil will stay golden. Will be interesting to see if it does stay clean after the next oil change.

Yeah no it won't it's a diesel, I'll will be black in a matter of a few running hours... it's due to how the fuel burns. It's just the way it is. But it will take longer than with the egr enabled (that's a matter of minutes)

 

[B7Tourer]

I don't have android auto, I'm still using a fm transmitter on my rnse lol

Nothing wrong with that; always something nice about true OEM. Mine had a Symphony cassette (fer Christ's sake) and 6 CD; there's voice actuated bluetooth phone prep too, with MSFW; I'd of probably not bothered if it had had RNSE. The Xtrons is a RNSE lookalike; I've been lucky with it; great sound great function. It took a bit of software fiddling to get the mic button working for Google Assistant but that was a gamechanger; everything is controllable by voice now, calls/music/nav, without having to touch the screen. Android Auto (and Carplay) is a gamechangers TBH too, for me, from the built in Android app stuff. I only had to add a Motorola MA1 5GHz dongle in the glovebox for the wireless bit.

 

[northpole]

Nothing wrong with that; always something nice about true OEM. Mine had a Symphony cassette (fer Christ's sake) and 6 CD; there's voice actuated bluetooth phone prep too, with MSFW; I'd of probably not bothered if it had had RNSE. The Xtrons is a RNSE lookalike; I've been lucky with it; great sound great function. It took a bit of software fiddling to get the mic button working for Google Assistant but that was a gamechanger; everything is controllable by voice now, calls/music/nav, without having to touch the screen. Android Auto (and Carplay) is a gamechangers TBH too, for me, from the built in Android app stuff. I only had to add a Motorola MA1 5GHz dongle in the glovebox for the wireless bit.

Model number would be nice as that would be a nice upgrade i might consider if I can find one at a decent price (read probably the Chinese counter version) as I've seen a few but wasn't sure about them. Thing is if tou can provide the model number I'll probably be able to find the exact same model but with a software update.

 

[B7Tourer]

It's a bit old now, Northpole, 6 years, no longer made. They have a similar unit currently (https://xtrons.co.uk/audi-seat-vari...-ram-64gb-rom-global-4g-lte-solution-px74a4al) which is much newer, faster processing - no DVD/CD, like mine but that's not a problem these days - and with wireless AA and Carplay already built in (I had to use a 3rd party app and dongle). It's at a similar price to what I paid. Xtrons UK is better IMV buying from than Aliexpress, I had good support and service from them.

The model number of mine if you see it available 2nd hand was PB78AA4RP. Even though it's probably not worth buying now, it still is plenty fast enough for me and good enough; 4GB/32GB with extra SD card storage too. They've improved quite a bit now though, in terms of CPU etc. And Android version, mine's 8.0, the linked one is up to 14. You can upgrade mine to at least 10, but I've not found the need.

 

[northpole]

It's a bit old now, Northpole, 6 years, no longer made. They have a similar unit currently (https://xtrons.co.uk/audi-seat-vari...-ram-64gb-rom-global-4g-lte-solution-px74a4al) which is much newer, faster processing - no DVD/CD, like mine but that's not a problem these days - and with wireless AA and Carplay already built in (I had to use a 3rd party app and dongle). It's at a similar price to what I paid. Xtrons UK is better IMV buying from than Aliexpress, I had good support and service from them.

Thanks but imho afaik they just buy it in from China actually theunits are the exact same from Joying and pumpkin... I don't mind less support if it works properly out of the box though... so I'll have a good search about and see where I'll get it from....

New one looks good though

 

[B7Tourer]

You can and it's cheaper for sure; but they often don't speak English and support/returns are flaky; which you could end up minding about. Alibaba - the BtoB version, is better to buy from. The hardware/software is generic Chinese; all these brands are just re-sellers, they don't make anything; the fittings and facias are all made by one or two companies too, so there are many similar looking units. The problem often with B7s are the Bose/non Bose setups; a lot of these Chinese units introduce hum and ground issues; I've been very lucky in that I have neither; it was simply plug and play, on my non Bose Audi. A huge amount are not. Xtrons is just another re-seller too but they have a UK presence and support. I'd buy from them again and probably this unit - but that's no guarantee I'd be as lucky as I have been neither, unfortunately. A lot of them are hacked versions of Android too and the version will be a lie - they say 14 when it might only be 10/11 for example - Xtrons tend not to do that, from what I've seen. Although the canbus steeringwheel control is generic hardware on all these units, the implementation is very variable too. The Xtrons was pretty bang on; with just some software digging to get the mic button working.

If you specifically want this RNSE 'lookalike' then the choice is becoming narrow, as our cars are falling off the popular list. This is the 1st one that Xtrons have had for a while again in this style and there is not many on Aliexpress either. If you go more universal then you have the option of a bigger higher rez screen - 9.5" fits quite well - and much higher spec too. No physical buttons there though. 7" is more than adequate for me. I've got DVR, Dab+ and reverse cam attached too. FM and Dab+ are poor, the latter because of the poor stick on screen antenna and the former because of the diversity Audi system; that I've written about elsewhere - this is common to all aftermarket HUs, Chinese or branded European; so if they are important to you be warned. As I say I'm all AA now, including internet radio, so they are not really an issue for me personally.

If you really want to dig into it, before you buy, a good read here - https://xdaforums.com/c/head-units.3833/ - is pretty essential.

 

[northpole]

i got the 2 din 6 cd player from 2005.... iso type connector non bose system at the moment..... so whatever i go with will be AA with either DAB+ or internet radio and i know about the full 9 inch touchscreens ...I don't really like them. the RNSE look-a-like suits the interior best. I was contempating making an extra binacle to add ontop of the dash slapped right in the middle and add a touchscreen there but I'm not willing to do all that work especially not since it means drilling holes into the oem dash....

Will see what happens as i am in no hurry for it, personal situation got turned upside down a few months ago so this has no priority for me at all... but thanks for the tips and the model number

 

[B7Tourer]

..I don't really like them. the RNSE look-a-like suits the interior best. I was contempating making an extra binacle to add ontop of the dash slapped right in the middle and add a touchscreen there but I'm not willing to do all that work especially not since it means drilling holes into the oem dash....

I agree with you and I was thinking one time of doing the same; but OEMish suits much better to me, and I don't want to be cutting original trim. The screen is still bigger, brighter and higher rez than the real RNSE; and of course a world more advanced; and it's nice to have physical buttons too (that seek button is now phone answer, with a decal of a green phone, I added). If you only want Android Auto or Carplay, then you don't really need to pay a lot for these, even the most basic will suffice, since all the processing is done by your phone - upgrade your phone and you effectively upgrade the HU. But one of the advantages of these Android Chinese units, as opposed to the more trusted Pioneer, Alpine, Sonys Etc (which are great, don't get me wrong), is you can have all function even if you forget your phone or it stops working. I have Sygic Premium Nav, with Europe maps all loaded and constantly updated on the HU too. Only the very expensive (around a grand or so) branded HUs have built in nav and then it's only very crude dated Garmin or something. Even though my unit is now 6 years old, it's still fast enough and seamless for the processing too. I've got 2 x 64GD SD cards in it too; with all music loaded as well; and there's the CD/DVD, which I do still use from time to time; great sound better than the old Symphony too.

Will see what happens as i am in no hurry for it, personal situation got turned upside down a few months ago so this has no priority for me at all...

Same here, it's been a dreadful year - I was a freelancer in the film & TV industry; that's gone Tom t*t; I hadn't got any work since the September before last, like almost 2 thirds of my fellows; and I've got one daughter in UNI and the other thinking of it too. I'm now lecturing in that subject; and that has given me a little money to start addressing the poorly neglected Audi, slowly, even though it's never let me down without. I couldn't currently afford to replace this HU - it was just the first upgrade I ever did, and worth every penny for me luckily. It's the single most important thing, IMV, that modernises these cars.

 

[northpole]

So true.... i was going to put in my pioneer 2 din but can't be ***** it's dated and ofcourse the Satnav on it is old... last update i found for it was 2019... still old... so not bothered..instead I just chucked a parrot ck3100 on it to have handsfree and use my phone for satnav etc ( microphone is hidden in the oem location)

 

[B7Tourer]

I just chucked a parrot ck3100 on it to have handsfree and use my phone for satnav etc ( microphone is hidden in the oem location)

It's amazing and you can still buy them new - I fitted one to a Kangoo van in Spain; around 2005, and used a Tom Tom for Sat Nav! They are still good for what they do. The voice activated phone prep that worked with the Symphony was pretty similar too, before I fitted the Xtrons. It's only for Sat Nav and a touch screen I needed something else. I never deactivated that old Bluetooth, it's still broadcasting somewhere

 

[B7Tourer]

In the interests of getting back on thread; which I've de-railed a bit I feel, I've managed to sort the universal cradle that attaches to the armrest phone prep. WD40 contact cleaner on all gold contacts plus in both ends of the curly USB charging cable sorted it. It's such a small achievement, but electrical niggles really bug me, and it's so satisfying when it all works again too. Like I said too there's a useful proximity boost effect from the shark fin, for data signal strength.

 

[northpole]

Nice that the sharkfin works... it was the first thing I deleted from my car... absolutely dislike them especially the aftermarket ones (which was put on my car) that look more like the BMW oem ones... I don't like them not even on the BME's they were designed for...

Anyway I just drove mine today 9n a nice twisty b-road... that ended in a piece of really bad bricked road... went to test the suspension on it and it's fine.

 

[Charlie Farley]

I spent an hour this afternoon having the front alignment checked and adjusted. It was a bit out on both sides, which accounts for the drifting to the left and right on the straights, but it's all sorted out now, and there is no undue wear on the tires.

 

[B7Tourer]

absolutely dislike them especially the aftermarket ones (which was put on my car) that look more like the BMW oem ones...

I really like them, especially on the Avants better than than stupid stubby little ariels, that look cheap; they set the car off as more upmarket, to my mind. They are multifunction too; you can hook up GPS for them - I have no issues with the little above glove box one; but I've been meaning to hook up to the shark fin; it's quite a bit stronger signal, especially in remote areas. You can change them for identical looking OEM style (The BMW ones are bigger, like the Jags and uglier) Dab+ and FM too; but that gets pricey, the OEM one on B7s was strictly just data mobile and GPS, mainly for the RNSE, but you got it too, if you had phone prep.