questions you thought were too dumb to ask

[road_tripper]

what is the purpose of the valet key? Mine will open every lock on the car (driver's,ignition, glovebox, rear seats, trunk).

Isn't the valet key supposed to just open the driver's door and ignition, so one can lock all the valuables in the glovebox or trunk (and prevent access)???

[old guy]

Niiice thank you!

As far as the lower arms... Do I need to load them as well? Also do I have to separate the hub/axle to disconnect the lower arm or can i leave them connected? The video kinda just skipped that part.

Yes you need to load the lower arms when you tighten the inner bushings. You can leave the axle connected to the steering knuckle when you change the control arms. That video from FK AutoWorks is only a "teaser". They sell a 20 min DVD that covers the whole process.

[tchuck]

Yes you need to load the lower arms when you tighten the inner bushings. You can leave the axle connected to the steering knuckle when you change the control arms. That video from FK AutoWorks is only a "teaser". They sell a 20 min DVD that covers the whole process.

What would be the consequence of tightening them (front and rear) unloaded?

[onceover]

You would prematurely wear the burshings as they will be twisted under normal loading

[tchuck]

Boo. I replaced my shocks about 1k miles ago, tightened everything unloaded, and now i have creaking in one rear corner. :(

[jteethwrecks]

Got one...

I have a Concert in my B6. I would like to replace it with a Symphony. What do I need? (besides the Symphony & the removal tools)

[Matt Devo]

Got one...

I have a Concert in my B6. I would like to replace it with a Symphony. What do I need? (besides the Symphony & the removal tools)

you need the double-din cage and climate control unit as well.

[westie180]

ooh, i have another one! when coasting in gear without giving it any gas, does the engine supply any fuel at all? guys with AFR gauges, you should be able to answer this. my friend's DSM doesn't supply any fuel when coasting, so he keeps it in gear as long as he can to save fuel. if i knew exactly what our engines did, i could finally decide whether to coast in gear or in neutral.

[dsljay]

My body paint color is "crimson red pearl" (LZ3H). My Audi dealer wrote "color-bordeaux" on the sales aggreament. What color would you paint the brake calipers? What color would you use under the hood? (vac lines, manifold, etc?) love to see a photo.

[onlyaudis]

I got one... debadged the 3.0 and the Quattro emblems from my trunk 6 days ago and it left unfaded paint under where the badges were. Used goo gone and a compound and it is clean and smooth, but still discolored (or the car is discolored if you want to get technical). Any way to advance the fade or make it less noticeable... or am I looking at either painting the trunk - putting the emblems back on?

You may need to to have that area lightly color sanded (with 1500 sandpaper) and polished out . You can try an aggressive polish first without color sanding, but often that will only lesson the marks and not completely get rid of them. a good detail shop / body shop could do this for you if you are not skilled in paint finishes.

[onceover]

ooh, i have another one! when coasting in gear without giving it any gas, does the engine supply any fuel at all? guys with AFR gauges, you should be able to answer this. my friend's DSM doesn't supply any fuel when coasting, so he keeps it in gear as long as he can to save fuel. if i knew exactly what our engines did, i could finally decide whether to coast in gear or in neutral.

Of course it cuts fuel. All fuel injected cars do.

[onlyaudis]

What is "good" gas mileage for a 1.8T? I realize the factory sticker says ~22 city ~29 hwy, but I've read a couple threads where people are complaining about 22mpg. I drive somewhat with a heavy foot and get ~21mpg mostly city. Just curious if I should be getting better or if this is pretty normal.

need more details on your set up. FWD. Quattro? 5 speed, 6 speed, Tiptronic? Stage 1 or 2 software? where you live, is there a lot of hills, or is it mostly flat?

I average less than 20 MPG where I live (hilly SF bay area) and I have the Tip tranny , Quattro, plus stage 2 with bigger injectors. don't do too much extended freeway driving, otherwise i get about 25 MPG on trips.
A friend with stock 1.8T and a 6 speed gets at least 5 MPG more than me.

[4n2twstr]

Will my MPG suffer a noticeable decrease if my AC fan is on full blast as compared to the lowest fan setting? Let's say the temperature is set at 68deg w/ ECON off, and it's 85deg outside.

[alimo20]

How does the window-lock switch work? It can be up or down, but then sometimes the light is on and sometimes it isn't...and I swear every time someone in the back tries their window it's locked.

Bump. mine does the same thing. i have to hold down the child switch lock in order for it to work. i thought it was a loose connection in the door but am i just not doing it right?

[alimo20]

this one is really stupid but... when you go from stock to stage1, MPG must definitely suffer because of it right? or are the 1.8ts breaking some law of thermodynamics of getting more work out of the same amount of combustible material? different question for a stage 1+ bc i know that those injectors put out more fuel.

[Charles.waite]

this one is really stupid but... when you go from stock to stage1, MPG must definitely suffer because of it right? or are the 1.8ts breaking some law of thermodynamics of getting more work out of the same amount of combustible material? different question for a stage 1+ bc i know that those injectors put out more fuel.

Nope. Definitely defying physics.

Basically the Stage 1 tune has more refined fuel maps. And with the turbo cramming in double the PSI of air, you get that bump in power. With the refined fuel maps, you get better efficiency across the board and thus better MPGs for a given power output than stock.

I saw a small uptick in MPGs after going stage 1, as long as I stay out of boost. Once I hit boost I use more fuel as the injectors ramp up fuel delivery along with the uptick in Air Mass.

[jteethwrecks]

you need the double-din cage and climate control unit as well.

thanks!

[hauptmann]

The rear seatback latches work ~the same way as the door latches. The latch pin must be adjusted so that the pin is 90 degrees straight into the latch, and not to far in or out in relation to the seat latch, otherwise the latch will jamb or fail to latch and release correctly. It's all about the adjustment position of the latch pin screwed into the body, for fore and aft, up and down, and in and out with relation to the seat latch.

Okay, that was super helpful. My backseat hasn't been latching and I've been slamming it trying to get it to stay...of course it's simple. Thx.

[juki]

if I barely drive the car(once a week, for a total of less than 1000 miles a year), how often should I change the oil on my 1.8T?

[Pothole]

^I would check it every 3 months or so, oil breaks down from use, so it should last quite a while without much use, just make sure there are no leaks

and it couldnt hurt it to change it a couple times a year if ya got the time

[amkmeco]

what's the vag-com? sorry

[Pothole]

volkswagen audi group communication

laptop based software to talk to your car

[Unum]

Will my 18 inch RS6 reps (not sure on the brand) clear B5 S4 front brakes?

[vhstejskal]

Will my 18 inch RS6 reps (not sure on the brand) clear B5 S4 front brakes?

What's the offset? I have RS6 reps and my HP2s fit without an issue. I think the stock ET on the USP wheels require spacers... I think the factory ones are ET45.

[Charles.waite]

^^ This is what I've heard. The OEM USPs are either ET45 or ET43. Can't remember which exactly.

[Unum]

Damn K I need to go home and get my offset. is there another style of caliper other than HP2?

[Charles.waite]

Damn K I need to go home and get my offset. is there another style of caliper other than HP2?

The B6S4/B7A4 Calipers fit without issue on the USP wheels. I'm not sure how to look up what calipers the RS6s use, but if you could find some specs on those you might be able to figure it out. My guess is they are the same as the B6S4. C5 RS6 right?

[vhstejskal]

Not from a B5 S4 their referred to as HP2s. My reps are an ET30 offset and have enough clearance...



Don't mind the under pressure tire...

[Charles.waite]

Yea, the HP2 calipers are the specific calipers from B5 S4s, some Allroads and other C5 platform Audis as well as the W8 Passats (I think). They never used them on the B6 from the factory.

[orion7144]

Can you use a headlight switch that has the auto function in a car that does not? I can find them cheaper. Or is it possible to add the auto feature?

[westie180]

anyone recall a guide on how to retrofit the s4/usp center grille into the a4 lower bumper? i saw a guide on how to trim the lower bumper to make this possible ages ago, and now i can't find it. it's an interesting possible future idea that i want to see the previous results of once again.

[iamshayan]

what would the negative benefits be of going stage 3 gtrs at 250,000kms lol

[CHARLES A4]

I'm new to audi and I'm looking to buy a vagcom but I have no idea which one to get and what's a good price to pay for one?? Posting a link for me would be best

[AutoUnionLov3r]

I got one... debadged the 3.0 and the Quattro emblems from my trunk 6 days ago and it left unfaded paint under where the badges were. Used goo gone and a compound and it is clean and smooth, but still discolored (or the car is discolored if you want to get technical). Any way to advance the fade or make it less noticeable... or am I looking at either painting the trunk - putting the emblems back on?

Either you or someone reputable needs to buff out the faded trunk lid. Happened when I debadged mine, buffed the whole car and now it blends perfectly. Don't waste your $$$ on a paint job


By the way the offset for USP's is ET43

[tchuck]

Is there a harness to allow the RNS-E to be installed in place of a factory (non-Bose) head unit?

[onceover]

what would the negative benefits be of going stage 3 gtrs at 250,000kms lol

If youre compression tests are good, nothing really. I did mine at 180,000km and it was running strong till the head cracked. I took that as an opportunity to build my motor.

Is there a harness to allow the RNS-E to be installed in place of a factory (non-Bose) head unit?

Yes.

[iamshayan]

Is there a harness to allow the RNS-E to be installed in place of a factory (non-Bose) head unit?

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Adaptateur-Ca...item3a71ad4c1e

If youre compression tests are good, nothing really. I did mine at 180,000km and it was running strong till the head cracked. I took that as an opportunity to build my motor.

wonderful. last time I checked I was at 170,168,149,165, gonna check again before I slap her on there.

[tchuck]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Adaptateur-Ca...item3a71ad4c1e
...

Thanks man. I guess I was thinking the "Symphony" was the Bose unit...

[T0M3K]

How about making a FAQ page on the wiki? Instead telling people to search, just direct to wiki !

Then Old Guy won't have to repost same links few times a month :)

[Johnny1.8T]

Ive got the OEM Audi roof racks and im looking to buy an attachment to throw a bike on them. Which should i get? From where? Please link if possible