Help me get my a4 in ship shape *Pics* (audiziners love pics right?)

[FACT]

I've got an 01 a4 that I bought in very good condition.


Since that time, I've had the turbo replaced and the entire engine head replaced. Since the engine is in good shape now, I need to get some little things taken care of that are driving me crazy. I don't know what to do for all these things so I'm looking for your advice on the following:

1) Painted lowers didn't work out so hot


so clearly i have some areas on the lowers that need to be taken care of. How can I fix this? Do i need to take the car in and have it professionally redone or can I do it myself? I originally painted the lowers using duplicolor paint and clearcoat.


2) When I pull the doorhandles on the two front doors, the doors often get stuck and don't open. Anyone have a fix for this?

3) The cupholder over the radio is stuck partially out and will not go all the way in. How can I take it out and repair it?

Thanks guys AZers are awesome!

[Seerlah]

1) Just do it again. Here is the write up on it.. And if the front and lower valances are not done or in the greater of job completion approval, then do those also. Here is the link to that. Maybe another member can chimme in and grant you a few pointers.

2) Maybe get some silicone spray or any kind of lubricated spray such as WD-40 and spray all the hinges. But if you mean they get stuck stuck as in not budging due to lack of proper joint lubrication (on the mechanism), then that is another story.

3) Pop off the panel that covers the top portion of the front console (EPC, fog, hazard, cupholer). There will be a clip you will need to remove that holds the cup holder in place (I can not recall, but there might be 2 of them). Remove that, take out cup holder and get to operation.

[biketsai]

2. Did you spill a drink? Is it sticky?

[FACT]

I just went out and fixed the cupholder, so we can scratch that off the list. To the poster who posted the link to the lower painting DIY, that is what I followed to actually paint the side lowers, but since they're already 99% painted with some parts near the top being peeled off, how can I repaint/repair these areas without having to strip and repaint the entire lower?

[biketsai]

I just went out and fixed the cupholder, so we can scratch that off the list. To the poster who posted the link to the lower painting DIY, that is what I followed to actually paint the side lowers, but since they're already 99% painted with some parts near the top being peeled off, how can I repaint/repair these areas without having to strip and repaint the entire lower?

Honestly, I dont think itd hurt to repaint it. Im not so sure itd look right if you fixed that individual spot.

[oldblu]

DO NOT OVERSPRAY THE LOWERS!!!! Waste of time. Spent many many hours sanding or get new ones then spray. They end up looking real bad (like mine so now I'm getting new ones)

[djwimbo]

2) When I pull the doorhandles on the two front doors, the doors often get stuck and don't open. Anyone have a fix for this?

Mine do the same thing. It's almost as if they get caught at half latch. I have to push the door pretty hard if it does that. Otherwise I learned to push it correctly when I pull the handle. It works 95% of the time that way.

I gotta hunch I need to replace my door latches, they have almost made it 175K.

[FACT]

looks like I might have to get s4 lowers eventually

[flashburn]

Damn, three things I've done and I can only chime in on one of them:

For your door hinges, I used a brass tap and hammer and GENTLY tapped the pins holding the door to the car up and down. Then I sprayed some PB Blaster in there till they had no more rust. The trick is to NOT USE WD40 as it is a degreaser. Use real grease, not wd40. Don't have grease? Use super heavy weight motor oil.