Future a8 owner

[Senko]

Hello, I joined this forum as I am about to get my hands into a 97 a8. The car has some isssues to it so I am sure I will be coming here for a lot of help.

The good - The trans has been rebuilt, the car is in fairly nice shape.

The bad - Someone has attempted to steal it and the ignition is broken, the ecu is possibly dead (dissabler?) and it has 180k

Any advice, opinions, etc is welcome!

[speedlyte]

Hmmmm......run......Unless you are going to do the work yourself......

[Senko]

well I am fairly mechanically inclined. I am also fairly good with electronics. I just need to know what would need to be replaced. Would I get away with just replacing the ECU and getting an new ignition for it? ( Ecu from audi 2000, ecu on Ebay 250) , The ignition is 82.95 from audi keyed to the car. and All I am paying for the car is a laptop I have. No cash sept the charge for towing to my house.

Edit, I added some photos the previous owner sent me on the car, Check them out and let me know what you think.

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/member.php?uid=87204&protype=1

[Nollywood]

As it's just costing you a laptop, and towing costs, I'd say it's a good deal. The fact the most expensive aspect has been taken care of (a rebuilt trans) makes it attractive. Even if you chose to part out, the trans will be worth good $$$'s, as long as you have receipts to back-up the rebuild.

The 2000 MY ECU on eBay won't fit your car, totally different connectors, and it's DBW, your car is non-DBW.

[Senko]

Is there any way to pull codes on these cars without a scanner??

[silverd2]

Is there any way to pull codes on these cars without a scanner??

Nope

[Senko]

thanks for all the help guys, well Soon as I get the car home saturday I will update everyone with whats going on with it.

[slowhatch]

post some pics mate

[Senko]

just got the car home tonight, looks like I got lucky as it is the non immobilizer model. Had some moisture one the ecu so I am drying them out tonight and will try cranking the car tomorrow with a fresh battery. I put some pics in my gallery so check them out.

[Senko]

ok so I have spent the day swapping the battery, cleaning the connections and trying to get the car to start. It seems I am getting spark and fuel yet it is not cranking, any ideas? Maybe put some fresh fuel in it and try again? The old fuel had stabil in it so I don't think it would cause it to just not fire at all. I am open to opinions

[tenspeed]

So the engine is spinning and not firing?

Use a squirt of starting fluid to see if you have spark.
If it tries to start on the fluid, you have a fuel delivery problem.
If it doesn't bark, you have an ignition problem.

[Senko]

I am getting spark (pulled a coil pack and plug and watched) and I am getting fuel! (plugs smell like fuel) so I am at a bit of a loss. I have been doing some reading and perhaps the crank angle sensor is gone bad? Does anyone know where it is on the 4.2?

[Senko]

and it runs!!!! just has bad fuel

[Senko]

well, I gotta drain the tank, fill it with fresh gas, put a new ignition in it and get it registered and inspected. I cant wait to get this car on the road! So far I am very impressed with it even for a 10 year old car!!! it has more options than most modern cars for its age. And it fits my 6'6" ass like a glove!

[Senko]

yes it does require premium, damn, ok anyone now how to remove the steering column?

[Senko]

OK! well its time for an update. So far I have put all the parts I found in the trunk of the car back on the car, I am still missing a couple of minor pieces. If anyone knows the best way to fix or replace them let me know.

The rear view mirror is on the floor. Is it a magnetic system? or is it glued on?

The passenger side visor is also on the floor. It seems one of the screws broke, and is stuck in the mounting bracket.

The center arm rests are also missing, so I am looking for some replacements, the car has tan interior so If anyone has any for sale or sees any let me know!

I have resealed the ECUs with some silicone and also popped a drain hole into the ECU tray, hopefully that will keep any future ECU issues remedied.

I bought a brand new Battery to spec for the car, the previous owner put a volvo 550 CCA battery in it, I replaced with the spec 850 CCA battery with the vent tube connected.

I still have to install a new Ignition Cylinder , the switch and the key lock are both working, the housing for the lock is broken into 3 pieces. I have been looking for any way to just repair it, or swap it out without having to replace the whole column, but so far no luck.

[Senko]

well, Bad news, I am not hearing the fuel pump come on when I go to start the car and it does not want to start. I have read it could be the pump or the ecu. Rather than try and gully it out. I am going to attempt to jump the pump with power and see if that works, if not then out comes the pump. If it does work then out comes the ECU.

[Senko]

ok guys, I am thinking I am gonna buy new computers for the car just to not have to worry about them due to the water I orriginally found in the ecy compartment. My ECU has the numbers 4d0 907 557 D and my TCM has the numbers 4d0 927 156 AN , What numbers do I need to watch for with replacement computer and what letters or numbers dont matter?

[Street Nasty]

ECU and TCM will work for you car as long as its from 97-99. Sorry I do not know the part numbers. The mirror is installed by taking off the plastic triangle inside the car on the door and I think there is an allen bolt or something similar. Does your car crank?

[Senko]

the mirror is the rear view on the windshield, not sure how it fell off as it was in the trunk when I got the car home.

[Senko]

ok well I put power top the pump and nothing, seems the pump is gone, the little I heard it idle was the last it had. Are there any things I need to watch out for when removing the fuel pump assembly from the cover in the rear? I have disconnected the return and feed lines from it, and I have unscrewed the locking ring, anything I need to be weary of when removing it? it seems like it wants to come out but is a little stiff. I do not wanna break anything and put debris in the tank.

[Senko]

Update on current total into the 97 a8

Tow back to the house - 100
New battery - 98
new spark plugs, filter and 8 quarts of mobil 1 - 79
New tcm - 82
new fuel pump - 156
new steering column and assembly - 237

current running total - 752

[Street Nasty]

So is your car running now?

[Senko]

I am waiting on some parts to come in the mail, and I am going to be purchasing a steering column as well as a couple of other parts from a local yard. I should have everything in and installed by sunday at the latest. Fingers crossed!

[Senko]

and she lives, got a full tank in her but hopefully all will do fine.