"up shift" indicator out on 85' 4ksq

[mallick@orion.crd.ge.com (John Mallick)]

You wrote...

>Three months ago, i purchased a 4ksq with 129K miles, the "up shift" 
>indicator just recently went out, but was working. The original owner 
>thought i may have problems with the engine now, since that indicator is 
>part of a govenor for the fuel injection and or engine...according to him.
>I thought it may just be the bulb?, Engine's running fine.........I'm new 
>to Audis, but learning quick; any help would be appreicated

My upshift indicator went out on the '84 4000q and everyone said
"great, now that nuisance is gone".  It was out for a couple of months
before I went troubleshooting.  It turns out that the reason it went
out was that the vacuum advance on my distributor was leaking!  After
I replaced the vacuum advance, it came back into normal operation.
Just a word of advice to check everything.

By the way, the car ran OK when the advance was leaking...but after I
replaced it, I did notice more low end torque.  So...get yourself a
vacuum hose and start sucking on those switches and diaphragms to
check 'em.  On my car, the vacuum line controlling the advance also
controlled the little switch for the upshift light.

Good luck!

John Mallick
'84 4000q
'91 200tq