Cozzie

Hello all, and thanks for the board; this is one of the most enthusiastic auto forums I have seen for any model or make, so glad it is Audi-related...

I posted here over a year or so ago, as I had sent my 1998 S8 (Euro) from overseas back here to the US (and put it in the conversion process); unfortunately, the car is still undergoing that process (more on that in a minute), and I have finally gotten some information on it. Right now, I have an immediate problem, and I would really appreciate any help that could be offered.

Problem 1: the S8 is now sitting in an import car garage in Aberdeen, MD; the guy who is working on the vehicle is stumped, so I thought I would try here for some advice. The vehicle has sat with the registered importer for over a year, with not much apparent work occurring; during that time, evidently the fuel line sprung a small leak up near the firewall, where the small rubber tube connects to the longer metal one that runs the length of the vehicle. The importer took the car to the import car garage (New German) for repair of the fuel line; this has been an issue since at least April, according to the importer, but he just now got around to trying to get it fixed. At any rate, the S8 was brought in on a flat bed; the guys put it up on a lift (they started her and drove her on), left it up there to do the fuel line work, and then backed her off of the lift. When the car was put in drive, it didn't move; now, it won't go either forward or reverse, and there are no obvious signs of damage. The mechanic ran a VAG-COM check, and came up with two error codes (18034 and 17087); he does not have a service manual, so is left in the dark as to what they refer. The following is known about the vehicle:

A) Up until it was shipped to the US in Mar 2003, the vehicle was kept in regular repair by the dealer (monthly service visits); it was driven regularly by me, though not heavily (about 150 miles a week).
b) The car has 42,000 miles on it, and has been well-taken care of; in fact, I did a full service on the vehicle a week before it was shipped, and drove it to the dock.
c) The S8 has sat at the importer's lot since arrival in the US in May 2003; although he may have done the needed conversion work, it most likely sat without running from at least April until September this year.
d) The error codes seem to indicate, on best guess, a failure of the front fluid pump; when the drain plug is removed and the transmission is at running temp (vehicle running), fluid will rhythmically pump out of the hole.
e) The vehicle has never been in an accident nor had any serious repair done to it since new.

Problem 2: Anyone know any good lawyers in the state of Maryland? There is one registered importer that is going to feel some pain here soon, and I am open to suggestions...

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help, and I look forward to one day joining in the fun here on the site; I dearly love this car, and would love to have it in my garage again...

skiracer

Codes:
18034:
Data-Bus Powertrain 1)
Missing message from fuel injection pump
- Check CAN-Bus Page 24-200
Could be a CAN bus or fuel pump problem.

17087- This is easy:
Torque Converter/Brake Switch B Circ.
Brake light switch -F- faulty
Cause- didn't press down on the brake pedal after turning key on!

I've no good guesses on the transmission problem- do the forward gears in tip mode work, or nothing at all in any mode? If sitting for so long, have critters (mice, squirrels, etc.) gotten into the wiring system?

PaulW

So I'm in the process of turning my 97 A8 into a eurospec pre facelift S8, and just today you state you are in the process of importing one.

First off, would love to see some pictures.

Secondly, the fuel leak is an easy fix <a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/enginemechanical/fuelleakrepari.html" target="_blank">that you can find here</a>.

Why it won't go into gear has to be troubleshot:

Fault Code 18034
Data-Bus Powertrain 1)

Missing message from fuel injection pump
- Check CAN-Bus Page 24-200

It's hard to post a table from the Bently....but you just vag-com it:

Display fields


1
2
3
4

Display group 125: CAN data bus messages

Display
Transmission 1
ABS 1
Instrument 1

Indicate
CAN data bus transmission control module
CAN data bus ABS control module
CAN data bus instrument cluster

Range
1 = OK

0 = not OK
1 = OK

0 = not OK
1 = OK

0 = not OK

Specified value
Transmission 1
ABS 1
Instrument 1

Note

Display not on all vehicles

If specification is not obtained for one or more control modules, perform automatic test sequence.

For fault code 17087, <a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/auto_transmission/brakeswitcherror.html">it's no big deal, read about it here</a>.

It sounds like you either have some kind of electrical problem or something simple is screwed up with the tranny linkage....it drives a multifunction switch. Use vag-com monitoring the transmission during testing would show you if it's something obvious or not.

I'm also going to send you an email, I think I can help you out with your importing.....I will even have a spare instrument cluster in a few weeks that you could use temporarily.

pw

Cozzie

Paul -

Thanks for the quick and detailed help to you and skiracer; I will get this off to the mechanic asap, and see what can be done. As for the fuel line leak: I am afraid they have gone and replaced the whole assembly, and will probably try to charge me for it, as well. I see now that wasn't necessary, but, then again, the importer does have to get it through the EPA and DOT testing...

I can send what pics I have of the car - I haven't seen it in 18 months, so I wouldn't mind looking at them, either; do you need a pic poster to put photos up on the site? It is Brilliant Black with a black interior, hot weather package (it came out of the Middle East), with the original 6-spoke "Ronin" wheels; the plastic was still on some of the interior of the car when I bought it in 2000.

I am not close enough to the car to see it personally; in fact, while it was at the importer, it was supposedly illegal for me to touch the vehicle while it is under bond. However, if they don't get the tranny problem diagnosed and repaired asap, I might make a trip down there to look under the hood. I am sure, if I ever get it back in my posession, I will be having numerous other issues to fix... In addition, I have had to remove my lights and my original S8 dash - I am sending them back to the original dealer, instead of letting them get destroyed. I will be working a deal to buy them back at some time in the future, I hope - I really want the dash back in the car.

I can only get a hold of the mechanic during the day, so I will have to hold off on letting you know if the suggestions work. However, I again thank you for the quick and knowledgeable response...

Cozzie

Thanks for the input and the suggestions. Unfortunately, I can't try anything out - the mechanic won't be available until morning, so I will get with him and see if I can get some more detail tomorrow. As I said in the reply to Paul, I am not close to the vehicle; I just got back from a long trip overseas, and am having to catch up on administrivia here at the office for the next week or so. I will try to drive up to Maryland to see the vehicle before Xmas, if I am lucky. I still need to find a good lawyer, though...

Thanks again, and I will let you know if I can get the mechanic to do some more troubleshooting; without the Bentley, I am afraid he is pretty lost.

PaulW

Yes, just send them back and then have them send them to you via the post.....airmail for quicker service!!! ;-)

Where do you live in the states?

tozoM8

I had the same problem when I was on the road. I just ripped that fitting of and put a hose clap on it. No problems since, the hose clamp is good up to 200 psi.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/80919/dscn1087.jpg">

Cozzie

I live in WV, but work overseas and in NC. I am in NC right now; just got back from the Middle East. I was actually going to mail the parts back to the dealer, and then pick them up on my next trip and ship them back home...

Thanks again for the help - I have forwarded the info to the mechanic, and he is going to take a look today at the other diagnostics you guys mentioned.

PaulW

There has been at least one reported case or mice living up in there which blocked the switch from working properly.....and the car wouldn't go into gear.

It's right where the tranny cable attaches to the tranny on the left forward side of the tranny.

The tranny cable is the red thing on the left side of the picture.

<img src="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/auto_transmission/transeal12.JPG">

tozoM8

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/80919/dscn1326.1.jpg">