84 Audi 5000 Turbo - Fuel injectors

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

 >
>Date: Thu, 18 Mar 1999 08:36:52 -0500
>From: "Curry, Rene" <Rene@sineco.com>
>Subject: 84 Audi 5000 Turbo - Fuel injectors
>
>Hello all,
>My 84 Audi 5000 Turbo with 84,000 miles 

That's less than 6,000 miles a year to date - betcha the odometer is broken
or has been replaced . . .

>
>PS: I just joined this mailing list.  Wow this mailing list sure is
>active, hope I can keep up without having to quit.
> 
>PSS: The reason I joined this list is because this vehicle has more
>problems than any vehicle I have ever owned and I need all the help I
>can get.  This car is so bad that I made it my kid's high school car
>instead of my enthusiast (sp) vehicle. I personally do not see what is
>so great about this vehicle.  My last 68 Chevelle with aftermarket sway
>bars would kill this car in handling and performance. Maybe your
>Quattros are different, but front wheel drive does not cut it in the
>corners.  
>

Rene, bear with us here a few moments . . .

You have a 15 year old car which very likely was severely neglected for
many years - it isn't reasonable to say compared to X, this car is awful.
Audi 5000s have always been maintenance intensive vehicles, and when you
get a backlog of deferred maintenance, yes, the car quickly becomes awful.

Handling issues are addressed by putting on a decent set of tires (which
never hurts ANY car) and aligning the front end - but NOT at the local
"Tire Maven" store - find a GOOD alignment shop, take a copy of the specs
with you, and stand over the guy. (The absolute best alignment shop in
Daytona Beach didn't know camber was adjustable - until I showed him) -
you'll be absolutely astonished in the improvement in the car's road manners.

Performance - you didn't say if this car is automatic or five speed.
Further, the turbo system adds a whole 'nother layer of complexity to an
already complex car. Any turbo system has lots of plumbing and sensors and
switches, and when all this stuff doesn't work right, yes, the car is a
total DOG. If it is automatic transmission, that plus no boost will result
in getting beat by the local Schwinn and Yugo teams.

Once the turbo is working correctly (see Scott Mockery's pages for help
here), and once the tires and alignment are done, your child may have to
find another ride to school because you'll be driving the Audi. These cars
have never excelled in blinding straight line performance, or in
super-nimble handling (heck, it weighs over 3,000 pounds), but when they
work right, they are among the most satisfying cars you can drive or own.

There are fairly easy horsepower upgrades for turbo engines - if you have
automatic transmission, go easy, because these are fragile, but if you have
a 5 speed, your car can easily make 200 HP or more by changing a chip in
the ECU and adding a stronger spring in the wastegate. Remember that
everything MUST be RIGHT before you start this! Once you're done, the
difference is night and day.

You will ALWAYS lose a drag race to the 68 Chevelle with the 327 - but once
on the highway, and especially if the highway isn't dead flat and utterly
straight, you will leave Mr. Hotrod Chevvy far, far behind.

Audis take a little time. Be patient, the rewards are there.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman