Hello. New (to me) A8 owner. I'll have a lot of questions, so here goes . . .
07-21-2003, 10:46 PM
#1
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Hello. New (to me) A8 owner. I'll have a lot of questions, so here goes . . .
First, the car . . . 1999 w/about/35K:
<img src="http://pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/john+p.+%28tt+225%29/a8.jpg">
1) Alternator whine. Sounds like a bad ground in the stereo. It's the stock Bose system. The strange thing here, however, is that it occurs even when the radio's off. Ideas?
2) HVAC. I know this seems dumb, but how the hell do you turn the HVAC system off? The car didn't have ANY of the manuals with it. A bummer, I know.
3) Burning Smell. There's a faint burning smell after the car's been driven for a while. I gotta think it's an oil leak of some kind. Boy, I'm glad I paid a mechanic to review the car. :-/
4) Misc. rattles. Those will have to wait!
5) Front headrests. One isn't working. Thanks to PaulW for his post on this procedure (linked below, found in a search). That's a project for a few months down the road.
6) Turn signals. Are they all faint (not loud)? It's a 1999, remember.
7) Steering wheel. Anyone have a little clatter from the clock spring? How hard is it to lube?
Thanks!<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/11503.phtml">Front headrest fix by PaulW</a></li></ul>
<img src="http://pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/john+p.+%28tt+225%29/a8.jpg">
1) Alternator whine. Sounds like a bad ground in the stereo. It's the stock Bose system. The strange thing here, however, is that it occurs even when the radio's off. Ideas?
2) HVAC. I know this seems dumb, but how the hell do you turn the HVAC system off? The car didn't have ANY of the manuals with it. A bummer, I know.
3) Burning Smell. There's a faint burning smell after the car's been driven for a while. I gotta think it's an oil leak of some kind. Boy, I'm glad I paid a mechanic to review the car. :-/
4) Misc. rattles. Those will have to wait!
5) Front headrests. One isn't working. Thanks to PaulW for his post on this procedure (linked below, found in a search). That's a project for a few months down the road.
6) Turn signals. Are they all faint (not loud)? It's a 1999, remember.
7) Steering wheel. Anyone have a little clatter from the clock spring? How hard is it to lube?
Thanks!<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/11503.phtml">Front headrest fix by PaulW</a></li></ul>
07-22-2003, 03:21 AM
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Re: Hello. New (to me) A8 owner. I'll have a lot of questions, so here goes . . .
1. The stereo might be a bad headunit.. i have an extra headunit if you want to try and see if its that.. otherwise i think it could be some wires crossed on the amp in the trunk
2. There is an off button on my car but you might have adifferent model.. on my A6 i turned the fan to all the way (-) and it shut off
3. 99% sure your read seal of the transmission is leaking on to the exhaust.. a 200 dollar fix and a good idea to do every 50-60k miles..
4. Rattles might be lower control arms on the front that need new bushings.. di they only occur when you go over bumps..
thats all i can think of now..
welcome to the forum!
2. There is an off button on my car but you might have adifferent model.. on my A6 i turned the fan to all the way (-) and it shut off
3. 99% sure your read seal of the transmission is leaking on to the exhaust.. a 200 dollar fix and a good idea to do every 50-60k miles..
4. Rattles might be lower control arms on the front that need new bushings.. di they only occur when you go over bumps..
thats all i can think of now..
welcome to the forum!
07-22-2003, 05:20 AM
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Re: Hello. New (to me) A8 owner. I'll have a lot of questions, so here goes . . .
4. Interior rattles coming from the B pillars is the rubber door seals rubbing on the black metal exterior trim piece. Lube it with some black silicone grease.
Any Interior rattle from center dash is probably the wire cluster under the 3 main AC vents. They serve the switches above the radio and tend to rattle against the duct housings. Stuffing some sheet packing foam in there will quiet that rattle.
Any Interior rattle from center dash is probably the wire cluster under the 3 main AC vents. They serve the switches above the radio and tend to rattle against the duct housings. Stuffing some sheet packing foam in there will quiet that rattle.
07-22-2003, 05:38 AM
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Re: Hello. New (to me) A8 owner. I'll have a lot of questions, so here goes . . .
for number 3... the burning smelling thing... i have that same problem. you said it was a 200 dollar fix, now, what do i say to Audi dealership?
"transmission seal is leaking, please replace it"
and how do i know for sure that that is the problem? (i am pretty sure it is, because i am not seeing any oil spots in my garage)
ugh, i hate the smell!
"transmission seal is leaking, please replace it"
and how do i know for sure that that is the problem? (i am pretty sure it is, because i am not seeing any oil spots in my garage)
ugh, i hate the smell!
07-22-2003, 05:58 AM
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Re: What do I say?
I brought in hard copies of
1. This <A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/23562.phtml">Excellr-A8 Post</a> about leaking cam shaft seals
2. Page 3 (I think) of the audipages <A HREF="http://www.audipages.com/usedA8/usedA8items.html">Used A8/S8 Buyers Guide</a> that includes this picture and describes the transmission seal leak under "Put the Car on a Lift".
In my case it was the latter, but the dealer couldn't find the cause of the burning oil smell until I showed him the hard copies.
<img src="http://www.audipages.com/usedA8/cats1.JPG">
1. This <A HREF="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/msgs/23562.phtml">Excellr-A8 Post</a> about leaking cam shaft seals
2. Page 3 (I think) of the audipages <A HREF="http://www.audipages.com/usedA8/usedA8items.html">Used A8/S8 Buyers Guide</a> that includes this picture and describes the transmission seal leak under "Put the Car on a Lift".
In my case it was the latter, but the dealer couldn't find the cause of the burning oil smell until I showed him the hard copies.
<img src="http://www.audipages.com/usedA8/cats1.JPG">
07-22-2003, 05:58 AM
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Just ask them to change the gasket.. while your there change the fluid and filter too..
I thought it was an oil leak also but after closer inspection i saw it running right on the cats.... your tranny will thank you..
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07-22-2003, 07:27 AM
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Thanks everyone! Re: the transmission seal, the seller did say that
it might be that, after BSing me that his mechanic told him last week that it was a plastic bag that melted onto the exhaust.
07-22-2003, 07:44 AM
#10
Some Answers
Hello,
HVAC - press the - button (fan speed control) in the
center of the dash until only a single bar is
displayed. Then press it one more time and it will
go off.
Turn signals are faint.
I don't have any rattles.
Burning smell, does it occur when the car has been
turned off, or while you are driving? If it happens
when the car has just been shut down, look to see
if fluid is leaking on the driver side cat. If so
it's the trans seal. Easy to do, but time consuming.
One final suggestion, you can order the manuals
from Bentley Publishers.
Good luck,
Barry
HVAC - press the - button (fan speed control) in the
center of the dash until only a single bar is
displayed. Then press it one more time and it will
go off.
Turn signals are faint.
I don't have any rattles.
Burning smell, does it occur when the car has been
turned off, or while you are driving? If it happens
when the car has just been shut down, look to see
if fluid is leaking on the driver side cat. If so
it's the trans seal. Easy to do, but time consuming.
One final suggestion, you can order the manuals
from Bentley Publishers.
Good luck,
Barry