[V8] the dreaded blue wire debacle

[Michael Larosa Jr]

And please do let us know if there is a splice or not,  I had
them but I just saw somebody say there isn't one a V8...  curious :)

Mike,


Michael Larosa Jr wrote:
> Steve,
> 
> Go to See: http://www.audifans.com/archives/1997/06/msg02221.html
> 
> check the splice...
> 
> Mike,
> 
> 
>  Kramer wrote:
> 
>> Well, it's happened again.  One week after having the cluster taken 
>> out and the blue wire fixed  I thought I was through with the blue 
>> wire thing.
>>
>> Last night, I went to Radio Shack for some audio cables.  Turned the 
>> car and  got no alternator light.  Switched it off.  Then back on 
>> alternator light came.  Started the car and the alt light/ brake 
>> light/ cat light all came on and stayed dim.  Started revving the 
>> engine to 3000 and then they turned off.  Made it home with no 
>> problems.  At home I switched it off then on. Alt light came on 
>> again.  Phewww !!   Looks like the alternator is going kapput or the 
>> dreaded blue wire is raising it's ugly head!
>>
>>
>> This morning I started the car up - 3 combo lights came on dim.  
>> Driving the car  - Seems I need to get to over 3000 rpm for the lights 
>> to turn off. Dropped my kid off at school.  Started the car but this 
>> time no alternator light. Drove home no problem.  At home I turned  
>> the ignition car on then off.  This time even the brake light was 
>> off.   Tried later alt. light came on.
>>
>> Everything was working great for a week.  No dim lights or anything.  
>> My mechanic had pulled out the dash and had cleaned the contacts at 
>> the cluster and at the alternator.  Repeatedly he switched the car off 
>> and on to make sure the alt. light was working.  He also replaced the 
>> bulb.  He checked the alt. afterward and it was putting out the 14.1 
>> volts.  Battery head was something like 12.9.  CC still shows the flat 
>> 12.0 on channel 11.
>>
>>
>> My questions
>>
>> 1.  could the intermittent operation have anything to do with the 
>> alternator going kapput - working sometime and not working others?   
>> My car does have the belly pan but I have been going through some 
>> large puddles and snow.
>>
>> 2.  is the intermittent operation more like due to a failing cluster 
>> that should be replaced?  does the CC go through the cluster as well?  
>> Don't know if this related but sometimes both my gas and temp go off 
>> intermittently.
>>
>> 3.  Possibly while closing the flap behind the glove compartment( 
>> busted spring) I may have pulled on a wire hanging there thus pulling 
>> off  the blue wire.  =
>>
>> 4.  Is the blue wire the culprit?  Perhaps even if the alt light 
>> doesn't come on when the ignition comes on - I'll notice while driving 
>> that the battery starts charging.  I'm thinking of going to an Auto 
>> parts store and getting a voltmeter to track the voltage at the 
>> positive post on the battery while I'm driving.  I suspect while 
>> driving I'll see volts coming on and shutting off several times.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Steve Kramer
>> 1990 v8q
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Audifans V8 mailing list
>> Send posts to: mailto:V8 at audifans.com
>> Manage your list connection: http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/v8
>> Have an Audi V8 question?  Check the Audifans Knowledgebase!
>> http://www.audi-quattro.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Audi/V8
>> Have a V8 answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB ... all 
>> contributions welcome!
> 
> 
> 


-- 

     _/_/_/  _/    _/  _/     _/      Mike LaRosa
    _/      _/    _/  _/_/   _/       TSE - HAS
   _/_/_/  _/    _/  _/  _/ _/        1617 Southwood Drive
      _/  _/    _/  _/   _/_/         Nashua, NH 03063
_/_/_/   _/_/_/   _/     _/
   S U N                              Phone: 781/442-1250
   S E R V I C E S                    Fax: 781/442-5488
                                      Email:mc.larosa at sun.com