Some ('98) A6 Quattro questions, incl. changing from U.S. speedo/odo

[Ti Kan]

Barton Oleksy writes:
> I recently acquired a 1998 A6 Quattro Wagon from Wisconsin (thanks to 
> lister Doug Y.!) and had it shipped to me here in Canada.
> ...
> 
> 1.  Canadianization issues (metric) - I have managed to change the 
> climate control to display Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, but how 
> difficult will it be to change the speedo to read km/h on the larger, 
> more detailed outer ring & mph on the inner?  And what about changing 
> the odometer to read in kilometers rather than miles?

I think the gauge face could be replaced with a Canadian-spec version.
It would require dismantling the instrument cluster, which is not for
the faint of heart.  As for having the odo read in km, I'm not sure but
perhaps it's something that could be programmed with VAG-COM.

> 2.  I get the "OIL" message flashing for a minute after startup, which 
> according to the owner's manual means that the car thinks it's ready for 
> an oil change.  What's the magic to resetting that so I don't keep 
> getting the "OIL" message after I do the change?  My local mechanic said 
> he can reset it for me, but I'd like to know how on my own.

Check instructions here:
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec26.shtml

Also VAG-COM can reset the service reminder:
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/audi_sri.html

> 3.  There's a button I can't find anything about in the manual - it's on 
> the driver's side on the pillar between the front and back seats. 
> Doesn't seem to do anything when I press it, but I'm definitely curious 
> about it.

If you open the door, press that button and then close the door and
then lock the doors with the remote, the interior motion sensor of
the alarm will be disabled.  This is useful if, for example, if you
leave a pet in the car that would otherwise trigger the alarm.

-Ti
-- 
Ti Kan
http://www.amb.org/ti
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