Re: Cold engine or faulty temp gauge?

[jallred@rtimeinc.com (John Allred)]

At 17:45 5/6/96, roner@novagate.com wrote:
>Mike wrote:
>>
>> <dead temp gauge problem>
>>
>> So:
>>
>> 1.  Anyone ever have thisproblem?
>> 2.  What's it cost to fix?
>>
>> And BTW, thanks to everyone for your previous answers!
>>
>> Mike
>
>
>
>A mechanic told me that it's the sensor and that Audi wants about $100
>for a new one, so I'm living with it for the time being.  I don't know
>if there may be another source for them or not.

On my 1990 Coupe Q with the same problem, my dealer called the faulty
component a "multi-function switch", and it did cost around $100 to fix.
After the repair, my cruise control magically started working, so, in my
case, it does look like they fixed some kind of multiplexing device, and
not the temperature sensor.

As to why Audi decided to multiplex the signal from the coolant temperature
gauge, perhaps they wanted to reduce the number of wires in the car, and
have created some sort of crude data bus.  Has anyone heard of the
"multi-function switch" before?  My Bently manual hasn't ...

John

----
John Allred (jallred@rtimeinc.com)
RTime Inc, Seattle, WA