New member intro, some problems

[Carlyle Fitzgerald <clfitz@inetone.net>]

Hello, everyone...

I'm new to the list, and wanted to introduce myself and, hopefully, solve a
problem or two I'm having with my Quattro.

My full name is Carlyle Fitzgerald, and I live in Oak Hill, West Virginia,
USA.  I just bought my first Quattro, a 1988 Q90.  I've had and Audi
before, an '81 5000, and currently have a couple VWs as well as the
Quattro.  I plan to eventually buy a Bentley manual, but I just graduated
from college and money is a bit tight, so that will have to wait a while,
unfortunately!

Now for the problem:  When I get RPMs up to about 3000, the oil pressure
warning alarm goes off.  I think I caused this problem, though, for reasons
that will soon be clear.  

When I bought the car, the radio was in "Safe" mode.  I decided to simply
replace it with an old Kenwood unit I had, and in the process discovered an
interesting fact, namely that the *antenna* wire carried 13.35 volts!  (I
*think* it's the antenna wire; it had been spliced, but it certainly looked
like every antenna wire I've ever seen.  I didn't trace it back to its
source, though, so it could possibly be something else, although I really
doubt it.  I've installed a few stereos in my time, and also spent some
time working in a two-way radio place.)  Learning this cost me the Kenwood,
and, I'm afraid, caused the oil pressure warning problem above.  I think
this because the oil pressure warning never went off before I burnt some
wires.  Also, the car now does not perform the systems check at start-up,
as it did before.  I can sometimes push the dash button and get the check,
but not always.  (Note--The car had had a replacement stereo at some time
in its past, as evidenced by splices in the speaker and power wires, and
replacement wiring to the rear speakers.)

What I've done:  Today, I removed the console and the package shelf under
the dash, in a search for damage.  Except for some burnt wires, which I
pulled apart and taped, everything looked fine.  I was unable to locate the
relay for the oil pressure warning system, though.  I put the old Audi
radio back in, thinking that perhaps it was necessary for the systems check
process to function properly, but to no avail.

OK, some questions, if I may:

1-  What can I do to alleviate this problem?  I really don't want to remove
the alarm buzzer, but I will if necesary to silence it until I can fix it.
It's very annoying, which of course is its function...

2-  Where is the relay for the oil pressure warning system, anyway?  Is
there a test procedure I can perform on the system?

3-  I've discovered that I can get the Audi radio into code-entry mode by
pushing two buttons at once (I forget which two), but I don't know what to
do after I enter a code to make it stick.  (No, I don't have the code; I'll
call the dealer Monday, but for now I'm just playing around.  Maybe I'll
get lucky and hit on the correct sequence!)  So, how *do* I make the code
"stick"?

4-  I almost hesitate to ask this one, because I'm nearly certain I know
the answer, but prudence dictates that I must:  Is the antenna wire
*supposed* to carry 13.35 volts?  If so, this is a totally new experience
for me!!

5-  On the back of the radio, there are two jacks, similar to the standard
RCA jacks one sees everywhere.  One is labeled "Front", the other "Rear".
I'm assuming these are for amplifiers, but I can't find any anywhere.
There is a loose wire behind the radio that looks as though it will go into
one of the jacks, but after my experience with the antenna wire, I'm
reluctant to try.  The wire has a ninety-degree plug on the end of it, with
a little ring around it.  Is this, indeed, the wire to an amplifier, or
something else entirely?

Folks, thanks for reading this far, and thanks in advance for any help!
I'm looking forward to being on the list, and hopefully contributing
something as my experience and knowledge grow.

Again, thanks!

Carlyle Fitzgerald