If your A/C system is working OK at highway speeds but seems to fizzle out when in traffic or at a stop light it might be your aux fan resistor. When this part fails there is not enough air flowing through the radiator to lower the refrigerant temps. The resistor is located on the drivers side of the radiator (you may need to remove the headlight to get to it). The part number is 4AO 959 493 and ETKA calls it a series resistor for vehicles with heavy-duty water cooling system and/or trailing towing – ETKA list price is $92.00.
A search of the NHTSA Recall Database returns these recalls for the “Audi S4”:
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NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 96V017000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S4
Potential Number of Units Affected: 24000
Manufactured From: JAN 1994 To: DEC 1995
Recall Date: 02/01/96
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; IGNITION; SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER oÂn AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
——————————————————————————–
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 97V172000
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS: PASSIVE RESTRAINT: AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S4
Potential Number of Units Affected: 54800
Manufactured From: SEP 1988 To: JUL 1993
Recall Date: 10/10/97
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. Some air bag sensors do not comply with Audi’s durability standards over the lifetime of the vehicle.
In the event the sensor should malfunction, the air bag restraint system can inadvertently deploy. Deployment of the air bag restraint system without warning could cause a driver to lose vehicle control.
Dealers will replace the air bag sensor control module. Owner notification began October 13, 1997. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer oÂn an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834. Also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
——————————————————————————–
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 00V068000
Component: FUEL: FUEL LINES: HOSES: NON-METALLIC
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S4
Potential Number of Units Affected: 3000
Manufactured From: SEP 1991 To: AUG 1995
Recall Date: 03/13/00
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FUEL FEED LINE CONNECTING THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE CAN PREMATURELY AGE AND SHRINK THROUGH EXPOSURE TO HIGH UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURE CAUSED BY THE TURBOCHARGER.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CAN RESULT IN FUEL SEEPAGE AT THE CONNECTION.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL FEED LINE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE WITH A FUEL LINE OF SHRINKAGE-PROOF MATERIAL.
——————————————————————————–
A search of the NHTSA Recall Database returns these recalls for the “Audi S6”:
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 96V017000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S6
Potential Number of Units Affected: 24000
Manufactured From: JAN 1994 To: DEC 1995
Recall Date: 02/01/96
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO MALFUNCTION.
SOME ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS, TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LAMPS, POWER WIND0WS AND AIR CONDITIONERS CAN MALFUNCTION WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; IGNITION; SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER oÂn AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
——————————————————————————–
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 00V068000
Component: FUEL: FUEL LINES: HOSES: NON-METALLIC
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Make: AUDI
Model: S6
Potential Number of Units Affected: 3000
Manufactured From: SEP 1991 To: AUG 1995
Recall Date: 03/13/00
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FUEL FEED LINE CONNECTING THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE CAN PREMATURELY AGE AND SHRINK THROUGH EXPOSURE TO HIGH UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURE CAUSED BY THE TURBOCHARGER.
Consequence Summary:
THIS CAN RESULT IN FUEL SEEPAGE AT THE CONNECTION.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL FEED LINE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE ENGINE WITH A FUEL LINE OF SHRINKAGE-PROOF MATERIAL.
I had a situation where two CDs left the cartridge and decided to impede the changer mechanism. You can probably guess who won (no one, the CD’s were shattered and the unit quit working). The first problem was that after the unit seized I couldn’t even get the cartridge out to discover that there was a disc problem.
I’ve yet to figure out exactly why it quit – unit detected problem and a safety shutdown, the changer drive mechanism overheating, or…..
What I did:
0. First objective – restore basic power to the unit so that I could eject the cartridge.
1. Looked for any unique fuses for the CD assembly – none were found.
2. Reset connector cables to the changer assembly – no effect.
3. Removed the CD Changer assembly from the trunk, removed the cover from the changer, removed the cover and base plate exposing the internal mechanisms, protected by plastic sheets that were semi-transparent.
4. Removed the disc remains.
5. Looked for any loose connections, obvious PCB breaks or components broken by the CD coming apart – none found.
6. Reset two ribbon cable connectors to the base plate, reset the internal power cable connector, etc.
7. Reassembled the unit – no luck.
8. Checked with Audi for the price of a repaired unit – ~ $300, but no units were available.
9. Called about the ads in Quattro Club newsletter – $595 for a whole unit (less head), and none immediately available.
10. Looked for conventional units to replace the changer altogether, looked at Sony since that seems to be who manufactured the unit for Blau. who then seemed to design and add the interface unit, put an Audi sticker on it, and at least double the price. Decided that my only option was a complete replacement – also pricey and time consuming.
11. Repeated steps 3 through 7 again, this time using contact cleaner on the connections and putting a multimeter on the connector plugs to ensure power was getting to the unit (I can send a copy of the wiring diagrams if you’d like them). This time the unit worked after reassembly, and has been working for the better part to three months now (as I shrink waiting for bolts of lightning from the Audi Gods!!!).
Observations:
1. Not even AoA has good diagrams or diagnostics for the 10 disc unit. The best they had available at the dealership was a warning not to use the Alpine diagnostic procedure as it would damage the 10 disc unit. This was on a sheet that said AoA was in the process of creating the 10 disc diagnostics. The date on the sheet was 1992 or 93 as I recall. When pressed in October 1997 the best that AoA could produce was the wiring chart showing chassis connections, but no diagnostic procedures.
2. This appears to be a questionable system. While I don’t strongly object to the music quality of the Audi Bose (it’s one heck of a lot better than the OEM system on my 86 4KCSQ), I’d think that there would be better ways to diagnose and support the customers.
If you have the 6 disc changer, it is an Alpine (Audi p/n: 4D0 035 111). If you have the 10 disc changer, it is a Sony/Blaupunkt (Audi p/n: 4A0 035 111).
Where can I get additional cartridges?
The Sony XA-10B Cartridge will work in the 10 disc changer. These cartridges should be readily available.
What is the procedure for entering my radio security code?
1. Turn on the radio.
2. Press the FM1 and the AM buttons at the same time, – hold them down until “1000” lights up in the display.
3. Use station buttons 1 to 4 to input the radio code. If the code starts with “1”, just use buttons 2, 3, and 4 because the “1” is already displayed. If the code starts with “0” then press button 1 once to toggle the “1” to a “0”.
4. Press button 2 as many times as the second digit of your code. Do the same thing with buttons 3 for the third digit and 4 for the fourth digit.
5. Once the correct code is shown on the display, again press the FM1 and the AM buttons at the same time. Hold them down until the word “SAFE” appears in the frequency display. Release the buttons. Soon afterward a frequency will be displayed and the radio is unlocked.
As you probably figured out, if you do this wrong twice in a row, you will have to turn the radio off and wait about an hour before you can try again.
Sony/Blaupunkt 10 CD Changer
The Audi 10 CD changer was manufactured by Blaupunkt under license from Sony, which would make it a Blau/Sony with Audi markings. I figured that a Sony was going to be easier to find, so that’s what I ended up with. The unit in my car is a Sony CDX-A30, which fits the stock mounting brackets perfectly.
10 Disc CD Changer
Sony CDX-A30
As far as I know, as long as it has the single 13 pin DIN cable hookup (the blue cable shown in the picture) it should interface properly with the stock radio and transceiver (the transceiver is what makes the changer visible to the radio).
For what it is worth, a quick search on “Sony CDX-A30” at deja.com turned up the following information – Caveat emptor, no warranty expressed or implied, etc. 😉
John Durbin wrote:
In chronological order:
Sony CDX-A20 OK, a little noisy esp. with some head models
Sony CDX-A30 Watch for leaky caps taking out the +/- 5V DC converter
Sony CDX-A2001 30V supply driving the audio stage, nice D/A converter
Sony CDX-A15 Leaky cap problem solved during CDX-A15 production
Sony CDX-A100 suspension, last of the big rotary loaders
Sony CDX-A55 DIN cable is M-M instead of M-F, jams to clear
One area that seems to be a common trouble spot as these cars get older is the plastic tail light lens that surrounds the trunk lock cylinder. The lens cracks and you start getting a tail light lens that fills with water. Replacement is not as hard as you might think. We’ve posted some photos and text showing the process.
Got cracks?
Back up lights can fail due to water intrusion
Remove Trunk Liner Screws
Remove Trunk Liner Screws
Trunk Liner Removed
Step 3: Remove the nuts from lock cylinder and tug
Loosen the two 8mm nuts holding the trunk lock cylinder in place. Don’t completely remove them yet.
Now loosen and remove the other three 8mm nuts holding the corners of the light in place.
Twist to remove back up light…
Step 4: Pry carefully…
Carefully work the edge… but don\’t force anything or you might crack the lens
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