Your '87 4000 S questions

[Swann, Benjamin R. (BSWANN)]

Kete,

I'll try to answer succinctly.

[Subject: Some info on Alternators for the 4000S

Hello,

My 87 4000S alternator's casing broke apart, and in my
area, I was having a very hard time trying to locate
another casing.
Well anyways, I found a whole alternator from an 86
4000S.  When I tried installing the alternator  in my
87 4000S, it wouldn't fit.  
Why did AUDI design it like that? GRRR!  Well, if I
simply grind a little off the alternator I baught, it
will fit.  But, if I do that, will it work?  The
alternator I got, was rebuilt, and they forgot to put
the spec sticker on.  So I'm going by what people in
here know about the difference between the 86 and 87
4000s.  Will the 86 alternator work on mine.  Or is
that why Audi changed the casing between the two. 
Thanks.]

You should be able to interchange between any '85-'87 S - non Quattro.  Get
the whole alternator - I'm sure someone on this list has one..I might, most
surely Chris Semple  - chris at force5auto.com
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Subject: An annoying ticking sound

[I have a ticking sound coming out of my cylinder head.
 What is it?  A sticky valve.  It's on pretty much all
the time when I start the car.  Even after its be
warm, it still ticks.

How can I solve this problem.]

Most likely hydraulic lifters.  Possibly the Air Pump.  First try a higher
viscosit oil.  20W50 summer/10W40 winter or even Castro 5W50 synthetic -
year round.

If oil doesn't help, then you either can live with the sewing machine sound,
or have new lifters installed.  They can be had from sources such as
thepartsconnection.com for around $9 ea.  labor to change should be 2hrs or
less by a competent mechanic.

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Subject:  Choke

[Sorry this is my third question.  But, I have a lot of
them.  This will be the last.

When my 87 4000 S audi starts up cold. It takes a
little while for it to come on. It starts, then dies,
then you need to really give it with the starter.
Furthermore, when it finally starts up. If you try to
give it a little gas, the RPM drops way down and it
may stall. When the car is warm, no probs!

Why is it doing that? I think it's the choke. Any
advice on how to cure the prob?]

Your car is fuel injected and has no choke.  It does have warmup enrichment
circuitry and a cold start injector.  Start with a basic tuneup, check and
fix vacuem leaks, and work from there and query the list again if the
tunup/cleanup did not solve the problem(s).

I've found sometimes rough running may be bad wires, even though they may
look new.

Once you sort out your basic problems, you should be able to get relatively
reliable service from the car.

Good luck.  

Ben
'85 4KQ x 2 - one for sale.
'87 5kcstqw
http://www.homestead.com/Ben_Swann/myaudi.html