Driverside drain tube

[MyDimeIsUp]

My front driverside drain tube seems to have finally kicked the bucket. I noticed my weather tech mat had a small puddle after it would rain. I took the a-pillar trim off (as much as I could) and found my side airbag to be wet. Needless to say the drain tube needs to be replaced. I ordered the drain tube but am wondering about the process.

1. Am I able to just pull the center control module with homelink and lights, the grab bars and b-pillar seat belt trim and lightly detach the headliner or do I really need to drop the entire headliner and separate it from the sunroof frame?
2. How do I get the dang a-pillar trim off? Audi erWin says to just undo the screw, unclip from the top and then pull it out from the dash. No matter how much I pulled it really seems like the dashboard needs to be removed to get the a-pillar trim off since its such a pain in the ass.
3. Any other tips for those who have done this? I'm doing this on an allroad/avant so besides the sunroof being larger it doesn't like anything else is different.

[hardfive]

My driverside drain tube seems to have finally kicked the bucket. I noticed my weather tech mat had a small puddle after it would rain. I took the a-pillar trim off (as much as I could) and found my side airbag to be wet. Needless to say the drain tube needs to be replaced. I ordered the drain tube but am wondering about the process.

1. Am I able to just pull the center control module with homelink and lights, the grab bars and b-pillar seat belt trim and lightly detach the headliner or do I really need to drop the entire headliner and separate it from the sunroof frame?
2. How do I get the dang a-pillar trim off? Audi erWin says to just undo the screw, unclip from the top and then pull it out from the dash. No matter how much I pulled it really seems like the dashboard needs to be removed to get the a-pillar trim off since its such a pain in the ass.
3. Any other tips for those who have done this? I'm doing this on an allroad/avant so besides the sunroof being larger it doesn't like anything else is different.

Can only anwser #2 but it just did pull off. Mine is an 11 Avant.

Edit - Crap didnt realize you said driver side. This probably isnt helpful info per se. Sorry.

Its been a few years so maybe side panel of dash also had to come off too, but my memory was I was able to maneuver a pillar trim out.

I also took off glove box. Dont think thats at all necessary but if it is its like 8 bolts to drop it.

Good luck.Screenshot_20220726-220130_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20220726-220201_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20220726-220155_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20220726-220206_Photos.jpg

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[MyDimeIsUp]

Can only anwser #2 but it just did pull off. Mine is an 11 Avant.

Edit - Crap didnt realize you said driver side. This probably isnt helpful info per se. Sorry.

Its been a few years so maybe side panel of dash also had to come off too, but my memory was I was able to maneuver a pillar trim out.

I also took off glove box. Dont think thats at all necessary but if it is its like 8 bolts to drop it.

Good luck.Screenshot_20220726-220130_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20220726-220201_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20220726-220155_Photos.jpgScreenshot_20220726-220206_Photos.jpg

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

Gotcha no worries! The info is still useful thanks. Did you have to drop the entire headliner or only just pull down enough to slide the old tube out and snap the new one in? Also how long did it take? I don’t imagine the driverside will take too much longer compared to your passenger side except for maybe snaking the tube around the fuse/relay box.

[hardfive]

Gotcha no worries! The info is still useful thanks. Did you have to drop the entire headliner or only just pull down enough to slide the old tube out and snap the new one in? Also how long did it take? I don’t imagine the driverside will take too much longer compared to your passenger side except for maybe snaking the tube around the fuse/relay box.

I only checked the tube when I was running wires for a dash cam. Didnt unhook it so cant really say which is why I just referenced the apillar trim. Im pretty sure you can drop as much as needed but cant say for sure.

Time to get to the hose, like 30 min.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[elscotto80]

There's a screw behind the "airbag" plastic cover on the a pillar. Remove the cover and screw. A pillar pops right out.

The center console with homelink, etc is held in with clips and one screw. Open the sunglass holder and the screw is right there. You probably will need to remove the visors and clips to pull the headliner down.

I found the grab handles to be absolutely awful to remove. I tried doing this to repair my headliner, but couldn't get the stupid "plugs" out that hold the clips into the roof. I found some videos that showed it being really easy but I didn't have the same luck.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Audizine Forum mobile app

[MyDimeIsUp]

There's a screw behind the "airbag" plastic cover on the a pillar. Remove the cover and screw. A pillar pops right out.

The center console with homelink, etc is held in with clips and one screw. Open the sunglass holder and the screw is right there. You probably will need to remove the visors and clips to pull the headliner down.

I found the grab handles to be absolutely awful to remove. I tried doing this to repair my headliner, but couldn't get the stupid "plugs" out that hold the clips into the roof. I found some videos that showed it being really easy but I didn't have the same luck.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Audizine Forum mobile app

Interesting. Whenever I try pulling my a-pillar out the top is fine but the bottom seems like its stuck between the dashboard. I'll give it more effort though once I fully dive into the job.

[Smac770]

You didn't remove the trim piece below the a-pillar did you? It locks into the a-pillar. The filler piece.

[MyDimeIsUp]

You didn't remove the trim piece below the a-pillar did you? It locks into the a-pillar. The filler piece.

Are you talking about the tweeter that's in the corner of the dash? I popped out the "AIRBAG" cover, took the screw out, unclipped the pillar trim at the top all the way down, and tried pulling it out from the dash. Thats everything I've done so far. Am I supposed to take that tweeter speaker cover out from the corner as well?

[Smac770]

The a-pillar gap cover, just hand removes, you can see the shiny silver clip it snaps onto, as well as the holes in the upper a-pillar cover and the lower a-pillar cover aka the kick panel (note, the "pillars" go from the roof to the floor in the eyes of the automaker). I assume this is still in place?

B8 A4 a-pillar gap cover.jpg

[MyDimeIsUp]

The a-pillar gap cover, just hand removes, you can see the shiny silver clip it snaps onto, as well as the holes in the upper a-pillar cover and the lower a-pillar cover aka the kick panel (note, the "pillars" go from the roof to the floor in the eyes of the automaker). I assume this is still in place?

B8 A4 a-pillar gap cover.jpg

Ahh I see! I assume so. Next time when I'm replacing the drain tube I will update. Probably about 2 weeks from now since I only have enough time to knock out my control arms.

[Smac770]

If the screw at the top and the two clips in the middle are free from the sheet metal, and the gap cover holding the bottom down is removed, then it's probably just wedged in there.

There's no requirement to remove the dash corner speaker cover (for me it's a midrange, not a tweeter :-). But you could try removing the cover and the mount to see if it's interfering. The cover just pries up, carefully. Then three bolts or nuts hold the mount down. Only 0.5 Nm torque spec.

edit - yeah, the workshop manual omits the "first remove the gap cover" step in the a-pillar instructions, at least in my copy. If that wasn't removed, that pillar isn't coming out without getting torn.