(Easy?) Questions for the knowledgeable...

[Shaun Folkerts <fiatlancia@earthlink.net>]

Hello q-listers. Decided to celebrate this perfect weather here in NY by
working outside on the Audi. Besides, the Giants and Jets are both
pathetic this year, and are playing each other today...

So, I installed the K&N, new front brake rotors, instrument bulbs, and
cleaned the TPS contacts and the oxygen sensor. I turned down the idle
speed via the front brass screw.  I could not install the RedLine I
purchased because I need a larger allen wrench. Next weekend.

I've tried the archives, FA, and Bentley for some of these, but
experienced listers should have no problems with these:

1. There is a thin metal tube sticking straight out toward the passenger
side near the back of the manifolds. It has a bulge at the end like it
is supposed to take a hose. There is nothing attached to it, and it
looks like it drips oil. Is this just an excess oil drain line of some
sort, or does it have another purpose?

2. There is a metal line running from behind the belt cover to the
turbo, containing coolant. Below the TPS on my car there is a hose that
does not look like the factory put it there, but rather like it was
spliced in to repair the line. It is leaking again, and is hard to get
to. I need to repair it. Was this an all metal line, or is that section
of hose supposed to be there?

3. I still have an erratic idle. It surges and subsides in a regular
cycle, perhaps 1-2 seconds each. Today I noticed there is a similar
cycling pattern emanating from the fuel distributor/air flow meter area.
Somewhat like a telephone ringing, but with clicks instead of tones
(actually slightly faster, but you get the general idea). Is this
supposed to happen? Is it related to the cyclic idle?

4. Has anyone ever cleaned the INSIDE of the clear plexiglas/acrylic
cover of the instrument cluster? How hard is it to take off and replace?

5. What are the "stages" of electronic-fan cooling? My rad fan comes on
when the temperature gauge reaches vertical, but always stays on the
same amount of time, not until the temperature decreases. It does not
stay on after shutting off the engine if the engine is warm, but it
comes on and will run until the battery is dead if you shut off the car
before reaching "operating temperature." For example, this morning I
started the car, drove it up onto ramps, and shut it off. The fan then
came on and would not turn off (I unplugged it). Later, when I took the
car for a drive, it came on when it needed to and shut off after its
usual period. Once I shut the car off again, the fan (or the after-run
pump, for that matter...) never came back on, even though the car was
hot. It almost sounds like the system is running backwards. Could the
wires be switched somewhere? (Wires attached to wrong sensor?) Which
sensors would you guess are bad? Any other suggestions?

6. I tried to run the codes without success. I read in an earlier post
that it was common for the "check engine" light bulb(s) to have been
removed. Does this apply to my early '89 as well?  I removed the
instrument cluster to check that, and found nothing there. I mean
nothing; if the "check engine" indicator is the long bar at the bottom
of the indicator lights, there is nothing there in my car to light up.
There is the sheet of plastic/mylar that covers all of the indicator
bulbs, but no bulb, socket, wiring, etc. for the bottom strip. Just a
rectangular shaped space. There are two holes through the circuit board
which line up to two "posts" that look like they accept small screws. Is
there an entire "check engine light assembly" that I am missing here?
How can I check the codes? Is it supposed to run through the upper "OK"
display on the '89-up 100/200-series cars?

7. What are the correct RedLine products to use for the transaxle? The
differential? I bought MT-90 and 75W90 for them, respectively. There was
also a product available called 75W90NS. They all seem very similar. Did
I get the right products? Any BTDT's?

Sorry for the length, I am desperate for some good answers. With that, I
hope you experts out there are up to the challenge, be it for one answer
or for all.
Shaun Folkerts
'89 200QW, probably more than halfway at this point