How to Save a Life- 19birel's attempt at reviving an A4

[19birel]

what an update! smashed it mate! glad to see the car is all sorted and running

can definitely see that tensioner shat itself.. glad it all worked out!

Thanks man! Feels great to finally have her running, only a few more things to button up and she'll be good as gold.

You could try some Lysol, for the cup holder.

thanks, I'll give that a go

[CarlWeasly]

Glad you got everything done man! Good to here it's on its feet and moving

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[19birel]

So I'm at school now, so with the car at home (I will be bringing it up after thanksgiving) there hasn't been too much progress, however I had my dad button a couple things up for me so that I can get the car inspected and on the road when I get home in two months time.

So before I left I stopped by the pick n'pull to grab an ABS module. On ECS Tuning the full assembly is bout $1k, but I managed to snag a nice one out of a B5.5 Passat 4motion wagon for $25
P_20150816_142508 by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

My dad installed it and now my dash is no longer lit up like a christmas tree! No more codes!

Before
IMG-20150911-WA0005 by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr
After
IMG-20150911-WA0004 by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

He also got the snapped off fragments of bolt out of the bumper bar so it no longer needs zip ties to stay on haha
IMG-20150823-WA0002 by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

And now she waits!
IMG-20150920-WA0002 by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Also, my dad is getting some paint work done on the VW, which also happens to be silver so I might have them respray the bumpers on the Audi at the same time. I can't wait to get back home so I can drive this thing!

[19birel]

Just got this pic from my dad the other day, had him test fit my wheels to ensure they fit nicely before I ordered tyres. I really like the look of them, but it looks like I'm definitely going to have to lower it this summer Also, the car goes in for paint this weekend, front and rear bumpers are getting done as well as the trunk lid!
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

[19birel]

Here she is! All loaded up and off for paint! Can't wait to see it all done when I get home next month
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

[Bordom]

Exciting. Love watching B5's get painted

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

[19birel]

tires are ordered! Nankang NS-20 225/40/18 , alignment scheduled at Sewickley Audi (they took me for $150!), and working on scheduling the tire installation and state inspection at Dom's Auto in Leetsdale (if your in the Pittsburgh area he does great work and is really nice to deal with, gave me loads of advice when I was putting the car back together too) Anyone have experience running Nankang's ? This is my first set and they were pretty cheap so not sure what to expect.

[Okedokey]

So how much have you spent all up so far on this rebuild?

[19birel]

So how much have you spent all up so far on this rebuild?

Including purchasing the car the total spend is somewhere around $2,500.

[Nollywood]

I might have missed it earlier, are you going with the same color?

[19birel]

I might have missed it earlier, are you going with the same color?

Same color, it won't be a full respray though. I'm just having them paint the bumpers and the trunk as those were in really bad shape.


Sent from my slouch beanie using Tapatalk

[Quattro420]

What is the cost of the paint job and is it done?

[19birel]

What is the cost of the paint job and is it done?

Car will be out of paint on the 16th, it will get new tyres and inspection completed on 17th, and it will be aligned on the 19th.

The cost of the paint job is a little tricky, my dad was having a friend of his paint a set of new fenders for the Golf and asked if he could mix a little more paint and take care of the A4 for me too so the price of both cars was bundled together. For the Audi I only got charged for the cost of extra materials which is around $100. I got very lucky

[19birel]

So this just in, paint won't be done until around the 21st and as you may know the car is scheduled to for a few appoints this coming week. So the plan was to pick the car up from the painter, get new tires, inspection, and alignment, and bring it back.

Unfortunately the car won't start now It keeps blowing fuse 32, the ignition timing fuse, and it does so as soon as the key is turned, before trying to crank the engine. Anyone have an idea as to why this is happening? my dad was just going to take it to the family VW Audi mechanic to figure it out, but I'd rather not get slapped with a larger bill. Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[19birel]

Anyone have any ideas as to why I keep blowing that fuse? I've searched all over and can't find a thing. The painter had the car hooked up to a pretty beefy battery charger, my dad is thinking some wiring could've gotten fried and now I'm sweating bullets...

[19birel]

Well it turned out the wires on the section of harness that connects to the coil packs broke, so we got a replacement section of harness and had it installed. However, more problems have arisen, the car failed inspection for a few things.

-Swaybar end links

-front control arms

-steering rack boot

-right side ti-rod

-exhaust (flexpipe is gone)

-and front brake lines

Plan is to knock out as much as possible during Thanks Giving break, and finish up when I come back for Christmas. Big update to come this week if my parts arrive on time.

[19birel]

Screen Shot 2015-11-21 at 5.07.04 PM by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Parts ordered! First time buying from FCP Euro and I'm really liking their prices!

[nemick]

You're doing a fine job. Hang in there and it will all be worth it. Don't be overly surprised that the paint work will be late. It seems that painters and upholsterers work in a different time dimension than us mere mortals.

[19birel]

You're doing a fine job. Hang in there and it will all be worth it. Don't be overly surprised that the paint work will be late. It seems that painters and upholsterers work in a different time dimension than us mere mortals.

Thanks man, I appreciate it! Yeah, as inconvenient as it is, the paint will at least be done by the time I go back home for christmas, so It'll work out okay. The painter is also giving me a pretty good deal so I can't complain too much haha

[19birel]

Got a lot of work done on the car while I was home, but in the rush I didn't take a whole lot of pictures Anyways here's what I have.

The front upper control arms needed replaced and they were a bit of a pain to remove, though if you have a pry bar it would probably be way easier
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Here is one of the old tie rods, the rubber bushing is actually a bladder that holds oil to lubricate the joint. As you can see it tore open and the fluid leaked out
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

The whole spring and damper assembly has to get removed for this process, and here you can see the new control arms installed. (loosely, tightened once everything else is bolted in on the car)
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

As you can see my sway bar end links had seen better days
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Comparison with the new replacements. You may have noticed that they look slightly different, that is because the new ones are a revised version that are designed to reduce noise from the suspension
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Also got these upgraded braided stainless steel lines from stop tech installed
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Unfortunately one of my metal brake lines got ruined in the removal process so I had to grab one at the pick n'pull. While I was there I picked up a new valve cover (I think mine is warped because no matter what I do it still leaks a little oil from there) and I came across an A6 and picked up a new drivers side mirror as well.

My cracked mirror cap
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

My ruined lens
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

The one pulled from the C5
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

I got lucky and it had blind spot glass!
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Just need new glass for the other side now and swap the A6 mirror onto the A4 base! Also, not pictured but I also replaced the tierods.

Also got some OEM center caps (I was only able to get 3, but I'll just use one of the blanks that came with my wheels until I find another)
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

And this is how I left her! She just needs the section of exhaust by the flex pipe replaced and then she gets reinspected and aligned! Then it's off to the painter again!
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Oh and I may need to re assess my plans to lower this thing over the summer, she might be sitting a little too wide haha
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

I should've snapped a pic of the front too, but I've got the suspicion that I'll have rubbing issues if I decide to go with the H&R sport springs I wanted...

Anyways thanks for looking! Questions and Comments always welcome!

[CarlWeasly]

Looking good as always birel! I need to get me some c5 mirrors haha, my factory dimming ones are degrading :(

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[19birel]

Looking good as always birel! I need to get me some c5 mirrors haha, my factory dimming ones are degrading :(

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

Thanks Carl! I actually just found out that the C5 mirror isn't swappable onto the B5 mirror base. Not sure about the glass though, I think the glass is cross compatible though just need to double check that. Luckily my dad found a silver B5 mirror at another junkyard and snagged it for me.

If you just need glass, ECS Tuning sells blind spot glass for our cars!

Sent from my slouch beanie using Tapatalk

[CarlWeasly]

Thanks Carl! I actually just found out that the C5 mirror isn't swappable onto the B5 mirror base. Not sure about the glass though, I think the glass is cross compatible though just need to double check that. Luckily my dad found a silver B5 mirror at another junkyard and snagged it for me.

If you just need glass, ECS Tuning sells blind spot glass for our cars!

Sent from my slouch beanie using Tapatalk

No problem if the glass works that's perfect, I need to make a pnp trip anywho. Nice to know ecs has them, not sure if my wallet agrees though haha

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[AudiSport12]

What are your wheel specs and final offset? Those the 225's?

[19birel]

What are your wheel specs and final offset? Those the 225's?

Tires are Nankang Noble Sport NS-20 225/40/R18

Wheels are 18x8, offset is unknown (not listed anywhere on the wheel itself) I need to figure out how to measure that...

No spacers and on stock Sport Suspension

[down_n_dapper]

nice to see some good work getting done! its all coming together really nicely

Next time you're replacing control arms, i find it easier to get the top knuckles out by hamering a chisel/drift into the opening where each knuckle inserts, thus opening the hole slightly, and then hammering up on the control arm lightly

[19birel]

nice to see some good work getting done! its all coming together really nicely

Next time you're replacing control arms, i find it easier to get the top knuckles out by hamering a chisel/drift into the opening where each knuckle inserts, thus opening the hole slightly, and then hammering up on the control arm lightly

Thanks man, I appreciate it!

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to give that a go next time. There was a lot of corrosion which is what made it so difficult I think, probably would have help to prep a day or two in advance by spraying some PB Blaster in there as well.

[AudiSport12]

Being reps I would think they should be et35 (most of the ones I have seen/owned were) but those may not be et35. The back of the wheels should tell the story though.


Judging by the pic, I would think you can clear in the rear. Remember you'll be adding negative camber so the wheels will tuck in some.

[19birel]

Being reps I would think they should be et35 (most of the ones I have seen/owned were) but those may not be et35. The back of the wheels should tell the story though.


Judging by the pic, I would think you can clear in the rear. Remember you'll be adding negative camber so the wheels will tuck in some.

Strangely it didn't show the offset on the back of the wheel, just that it was 18x8 and a VIA certification stamp I question the legitimacy of haha.

I forgot to consider the addition of camber, that'll definitely help a little


Sent from my slouch beanie using Tapatalk

[19birel]

So small update, the car has been aligned and the new down pipe installed. Unfortunately the car still pulls to the right a little bit according to my dad and his friend who went to pick it up, my dad is telling me to see if I think it's bad, but for $150 I'm kinda ticked off that it's not perfect and am going to see about having it taken back asap. And to make things worse my shop charged me $170 to install the down pipe, a $75 part... This is why I hate having other people work on my car... Oh well at least I'll get to start driving it soon...

[Bordom]

An hr to do a downpipe? I don't think that's too far off the mark.

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

[19birel]

An hr to do a downpipe? I don't think that's too far off the mark.

Everything graciously mispelled by Android

Yeah, I guess it's not terribly bad, I was just expecting it to be a little cheaper.

[19birel]

So the car is scheduled to get realigned next monday, apparently a bolt in the rear is ceased and they can't adjust it. My question is, what bolt could be ceased? They didn't specify to my dad, and it's not like the rear control arms are adjustable, so I'm a little confused.

[MetalMan]

Eccentric bolts, for adjusting camber and toe.

[19birel]

Eccentric bolts, for adjusting camber and toe.

Oh okay, thanks! I think I might have to order a set to install before taking the car back then.

[MetalMan]

There may be more to it than that, unfortunately. Some members have described scenarios where their eccentric bolts have corroded/seized onto the metal inside in the lower control arm bushings... in this scenario they have to cut out the bushings, replace the bushings, and replaced the eccentric bolts.

[19birel]

There may be more to it than that, unfortunately. Some members have described scenarios where their eccentric bolts have corroded/seized onto the metal inside in the lower control arm bushings... in this scenario they have to cut out the bushings, replace the bushings, and replaced the eccentric bolts.

That's probably what happened to mine as the dealer said they couldn't turn them... I may have to postpone my realignment until I can afford bushings too:/


Sent from my slouch beanie using Tapatalk

[19birel]

did some work on the car last night,but mostly just putting some miles on her. At the dealer now getting realigned, the car doesn't track straight and despite them being unable to adjust the right rear as far as tracking goes the front end it what should effect that most.

Anyways here's what I did last night.

First the car has a very nice oil leak so I did some inspecting
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr
You can see oil collecting on the heatsheild there, and around the valve cover there appears to be some moisture so I'm going to pick up another vc gasket and get that installed.

Then I turned my attention to the interior and the broken arm rest lid
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Removed the leather and was left with this, the top piece of plastic is actually melted onto the lower piece
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

After much prying I was able to remove it.
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

After sanding it down (sorry no pics) so its completely flat, I traced the lid onto a piece of plastic and cut it out.
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

I then cut the original foam down to size
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

The leatherette it too worn/ripped to be reused so I'm going to use some new material (my mum has some laying around) and today I'll hopefully get the armrest finished up! Stay tuned!

Oh an a pic of her in the driveway with the B8 from yesterday. old vs. new haha
Untitled by Ayrton @ Drive19, on Flickr

[freebeer256]

Nice! Why did you have to separate the two pieces of the arm rest? Were the edges of the leather tucked between them?

Reason I ask is my arm rest is trashed, and I have a couple from the junk yard that are slightly messed up, but if I combine them (which is the plan), I should be able to get one good arm rest cover.

[19birel]

Nice! Why did you have to separate the two pieces of the arm rest? Were the edges of the leather tucked between them?

Reason I ask is my arm rest is trashed, and I have a couple from the junk yard that are slightly messed up, but if I combine them (which is the plan), I should be able to get one good arm rest cover.

I separated it because I couldnt reuse my leather and the side trim was broken so I would have had a visible gap. To accommodate the new leather cover I'll be making and to eliminate a large gap on the sides, I had to redesign how the leather attached to the lid.


Sent from my slouch beanie using Tapatalk