[urq] An observation on fusebox location, too

[wbremer]

Every once in a while, the question comes up as to the urq VIN number in '83 when the fusebox migrated from under the dash to under the hood.  Seeing Nathan's comment about the FA, I checked the Registry.  While I never asked for the location of the fuse box for the Registry, I have tried to record when a particular VIN is said to have one fusebox location or the other.  FWIW, a urq in the registry with a VIN a few digits below 581 has the underdash fusebox, and one several digits above has the underhood fusebox.  Sounds like Audi moved the fusebox when they did the other changes, like suspension, that appear to distinguish the "early '83s" from the "83.5s."   As Nathan noted, there are exceptions to this rule, probably not all that surprising for a production line where the cars were substantially hand-made.  I had heard that urqs were occasionally pulled out of the production line for some reason (whether quality or special request, I don't know) and when they got back into production, they got whatever updates could be added.

Bill

The family album breaks out cars up to 900581 or so as early 83. Some higher than that still had the early suspension, and some lower than that had the newer suspension. ISTR that Martin Pajak has some experience on this. I don't think the later cars had a rear sway bar, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

The front left/rear right and front right/rear left ball joints are identical, so there are only two part numbers, and they're more or less NLA. I'll have to see if I can get the other "rare parts" ball joints and compare them to the ones that are currently on the car. I'll steal some calipers from a friend of mine or from work tonight and measure the ball joint shaft on the two ball joints that I have.

Also, on cars like ours, the sway bar bushings are NLA as well. I've got a friend who's a Honda suspension designer, and he told me he could probably help out with bushings. I'll have him take a closer look next time I see him, and I'll see what I can work out.

HTH!

Nathan Engelbert

83 UrQ DA900453

89 90q

91 200q20v avant