[s-cars] S6 (UK spec) questions

[Bob Rossato]

> I bought a 1995 S6 Avant a couple of days ago to replace my aging
> 80q.  What
> a car!

Yes it is!

> The wastegate has a vacuum connection on the top.  Nothing is connected to
> it (it's open to atmospheric pressure).  Is this right?  Do UK spec models
> not bother with a wastegate frequency valve?

The top connection is open to ambient.  It is used in other applications of
the wastegate, but not on the AAN.  There is a wastegate control valve.
Follow the small hose from the bottom chamber of the wastegate towards the
headlight.  You should see it tucked down there somewhere.

> Is it possible to read fault codes using a LED on this car.  It has the
> black and white two-pin connectors in the fusebox (+/-/K/L) as shown on
> Scott Mockry's page, but I don't have access to a VAG1551.
> There's a lot of
> talk about VAG-COM.  Should I get one?

On the US market cars the codes can be read by momentarily connecting the
specific pins on the K & L lines and counting flashes of the check engine
light.  For the European market, I don't know if it is possible to add the
light as some have said that it the ECU is different, so the VAG-COM might
be your best bet.

> The oil temperature gauge has no illumination and no movement of
> the needle.
> Are these faults related?

Most likely unrelated.  The illumination should be simply a burnt out bulb.
While you are replacing them it would be a good time to upgrade to the green
base 2W bulbs instead of the 1.1W bulbs that are in there.  You'll need 9 of
them in total.  Part number 893 919 040A.  The non-operational gauge might
be due to a broken connection at the temperature sensor.  I had an
intermittent problem with mine that would manifest itself with movement of
the engine during brisk acceleration.  The rocking was just enough to break
and remake the connection.  The oil temp sensor is located at the bottom
front of the engine on or around the crankshaft seal housing.  I gave the
wire some more slack in that area and it made my problem go away but you may
have a more permanent break.  If that isn't the location of the failure,
you'll have to check continuity of the wire back to the gauge.

> I've got (paper) Bentleys for my 80q and 100 2.2E.  How does the
> CD version
> of the A6/S6 manual compare?

I have no experience with the CD versions but many people don't like them.
The paper versions are no longer in print so you'll have to hunt around for
someone that may have some old stock left, or try to find one on Ebay.  But
they aren't cheap.  It's a 3 volume set and had a list price of ~ $270
though when they were available some places had them as cheap as ~ $190.

Bob