Podi-riffic - LONG POST

[kwimberly]

So, I bought one of Winston's scratch and dent Podi's on Sunday, and it already arrived cross-country today! I admit that I initially didn't like the idea of the Podi because I was worried about visibility of the instrument cluster. I was wrong. Even with the steering column where I like it, I only lose 0-10 mph visibility.

Also, for being "scratch and dent" I sure can't find a scratch or a dent.

I haven't fully installed it yet - it's just sitting on the column without my gauge or the two screws. Why? Because the Gamecocks are playing Vandy, and the Redskins are playing the Giants tonight.

Speaking of those two screws - holy crap I was pissed. Forget trying to find a long-ass T8 driver at Pep Boys or Autozone. I ended up going to Sears and bought a set of Torx drivers. Here's the problem: they were too damn short to reach the screws in the steering column!!! I could tell I needed about a half inch more shaft. How did I fix it? I dremeled off half an inch of plastic from the handle (it was a regular plastic screwdriver handle)! Moral of the story - you need a loooong T8 to reach those bastards.

I'll wire it up tomorrow. I coiled up extra boost tubing in the ECU box when I did the A-pillar gauge, and I'm hoping I can slowly pull out enough slack to reach from my existing pod to the Podi.

Which brings me to - yes, I currently have Martini's custom A-pillar pod. I didn't screw it into the A-pillar like he did, so I could never get the fit just right. I tried all kinds of tapes and adhesives, but it just wouldn't stay on the A-pillar. If anyone is interested in buying it, let me know. I would recommend screwing it in like he did, but wrestling with the A-pillar cover was honestly a nightmare. Here's what I'm talking about if you don't know. Martini sold it when he got a Podi.

So, that's my unnecessarily long post about my half-installed Podi.

[Pr0n]

You couldn't find this one?

[kwimberly]

You couldn't find this one?

I bought these. I think the one you linked to is even shorter than the ones I bought. I dremeled off the green section on the T8 (second from the right).

[absolutegtr]

Is there really no scratch or dent on it....anywhere? LOL

[martini]

if you read my podi install writeup i link directly to a torx driver which will fit... it is not part of a set and can be had for less than $5 at sears

[kwimberly]

if you read my podi install writeup i link directly to a torx driver which will fit... it is not part of a set and can be had for less than $5 at sears

Ahhh - that's the one Wizz posted. I needed a set with the others anyway, and the dremel procedure worked pretty good.

a4mods.com is your friend.

[Pr0n]

if you read my podi install writeup i link directly to a torx driver which will fit... it is not part of a set and can be had for less than $5 at sears

Thanks for that write-up. It helped a fair amount...except I'm terrible at wiring and I couldn't remove the windshield wiper, so I ripped out the ECU cover instead.

and for fellow Canucks, "Crappy Tire" has it here and it's actually longer than the one in the a4mods guide by about half an inch.

[kwimberly]

Thanks for that write-up. It helped a fair amount...except I'm terrible at wiring and I couldn't remove the windshield wiper, so I ripped out the ECU cover instead.

yeah, the wipers suck. It took me an hour to wrestle off the drivers side one. Even with that one off, it's a nightmare to get to that back ECU cover screw.

[OneBadAudi]

man i did my gauge without a single problem, went right through and the wiper popped right off ...

[kwimberly]

man i did my gauge without a single problem, went right through and the wiper popped right off ...

How do you access that last ECU bolt? You just remove the driver wiper? If so, do you use a flexible extender to get to it? I can't seem to bend the trim enough to easily access it.

Also, my driver's wiper seems like the "fins" or ridges are messed up - it's like the piece in the wiper and the piece on the assembly have been stripped or mashed flat. The grooves and ridges don't look crisp anymore. I think that's what makes it such a pain to remove.

[Amze]

Got my torq thing at sears.

[[email protected]]

Is there really no scratch or dent on it....anywhere? LOL

Trust me... there is something I find wrong with each of those S&D units.

Whether or not you see what I see is another story.

if you read my podi install writeup i link directly to a torx driver which will fit

I'm looking into finding a supplier of Torx drivers and see if I can include one with each kit to help rid this issue of trying to find one.

In Canada they are available at every Canadian Tire for $5.

[risc427]

I also had a hard time noticing any defect with my s&d podi, however, when running my fingers over an area of it you could feel somewhat of an "imperfection". The other thing I found out was that the screw holes were a bit wider towards the bottom causing the screws to be rather difficult to catch and hold. I don't know if this is a result of the scratch&ding version or this is normal.

How do you access that last ECU bolt? You just remove the driver wiper? If so, do you use a flexible extender to get to it? I can't seem to bend the trim enough to easily access it.

I initially had a hard time with this as well. Once you have the wiper removed I used an adapter to attach a T30 torx bit to a 3" extension which was attached to my 3/8 ratchet. I slid this through the hole that exists in the rain gutter to allow the wiper are to attach. This actually allowed me to get the screw out fairly easily.

[a4darkness]

That would be a nice addition to the kit Winston.

[[email protected];2847168]I'm looking into finding a supplier of Torx drivers and see if I can include one with each kit to help rid this issue of trying to find one. /quote]

[martini]

yeah, the wipers suck. It took me an hour to wrestle off the drivers side one. Even with that one off, it's a nightmare to get to that back ECU cover screw.

you can take both wipers off and then remove the plastic cover along the bottom of the windshield... then its a clear shot to the ECU

thats what i do now... of course thats after the writeup


it would end up looking like this:

[kwimberly]

I got the Podi installed! I did find the tiny little smudge that probably made it a scratch and dent one, but it's so small and insignificant that I probably would have sold it as new...

A few impressions - my gauge is an Auto Meter, and it seems a bit long for the Podi. A little bit of the white metal cylinder is sticking out of the Podi - just a tiny bit. The compression nut sticks out pretty far in the back of the gauge (as does the lightbulb housing) that it just can't cram all the way back into the Podi. When I try to jam it all the way back, the wires get so crimped that the lightbulb turns off. So, I'll just live with it sticking out a little. Oh yeah, and since it sticks out a little at the bottom edge, the angle is a bit off - the top is further away than the bottom - just slightly.

Also, I was used to the A-pillar mount, and it takes a little bit of getting used to with the new gauge location - it's a LOT closer to your eyes than the dash, so you kind of have to refocus for a second to see it. The A-pillar location was nice for quick glances because you were still looking forward. No biggie - just going to take a bit of getting used to.

The fit was perfect as far as replacing the OEM column piece - the little fabric piece snapped in perfectly, and the Torx screws tightened the Podi perfectly into position.

Here's a crappy cellphone pic: