[s-cars] Alternator Cable (was: Dead deer)

[Pram]

Guys:

You are talking about the tube which is next and run pararrel to the
front sway bar right.

Back when my 92S4 was still under warranty, I had a squeal (more like a
groan) everytime my suspension goes into compression mode.  At that time
I took the car to the dealer and the dealer regard the noise as
suspension noise.  They put the car on the lift (tires off the ground)
and cannot find the source though.

It was by accident that I found the squeak/groan later when I was
working under the car using a pair of ramp that the source of noise was
caused by the friction between the middle part of the sway bar with that
tube.  I had to add some washers to slightly move the tube location to
prevent this "touching".   This contact would not be easily seen unless
the car suspension is loaded.

Just my 02 rupiah on my experience with this "tube"

Pram
92S4


On Thursday, September 26, 2002, at 09:59 PM, Wayne Dohnal wrote:

> Bob,
>
> This sounds to me like it's the cable that connects the alternator to
> the
> starter.  There's only one big wire in the tube.  The risk would be if
> the
> tube were damaged and pierced the insulation, or if the insulation were
> pierced where the wire enters and exits the tube, there could be major
> sparks flying because this is a big-wire, unfused circuit.  When I
> worked on
> mine I noticed that the subframe floats electrically, so even if the
> wire
> were shorted to the tube (mine was) there might not be any fireworks,
> but I
> wouldn't want to take the chance.  When I bought my car the tube had
> been
> ripped off and kinked.  I straightened it out and fished a generic
> replacement battery cable through it.  I'm glad I did because the
> insulation
> on the wire had been seriously breached where the tube was kinked.  I
> would
> imagine you can buy a replacement wire and tube a$$embly from Audi.
> Back
> when I was working on it I made a bunch of inquiries to the list about
> this
> part and the lack of responses led me to conclude that it's something
> that
> people just don't have any problems with.
>
>
> Wayne Dohnal
> 1994 S4
>
>
> Hi Y'all,
>
> Hit a deer this evening in my urS65.  Fortunately, the deer was already
> dead when I hit it and went over it kawhump!  Damn I need better
> lighting!  I was following and preparing to pass an 18 wheeler at 70+
> mph.  He drove right over the top of the deer.  I didn't see it until I
> was
> almost on top of it.  Very little damage was done.  A couple of scrapes
> underneath the front bumper virtually indistinguishable from the parking
> block scratches already there and a bit of deer hair hanging from a hose
> clamp for the Michelin Man hose.
>
> There is one item I need help identifying, though.  An electrical cable
> of
> some sort connects to a sensor (temperature maybe?) on the left (viewed
> from the driver's seat) side of the engine near cylinder #1.  The cable
> passes down into a metal tube which provides some apparent road hazard
> protection for the cable and then back up to the other side of the
> engine
> where it disappears until I can get the car on a lift and search more
> closely.  The metal tube fastens into the subframe (? not sure if it's
> the
> subframe or not, shoulda looked closer) behind the lower strut
> brace/torsion bar.  This is the same piece the bar bracket bolts to.
> The
> brackets for this tube were wiped out as the deer passed under the car.
>
> Other than the impact there was no indication of anything being wrong.
> No
> lights came on.  No gauges acted up.  No changes in handling or ride or
> anything else.  The wiring seems to be intact but the tube "protector"
> was
> hanging down when I got enough light to see under the car.  It is
> jerry-rigged back more or less into its proper position until proper
> repairs can be made.  The car is easily driveable.
>
> Now, my question: what is that electrical loom and what does it do?
> Does
> anyone have a replacement piece for sale?
>
>
> Bob
>
>
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