bye-bye sucky lights

[Henry Harper <hah@srv.net>]

Got the H4/H3s installed this weekend. Biggest problem was remembering that I 
had switched the connectors around to run the 9007s, so what looked like the 
low-beam wire coming out was of course the ground, not going to get the relay 
turned on that way... Auto-check also disabled, thanks Igor. And Peter and 
let's not forget Philippe.

I used some more of my favorite no-strip splicers to tap into the front running 
lights, left all the sockets intact but taped over so in theory reversion to 
DOT lights is possible. One 30A relay for lows, one for highs. I might have the 
lights aimed a bit high, they seem to be pointed somewhat higher than the ones 
on my GTI, but no complaints from other drivers so far. The main thing I notice 
is how much the sharp cutoff bounces up and down.

This means I need some new Bilsteins, what's a good place for them? I called 
Bilstein of America, they first tried to tell me the part numbers I got off the 
German web site were invalid, then said since they came from the German site 
they must be right. Sport numbers, BTW, are P36-0370 front, B46-2065 rear, 
listed on the BofD web site for 200 quattro (but not distinctly the 3B 200q). I 
think I saw something about the 20vt suspension being different in the back, 
the front is like the V8 according to R&T article. Perhaps this would be a good 
question for the '91 200q list, eh Linus?

Also snipped my head unit power from the seat heater switch (lights therein 
refused to come back on, though they have power - could both of them break at 
the same time while I was hooking up the stereo?) and moved it to the window 
power, so I can now listen to the radio after taking out the key until I open 
the door. Then the faceplate does its you-can't-see-me dance. Snipped the 
head's local ground and ran a wire back to the same chassis ground I'm using 
for the amp (by the left taillight). Result - even more alternator wine, maybe 
a bit of spark noise too. Got a ferrite core from the Shack, put it on amp 
power lead right by the amp, no change. Small capacitor swiped from work across 
the amp's power potential also made no difference.

There seem to be two distinct levels of whine, one occurs even with the head 
unit power off (or amp turn-on off, or amp inputs disconnected): it's softer 
and probably caused by a speaker wire picking up noise. The other, slightly 
louder, activates with any head unit function, not just antenna-related. That's 
the one which is bugging me, I could live with the quieter one. Might re-ground 
the head back where I had it. Maybe it's time to break out the special Kenwood 
1-800 number, too.

obligatory quattro content: it's finally snowing today, might have to get out 
the Hakkas if it sticks.

Henry Harper
http://www.srv.net/~hah
1991 200 quattro, 79k, Hakkas are here, euro lights and whiny stereo installed, 
just need some Bilsteins - where's that credit card, isn't it maxed yet?
1988 GTI 16v, 173k, ought to put on the Blizzaks and drop a sandbag in the 
back, taking off the airdam would give me chance to look for that exhaust leak