[200q20v] toasty relays

[hah at srv.net]

Since you sent this to quattro as well, you probably already have a 
response, but oh well.

>Two observations:
>a)the relay was -very- hot, almost too hot to hold.  This was after a 
>40 minute drive.  Everything else in the box seemed cool to the touch.
>
>b)shorting out the top of the relay failed to initiate the code dump 
>procedure(I have a bulb installed in the check-engine light spot; I 
>have successfully used this before to get codes.)  i know there was a 
>code stored because the light came on while driving(and the car was 
>running like garbage because of the loose clamp.)
>
>I seem to remember that when the relay is hot, this is a sign of bad 
>solder joints inside and indicates impending failure.  I'm in the 
>middle of trying to pop it open now.
>
Possibly, heat is not the best thing for electrical connections. 

b) that's not how you pull codes on a Motronic car. See 
http://www.sjmautotechnik.com/ecuf20v.html#fcthree, newer cars use the 
diagnostic connector in the driver's footwell.

HTH
Henry Harper
http://www.srv.net/~hah
1991 200 quattro, 110k, shiny until the next dust storm
1988 GTI 16v, 211k, ~1500mi road trip coming up this weekend

PS
Saw a nice pearl 91 20v Avant with eurolites on Idaho Hwy 55 headed to 
McCall yesterday afternoon. So surprised by the euros and 20v-indicating 
fender flares I didn't get a look at the plates. Anyone? I haven't seen a 
20v Avant locally before, there are a couple other sedans and a nice blue 
V8 5-spd.

PPS
Took a friend by the dealer (she was unfortunately looking at Toyota trucks 
to trade in her Golf, but fortunately couldn't find a clean, cheap one) and 
the 17-in five-spoke wheels on the A6 4.2 look *really* nice. The 
twin-spoke ones on the 2.7t don't do much for me, though. That car's brakes 
look kind of small under there...wonder if they fit over UFOs...