[V8] Electrical Issues, related? - Problems fixed but not related

Tue Nov 28 14:31:03 EST 2006

Does the smaller Wal-Mart battery have a vent hose?  I've heard warnings 
over the years and do respect them.    I buy Interstate batteries from 
distributor at about half retail.

Hit a curb hard with the A6 and blew both left tires.  An ex-Audi, now VW 
mech once mounted a chair lift and the power chair in the Avant.  He did 
great, even a rectifier w/ dash control, to charge the chair batteries when 
traveling, and a safety belt.    He agreed to check the alignment and rims, 
off hours.  With the car up, he advised brake pads, struts, spark plugs and 
sent me to an import parts wholesaler.  Total, including his labor, about 
half of the Audi parts alone.

Still dream of getting the V8 up to prime and w/ good headlights.  It can be 
idle for 3 mos and start in an instant.  A hyd oil stain is on the garage 
floor.

Ed Dekker
90V8, titanium, 125k, all stock
97 A6 Avant, pearl, 100k

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Griffith" <jsgriffith3rd at yahoo.com>
To: "Tony and Lillie" <tonyandlillie1 at earthlink.net>
Cc: "Audi List" <v8 at audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: [V8] Electrical Issues,related? - Problems fixed but not 
related

I don't believe any of the symptoms were related.

  The turn signals just started working again on day, but I have since 
replaced the steering column switches and all is still well.

   I replaced the voltage regulator and the pulsating in the lights has gone 
away.

  While researching the radio problems I noticed that the brown ground wire 
that is suppose to be in the plug connected to the back of the radio had 
been removed and taped up.  The radio had been working perfectly before, but 
I decided to put it back in the correct place, but still no luck, then I 
touched it to the back of the radio case and it began to work, so I just 
attached to the radio case.  This seams to work but my reception is not as 
good as it use to be so at some point I will try to figure out that issue, 
but for now its O.K.

  Yesterday I found a battery at Wal-mart, its much smaller but it comes 
with a 2-year replacement warranty so for $52 I thought I give it a try. 
The car turns over much quicker now.

  Thanks for all the help

  Joe

Tony and Lillie <tonyandlillie1 at earthlink.net> wrote:          Did you ever 
get a chance to look at this?

  Tony Hoffman
    ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe Griffith
  To: Tony and Lillie
  Cc: Audi List
  Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 5:54 AM
  Subject: Re: [V8] Electrical Issues, related?

  I checked for water around the passenger side foot well and it was dry, 
and there were no blown fuses.  While I had the carpet out I checked the 
grounds in the foot well area and all were good, as was the ground at the 
battery.

  I did notice a wet carpet on the driver side under the accelerator pedal 
not long ago but figured it can from my shoe and never investigated further. 
Is there a ground somewhere around the trans tunnel that might be the 
culprit, and if so is it easily accessible?

  I checked my Repair Manual and it lists ground points but gives very 
general description of location, and what does "welded, in dashboard 
harness" mean?  Is this harness grounded somewhere else, say in the 
passenger foot well?

  Thanks for the input

  Joe

Tony and Lillie <tonyandlillie1 at earthlink.net> wrote:   I'd side with Ingo, 
check for water around the passenger side area. Pull the
carpet out first and see if the foam on the back is wet. Also, check around
the fuse box for water. The problems sound related, but only in that region.
There really isn't any other connection. Are there any blown fuses, BTW?

Tony Hoffman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Griffith"
To: "Audi List"
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 12:13 PM
Subject: [V8] Electrical Issues, related?

I'm wondering if anyone out there knows if some electrical issues I'm having
with my 91 V8 may be related.

Some background, the car sat from March till about 3 weeks ago with a
badly leaking hydraulic hose and rack. During that time the battery drained
to nothing. I jumped it occasionally when I need top move the car around my
driveway, but it never held a charge for very long, and the dash lights
would slightly pulsate brighter, dim while the car ran.

So while I fixed the leaks I put the battery on a slow 2amp trickle charge
for about 10 hours.

The car started and ran fine without leaks but the dash lights continued
very slightly to pulsate (barely noticeable). I drove the car that night
and the headlights also pulsated.

So I figured I'd order voltage regulator and put it in when it gets here.

I drove the car about an hour to work the other morning with the lights on
and the radio playing without incident, but when I got in to come home the
radio wouldn't work. The faceplate would light up with the dash lights, but
when I turned the knob it would go black.

I put a Gamma radio from a 91 200, but it doesn't even light up.

I drove the car the next day and nothing had changed, but the third day
the turn signals stopped working.

Any thoughts on if these cars have a way of isolating unnecessary
electrical devices?

Thanks for you time

Joe

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