[V8] the dreaded blue wire debacle

[Coleman, David]

HEY.  The OE battery I bought from Audi for my '91 V8 three days before
its untimely demise (the car's, not the battery's)  DID NOT have a
nipple or otherwise suitable place to attach the vent tube to.   I left
it unhooked figuring it was an UPGRADED configuration.

Depending on what happens insurance-wise, I guess I'll have to GO BACK
to the bloody dealer?

-DaveC.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: v8-bounces at audifans.com 
> [mailto:v8-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of dsaad at icehouse.net
> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 3:34 PM
> To: v8 at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: [V8] the dreaded blue wire debacle
> 
> If you replaced the alternator, more than likely the 
> regulator was replaced too.
> It is built into the alternator. I hope the mechanic did not 
> swap your old one back on the new alternator.
> 
> Your battery ABSOLUTLY HAS to have a cover over the POSITIVE 
> post, and the battery has to have a vent hose. There is a 
> very specific battery that must be used (sorry - I don't have 
> the type handy) or you WILL have at least two very nasty problems:
> 
> 1. Explosive and corrosive HYDROGEN GAS is constantly being 
> generated by the battery when the car is running.
> 
> 2. If (or more likely when) someone sits on the rear seat 
> over the exposed battery post, and causes a short to ground, 
> you will have an instant fire, possible battery explosion, 
> and probable injury to everyone in the car.
> 
> Make sure you have the correct battery type and that it is 
> properly VENTED through the tube in the floor.
> On some batteries, you connect the vent hose to one vent 
> nipple on the battery and then make sure to PLUG THE OTHER 
> ONE or you will still release hydrogen under the seat.
> 
> Your symptoms still sound like a bad alternator. If you have 
> been in deep water you could have caused some sort of 
> corrosion problem in the alternator.
> It could have just failed for no good reason too. It happens.
> 
> (SORRY ABOUT THE YELLING BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT STUFF :-)
> 
> Dave
> 
> Quoting Steve Kramer <skramer at mac.com>:
> 
> > I did have the alternator replaced last year but not the 
> voltage regulator.
> > What do you use to clean the battery posts - ground locations.
> >
> > Dumb question -  Also could the battery short out if the 
> posts touch 
> > the metal on the rear bench.
> >
> > Steve Kramer
> > 1990 v8
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz at kla-tencor.com>
> > To: <v8 at audifans.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 12:59 PM
> > Subject: RE: [V8] the dreaded blue wire debacle
> >
> >
> > ... by any chance has this crack mechanic pulled the 
> regulator module 
> > off the alternator to see if the brushes are getting to the end of 
> > their life?  To be honest I've forgotten the details of the journey 
> > that got us to this point, but I remember a similar chain 
> in my younger days ...
> > I think it was on the old '78 Fox ... I went up and down 
> the charging 
> > system ... and all it took was getting the alternator 
> rebuilt!  Think 
> > about it ... most all of the other bits do not tend to wear or get 
> > moved about ...
> >
> > Other items that can lead to charging system issues are the ground 
> > braid from the engine block to the frame, and on some 
> models there are 
> > poorly crimped high current cables that can develop high resistance 
> > ... but I don't think this applies to the V8 ... and even if it did 
> > would not likely result in the ALT light coming on ...
> >
> > Steve B
> > San Jose, CA (USA)
> > >
> > > 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.
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> 
> 
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> Have an Audi V8 question?  Check the Audifans Knowledgebase!
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> Have a V8 answer? ... Please help others by adding to the KB 
> ... all contributions welcome!
>