4000 Quattro- electrical power

[Huw Powell]

the fan shuld turn on around 2/3 of gauge.  how long it runs and how
often will be a function of ambient temps (speed of car being a big deal
- the coolant will run 1/2 gauge all hot day long at highway speeds, run
like crazy in stop and go) and the exact specs that your thermostat and
coolant fan sender have - not just their rating, but where they exactly
change state.

The electrical "brownout," which of course really shouldn't be
noticeable, is likely caused by the fifteen year old major and minor
electrical connections in your cars not being as clean as they were when
new.  A good clean up of the charging and starting connections is a
great place to start, since those are all out in the grime of the
underhood area.

If you really want to play, try pulling up the fuse box and removing
connectors one at a time and spraying them with your favorite contact
enhancer prior to reassembly.  Not for the faint hearted, but do-able.
I managed to swap a fusebox in my 90Q, and its harder to get to, and
that also meant undoing all the plugs at the same time (ulp!).  Then you
could also pull all the fuses and clean their sockets and blades.

Doing the same thing to the headlight circuitry will help lessen the
dimming, too.  Especially if you interfere in it with some nice relays
near the lights...

Then do it to every other connection in the car.  (not "every other" as
in Alice's little adventure, but every other one you haven't already
done!)

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but spread over a few easy going
work sessions it is well worth the trouble.

> Sorry to waste BW as I don't have a solution, but I wanted to share that I
> have noticed the same "problem" in my '86 4KQ.  Or maybe as Microsoft would
> say - "it's not a bug, it's a feature!".  ;-)
>
> BTW, how often should the fan turn on?  I've noticed my temp gauge shows the
> car is running a little hot - in upper 1/3rd of the temp gauge.  At that
> point the fan turns on, but only for a short time.  And that's the only time
> I hear the fan.
> >
> > my 4kq seems to have a momentary electrical power drop off when the fan
> > kicks on- it is quite annoying at night to have the lights dim for a second
> > repeatedly when it kicks on- dash lights too- any suggestions? anyone else
> > have this problem? it is a small thing, I know, but it drives me bonkers.

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/