Disabling Audi 5K auto check buzzer

[Bill Hunter <bill@nichedesign.com>]

Obviously many people (including me) have had trouble with the Auto
Check system on the 5K. My 100 CD (same car as the 5K) in Australia for
example gives the following spurious warnings:

1. Pad wear light comes on (nothing wrong with the pads)
2. Hydraulics light comes on and buzzer (I already know about the power
steering fluid leak).
3. Oil pressure light and buzzer comes on above 3000 RPM.

This auto check system is like the robot in Lost in Space (DANGER DANGER
Will Robinson). Check the owners guide for most of these things and it
says not to drive on (or even idle).

Fair enough, if however like me problems 2 & 3 particularly annoy you,
and you have thoroughly checked your engine and know there is nothing
wrong with the oil pressure (yes you have already replaced the 2nd stage
oil sender switch several times, mechanically checked the oil pressure,
etc), you can get rid of that pesky buzzer that comes on and off all the
time over 3000 RPM. 

Simply pull out the centre console, and access the brain, which is a
small metal box just under the radio on my car (1988 100 CD). Pull off
the muti wire connector to the front of the brain, and remove it from
the console (2 screws). Prise off the plastic end cap at the rear of the
brain, and pull out the PCB. You will see a large round can on one
corner of the board (which would normally be adjacent to a punched slot
on the brain's metal enclosure). This is the piezo buzzer. Either
de-solder or snip the 2 fine copper wires connecting the buzzer to the
PCB. Re-install the PCB and brain. No more pesky buzzer.

You will of course still have the lights going off on your auto check
system, but this is not so annoying and it would be a good idea to still
have these anyway in case the auto check system is actually correct.

Bill Hunter,
1988 100 CD
1994 Golf VR6
1997 Transporter LWB 2.5