Marm's Motors: Mid Engined Turbo RWD JDM Dad Wagon - Cool ICE

[Marm Toastsmith]

[Marm Toastsmith]

Test drive accomplished. All the warning lights. Am happy.

[Schaefft]

C5 A6? If yes good choice, both my 2.4 were problem free.

[Marm Toastsmith]

9 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

C5 A6? If yes good choice, both my 2.4 were problem free.

Close! A4.

[Schaefft]

4 minutes ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

Close! A4.

Was wondering about the lack of wood trim!

[Marm Toastsmith]

So...it's been a continuing, extended collection mission - the car has been in the family for a while, actually my dad's partner had it from brand new as a company vehicle, more recently it's been my dad's vehicle. In truth it's more than he needs, and I've had my eye on it for a while - so we agreed a swap - he's taken the Polo and I'm having the Audi. I've been driving it round the island today and am loving it. Heading back Thursday - it'll get a decent run then.

The car is an honest, low mileage example, but it hasn't exactly been lavished with care and attention recently. It goes well enough and everything seems to work, but it comes with a to-do list, firstly a good clean, and getting it through the upcoming MOT - main issue being an ABS fault. Will add a proper to-do list later, for now have some pics.

[Marm Toastsmith]

We’re about to hit the road. Fluids checked (oil topped up), some leaves and acorns removed from scuttle area, sticker installed and boot filled. How nice to have an estate car again. 

[grogee]

WILL NO-ONE THINK OF THE MOSS

Great Aldi. Why is there a fork in the windscreen? 

[Rocket88]

8 minutes ago, grogee said:

WILL NO-ONE THINK OF THE MOSS

Great Aldi. Why is there a fork in the windscreen? 

I wondered about that…..

[Marm Toastsmith]

11 minutes ago, grogee said:

WILL NO-ONE THINK OF THE MOSS

Great Aldi. Why is there a fork in the windscreen? 

We were mid way through removing parking tickets that had fallen behind the dash. All clear now. 

The ABS warning light went out for a good 10 minutes earlier. I’m happy that it’s an intermittent fault.

Waiting for another ferry. It leaves in half an hour. I think we are the only vehicle in the queue with a non-idling engine. People are idiots.

I can’t decide whether the moss should be removed or encouraged.

 

[Marm Toastsmith]

Why did they fill the ventilation systems of late 90s / early 00s cars with disintegrating foam? And how comes it never runs out?

 

[Marm Toastsmith]

Home! Long drive due to traffic… Have a belated pez shot. Car performed beautifully although the engine light did flash when I pushed it a bit harder. 

[RoadworkUK]

5 hours ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

Why did they fill the ventilation systems of late 90s / early 00s cars with disintegrating foam? And how comes it never runs out?

Ha! My own A4 (18mo older than yours) started doing the exact same thing earlier this year.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Spent a pleasant couple of hours cleaning out the boot and interior. Or at least the worst of it. Still a few stubborn dog hairs, sticky remnants of god knows what and dubious stains on the seats. Next step will be a wet cloth and maybe I'll buy a can of something for the upholstery.

Found a couple of quid under the drivers seat, Ka-ching! It seems my dad eats a lot of sweets and has spent a fortune on parking recently.

Fixed* the rear 12v socket (what luxury!) although it doesn't magically pop out like the front one, I think something's missing. It'll do. Also found a switch on the floor which looks a bit like a symbol for a roof mounted infra-red heater / beam-me-up button and noticed where it had come from. Replaced it. Let me know if you know what it actually does. Then I set the clock. It started off in the late nineties, hard to believe this car is 22 years old.

Better.

[RoadworkUK]

50 minutes ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

Let me know if you know what it actually does.

 

That's the interior ultrasonic alarm sensor OFF button. Press it before locking the car if you intend to keep a dog (or hostage) inside.

[Marm Toastsmith]

Some parcels arrived. Aerial fitted.

Made a start at trying to remove the ABS module as per this video - plan is to send it off for reconditioning (£100 via ebay) but I might have a look at secondhand too. Got a month 'til the MOT expires and it can still be driven with the module removed.

Unfortunately access to the torx screws is super tight so I've ordered a little 1/4" hex ratchet and will try again when that arrives... might have been easier to remove the wheel and screenwash reservoir after all.

 

[Marm Toastsmith]

As mentioned elsewhere (https://autoshite.com/topic/56126-aldi-abs-fault-troubleshooting/#comment-2883826) today I replaced the ABS module with a used replacement from eBay. Pretty chuffed that it seems to have cured the fault, at £36 it was a cheap fix. I followed the technique in the video above which was fiddly but OK. Will keep the original - if the replacement fails I'll send it for reconditioning,

Next on the to-do list is investigate the engine management light which is constantly illuminated and which blinks when you "push on". There's a mention of an 02 sensor fault on a recentish bill from my dad's ownership but I'd like to check it on the VCDS.

I suspect the MOT may bring up one or two more issues, there's a slight knock when turning right and a few clunks from the front end, there was a mention of ARB bush/pin wear previously, I'll probably farm those out to the mechanic who's putting it in for the MOT.

 

[Marm Toastsmith]

Also pleased to receive a parcel containing paperwork and service history from my dad's partner. My dad thought it hadn't been kept but she's a careful sort. She had it from new, then just me and my dad. Nice to have a car that you know the history of. There are a few stamps in the book, and quite a few bills for later repairs and maintenance. 

[SiC]

Flashing engine light is invariably a misfire. Coil packs used to be a consumable item on these back in the day. VAG had enough issues with them that it made Watchdog. If only modern cars had such simple solutions to misfires! Might even be the original coils on this given the mileage? 

Should be simple and easy enough job to swap around in seeing if the fault moves. I'd swap the plug around too and when replacing coil packs, replace the plug. 

[Marm Toastsmith]

27 minutes ago, SiC said:

Flashing engine light is invariably a misfire. Coil packs used to be a consumable item on these back in the day. VAG had enough issues with them that it made Watchdog. If only modern cars had such simple solutions to misfires! Might even be the original coils on this given the mileage? 

Should be simple and easy enough job to swap around in seeing if the fault moves. I'd swap the plug around too and when replacing coil packs, replace the plug. 

Yes, thinking about it there was a mention of misfires when I first hooked up the VCDS. No obvious sign of misfire, the engine runs well. I suspect the coil packs are original.

Plugs are likely to be due replacement - maybe I’ll do them all and see if I can troubleshoot coil packs at the same time.

I’ve also noticed the cooling fan is running all the time. Possibly slightly noisy, too. Need to keep an eye on whether it’s warming up properly and stuff.

[SiC]

P030* are misfire codes.
So cyl 4/5/6 all misfiring.
Hopefully coils and plugs will sort it. Could also be injectors at this age but coils/plugs are easiest and most probable. Especially if it's only under heavy load it triggers as that is when the coil is working the hardest.

[SiC]

P1606 looks to be a code to tell you that the ABS module is unhappy. Hopefully will go away permanently after a code erase now the module is happy.

P1140 looks to be another for that rear oxygen sensor - sensor circuit resistance too high/open circuit. You may already know but B2S2 is Bank 2, Sensor 2 (rear).
The O2 sensor is probably dead but double check it hasn't had the wiring damaged/ripped off underneath after being caught on something.
 

[SiC]

Just a thought, is the air con switch on? Even if the air con is empty, this age could well cause it to run the engine fan anyway with it enabled.

Often on Audi's (not sure what age they started doing it), it could be that ECON (Economy) needs to be ON to switch off the air con.

[Marm Toastsmith]

6 minutes ago, SiC said:

Just a thought, is the air con switch on? Even if the air con is empty, this age could well cause it to run the engine fan anyway with it enabled.

Often on Audi's (not sure what age they started doing it), it could be that ECON (Economy) needs to be ON to switch off the air con.

Don’t think it was switched on but will check. Was wondering if it’s viscous coupled fan, haven’t checked it out.

[AnnoyingPentium]

43 minutes ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

Yes, thinking about it there was a mention of misfires when I first hooked up the VCDS. No obvious sign of misfire, the engine runs well. I suspect the coil packs are original.

Depending on how bad the misfires are the ECU doesn't always record them, in my experience. I found mine would miss if you gave it gutty in a higher gear, but it wasn't enough to bring on the EML. 

I had to change all three within weeks of each other on yon Skoda after it hit 60k miles. One of the three brought the EML on, the others did not.

[Marm Toastsmith]

I think the air con was on, maybe. I’ve pushed the ECON button, but haven’t opened the bonnet to see what the fan’s doing.

Anyway, have a pic of my two Y-reg lovelies showing some surprisingly similar styling cues. 2001 was a good year, it’s hard to believe these two classy modern* cars are both 22 years old.

 

[Marm Toastsmith]

[grogee]

4 hours ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

"Severely deteriorated" =  still life in the old rubber bag! 

Well done on a pass, am hoping for similar luck/judgement with my ancient silver German estate next month. 

[Marm Toastsmith]

6 hours ago, grogee said:

"Severely deteriorated" =  still life in the old rubber bag! 

Well done on a pass, am hoping for similar luck/judgement with my ancient silver German estate next month. 

I’m chuffed, ABS was a cheap and relatively easy fix and the car was nearly given up on previously because of it…

CV joint is also noisy so I’ve booked it in to have that done, I’ll probably get him to do the flexi hose mentioned on the MOT too. Not sure where the oil’s leaking from but it’s pretty minor and doesn’t seem to mark its patch.

 I’m planning to change oil, filters and plugs myself, all are overdue and I’m hoping plugs will cure the misfire. Engine light is an O2 sensor heater bank which I also need to look into.

Then there’s the heater flaps to troubleshoot, they won’t provide any warm air on the drivers side windscreen, actually quite a pain in the arse, albeit classic VAG that I have to use an old tea towel to demist the windscreen.

And we’ve got a buzzy speaker on the left hand side.

And some cosmetic bits - I bought a little bottle of touch up paint.

Faults aside it’s a very nice car to drive, the V6 motor is supremely smooth and quiet, and now it’s proved itself in the MOT test the car deserves some love.

I got my mechanic to present it for a test, apparently the MOT tester has a later “stanced” A4. He commented that this would look good slammed. I’m actually considering raising the ride height…

[Marm Toastsmith]

Service bits ordered...half from GSF and half from Euro... didn't bother with a sump plug as I've also got a Toolzone pela-style oil pump on the way