Electrical queries / archive searching - from a newbie

[Kent McLean]

  Len & Bonnie Lubbers wrote:
>I'm a newbie to things Audi... It appears we are moving on from our
>regular diet of Jettas.

Well, since no one else has chimed in, I'll take this one.

Welcome.

>   I have a 1988 90 non-quattro four banger - exceptional body condition
> and very sound mechanically.

You're lucky.  Most of us buy one with a good body (credit the galvanized
panels) and find out about the true mechanical condition after the fact.

>Q# 1 -  I found the archives but how do I do key word searches?  I have
>been a part of other lists which allowed this.  I would rather spend some
>time trying to find previously answered questions than waste yours.

That's easy.  Go to www.audifans.com.  You'll see a text entry box with
the "Google" logo next to it.  Just type in your keywords (e.g., "bad puppy"
without the quotes), and click on "Google Search". (269 hits! Someone
shut me up.) It searches the archives unless you click the "Search the whole
web" button.

>Q# 2  -  My current concerns are electrical.  When I got the car one fuse
>was removed and two were blown:
>
>Fuse # 4 (15 amp for clock, interior light, a/c control, etc)  -
>missing.  I put it in and the clock and interior lights now work.  The A/C
>clutch now kicks in but clicks on and off too quickly.  No cool
>breezes.  My guess is that the refrigerant is low or gone.
>
>Fuse # 12 ( 15 amp for instruments and reverse lights) - was blown.  I
>replaced it and the instrument lights worked only a few minutes and then
>quit.  Oddly the fuse still appears OK.
>
>Fuse # 18 ( 5 amp for pwr mirrors) - was blown.  I replaced it and the
>mirrors now work. This is really not a concern, unless it is a symptom of
>the other problems, in some convoluted way.
>
>Other quirks  - front dome light that comes on... even when set to door
>mode and the speedo is not working.
>
>Any pointers would be helpful.

I'm not familiar with these specific problems, but...

Our older, no, 'seasoned' Audis tend to have electrical gremlins.
Check the connections on the offending item.  Pull it apart,
clean the contacts (e.g., wire ends, contact points, etc.)
well with fine sandpaper, nylon scrubbie, or pencil eraser, then
hit it with a de-oxidizer like De-Oxit (try searching the archives
for other recommendations). Apply some di-electric grease on
the clean parts and put it back together.  Takes care of most
electrical gremlins.

You might also want to check inside the rubber boots in the door
frames.  Those accordion-like things cover the wires that may
be broken.  As the car ages, the insulation becomes brittle, and
all the opening and closing of doors breaks them like bending a
paper clip over and over again.  Also, check the wires where
they enter the trunk.

>I am not afraid to tear things apart.  You can check out what I had to do
>with a '79 Spitfire at www3.sympatico.ca/lubbers

Nice job on the Spitfire. Want to tackle my '56 Austin-Healey 100?

Peace and Love,
Kent
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy"