[s-cars] Of BPV's, steering racks and generators.. (longish..)

[Bjørn Ødegård]

Dear list of Audi gurus!

1. Finally I got to removing the BPV (stock) to check if it was the culprit
of my almost ever stumbling UrS. The thin connecting vacuum hose was 'a bit'
hard and cracked, but it stood up for some huffing and puffing. I then tried
to block the little nozzle on the BPV, and push the piston, and it looked
all right. (resistance) Connected the hose, and sucked, and it was like
there were no diaphragm there. I wanted to see where the problem was, so I
cut it open along the glued/melted seam. The diaphragm was cracked open at
several points, so I used some super-glue (green Pacer Zap-a-Gap) to fix it
temorarily. (rubber glued with this glue _never_ rips at the same place
again, oily or not!) I also used the same glue with accelerator to close up
the casing. Worked well, but I guess it's time for å new one.
Were there any conclusions on which BPV who worked for more than 2 years?
(this stock one didn't for sure..)
Forge? Bailey? source? (Norway/europe..)

2. I've also previously complained about groaning steering, and I think I
know what's the problem. I've discovered a big rip in the rubber bellow,
just beside the connection point for the steering rods. I guess it has taken
in some dirt for quite a while, and I wonder if it's possible to change the
bellow and regrease it w/o removing it from the car? I _really_ don't want
to buy a new/refurbished one, as it's about $600 even from Blau, and then
there's the job of removing and reinstalling correctly. Is it possible to do
this w/o disconnecting the hydraulics? (I've tried to check with mr.
Bentley, but he only mention removal of the whole thing.)
What type of grease could I use? The wrong one will of course eat the
gaskets.. ;o)

3. One of my serpentinebelt-driven 'utensils' make a noise when i _load_ the
engine between 700 and 1500 revs, (i.e. when i move the car when parking,
starting in a hill, etc..)  clearly heard if I put my ear to the end of a
screwdriver, and put the other end (the one that hurts ;o)) on either the
generator, PSpump or belt tensioner. It's a strong pulsating sound, (about
the speed of the generator) and I guess the old generator pulley (with the
rubber insert) just muffled it. Before I yank out the generator, are there
any other things beside electrics that might put on load on the belt driven
gadgets? Could this be just a bunt diode? I've had this sound for about 1
1/2 year, but no-one seems to figure out what it really is..

Hope for many smart replies!

Bjorn  :o)
'92 S4