Solved! Intake leak problem

[Steve Manning <stephenm@ix.netcom.com>]

First, thanks to everyone who responded last week to my problem with a
intake leak under boost in my '90 200tqw (especially Chris Miller, who put
together a list that made me think, and Bob Myers for helping get parts).

The problem was *not* the intercooler-to-throttlebody (Michelin man) hose,
but one of the turbo-to-intercooler hoses (Audi part #035-145-760; about
US$23).  There are three hoses connected together between the turbo outlet
and intercooler inlet - a fairly thick, fairly rigid hose first, then a
weird rigid plastic hose w/foam on the sides, then a very short, complex
fitting rubber bellows hose (the one that leaked on mine).  I've never
heard of anyone complaining about that hose going bad; it's not even
reinforced like the Michelin man hose.  I only found the leak after I
started taking out the intercooler (thinking that was the problem).  And of
course it is a dealer-only part (no Samco substitute here), and
suprisingly, no dealer has it in stock (I had to special order it).  Why?
Is mine the only one that has ever failed?  (A little whining here!)

Anyway, I can now tell by ear if a leak is pre- or post-intercooler...the
intercooler must have some sort of muffling action on the intake air
because the pre-intercooler leak has a very different sound than one
post-intercooler..........SLM



Steve Manning:  stephenm@ix.netcom.com
...Physical home: Metro D.C. area, USA
.....Virtual home:  http://www.stationwagon.com