need some research help...14k connection isn't cooperating with Audi sites...

[makenzie71]

Well this guy from town comes up and says "I kinda scuffed up my A4 Quattro and I lost the key...you want it?"  Thus I now have a 1998 A4 Quattro.

However, without the key, it's a bit difficult.  I'm trying to get her to the house to tear down but the steering is locked and wheels are turned a bit.  That part is easy to defeat...I'm just going to drill ignition lock off the column.  this leaves me with powering everything else.  As far as hotwiring the car goes I've spotted the accessory position, run position, and the starter circuit but there's three more pins I can't determine what are and i haven't been able to figure out how to get the tranny unlocked...she doesn't roll very well in park.  If anyone can find an ignition schematic it would be a tremendous help.

I'm also trying to find out if the b5 A4's had the little transponder key thingies...because when I hit the starter earlier the motor kicked over like she wanted to fire up...

Oh and I can say this about the Audi...will be my next car.  Little less power than my Bimmer, and she's not really as good looking I don't think, but the finish quality is leagues beyond what BMW thought the 3-series deserved.

Againi, help is mondo appreciated!!!1!!!one!

[annguyen1981]

I have nothing useful for you, but what do you mean when he said, "I kinda scuffed it up a bit..."?

[spc]

That's what my buddy told VW when they were trying to repo.  In real life, he rolled it 3 times after shearing the transmission mounts and ended up in a river

[makenzie71]

hood's mangled, driver's side fender is crunched a bit, pretty much took out the headlight and did enough damage to the front bumper to call it toast.  Driver's tail light is also knocked out.  Last winter in an ice storm he lost it and ran into a guard rail...then the boob behind him hit the left rear corner.

Looking at it it'd cost me about $1200 to fix.

This family has more money than sense, though.  He told me "Well Juan (local body man) wants $5500 to fix it back to right and the car's only worth about $4000 right now (damaged...no shaZam!?) so I just decided to haul it off."

[sanjay]

Lemme see if I can find my repair manual when I get home.  The B5 is an excellent car!  2.8 or 1.8T?

Also, why not just get a key from the dealership?

When mine needed a new front bumper, fender, headlight, and hood, a good shop charged $3k.

[makenzie71]

Yeah Juan is crazy overpriced but he's the only other journeyman body man I've ever seen (grandfather was a journeyman). Juan's a body-workin' badass.

Dealership wants proof of registration to get a key...I'm not going up there and telling them some guy gave me an A4...that's like saying 'hey I stole this car, you guys mind hooking me up with a key?'

It's the 2.8 V6.  The engine bay is crazy tight...really makes me appreciate my I6.  I can at least reach everything under the hood...can't reach shaZam! in the Audi.

if you've got a manual that's fricken awesome!  When do you get home?

[makenzie71]

the rest of the car is immaculate.  Passenger's side is untouched...full black leather interior is beautiful...sunroof doesn't seem to work but I haven't played with it much...wheels are all nice and has like new tires on it...Bose stereo is 100% pimp...

[sanjay]

Ouch, that's painful.  Hurts to look at.  Mine is also a 2.8, and cramped as hell.  Although I looked at a new B7, with the 2.0T, and there's LOADS of room, since they shovel a 4.2 V8 in the same compartment. 

Anyway, manual - I have the crappy Chilton.  Was gonna get a Bentley, but I knew I'd be selling the car soon.  I can't scan anything at home, but I'll try to get it to you tomorrow evening.  Alternately, go check it out at a local auto parts store.  The diagram isn't too great, but it might help a bit.

Can the PO get the key for you?  Or provide a title?

[makenzie71]

the guy's movedlike four times in the four months since he wrecked the car...at this point he can't find his ass...

I don't so much need the wiring diagram as a quick explanation:

There's seven wires going to the key:

2x Larger guage solid red wires = power
Blue = starter
Yellow/Black stripe = Acc position
Black = acc position
Red/Black stripe = dunno
Small guage solid red = dunno

(I need those last two)

Also, does the B5 has the chip in the key?  The engine acted like she wanted to fire up after just a couple hits on the starter....

[sanjay]

the guy's movedlike four times in the four months since he wrecked the car...at this point he can't find his ass...

I don't so much need the wiring diagram as a quick explanation:

There's seven wires going to the key:

2x Larger guage solid red wires = power
Blue = starter
Yellow/Black stripe = Acc position
Black = acc position
Red/Black stripe = dunno
Small guage solid red = dunno

(I need those last two)

Also, does the B5 has the chip in the key?  The engine acted like she wanted to fire up after just a couple hits on the starter....

Let's see 
small red - central locking control module and radio
red/black - isn't connected to anything on my wiring diagrams

Here are the instructions for testing the switch:

Power is supplied through the two red wires (marked 30).  check for continuity between 30 and other terminals in different switch positions.  With switch off, no continuity.  With On, continuity at 75, 86s, 15.  With start, only at 50b. (Sorry for the crappy MS Paint of the switch diagram, but I can't find a scanner.  There's no missing info or colors, though.)



Almost positive there's no chip in the key. 

[makenzie71]

yeah I know there's no chip now...or I was pretty certain...the ebay blanks aren't chip keys so I just assumed.

I busted the cylinder apart, though...got too impatient.  You know you can't drill these bastards?  I mean with 20 minutes and a phillips head, flat head, and a pair of channel locks you can have the cylinder apart to the barrel apparatus.  Start with the flat head.  Just like 70's/80's cars.

However, I tried cranking her over and she kicked real hard once like she wanted to start and then nothing.  I sprayed a little B12 into the intake and tried again and now she doesn't turn over at all.  Irritating.  i didn't get a compression reading before she stopped turning all together.

How much do you think the 2.8 motor is worth?  Should i sell the motor and tranny as one assembly?  She has a 5spd tiptronic tranny.  I'm also trying to price how much the wheels are worth (16X8 5-spoke) and how much I can get for a gorgeous black leather (wood trim) interior.

...I wish I could just put this interior into my bimmer...the audi's fit and finish is sooooooooooo much better...

[sanjay]

Battery?  Was the engine damaged in the scuff-up?

I don't know how much the motor is worth - how many miles?  My (entire, not just engine) '96 2.8 with 150k miles is only worth 4-5k in good condition.  Also, the stock wheels are easy to find because lots of people go aftermarket.  That interior may be worth something, but you probably know more about moving this stuff around than I do.  My car is 100% stock.

The Audi fit and finish is superb.  A big step up from the E36.  If you compare the E90 and the B7, though, the gap is considerably smaller. 

[makenzie71]

120k on the motor. 210lbs across the board at WOT...look up what comp numbers are supposed to be.  I was quite happy with these but i don't know what the comp ratio is or anything.

The engine wasn't damaged...just jostled a bit.  I disconnected the battery before coming to work, though...if there is an immobilizer it'll reset and I'll see the exact same problem the next time I try to start it.

As far as the interiors go...the Audi's finish is better, it just looks better...but after 200k miles there isn't anything in my bimmer that's broken.  All the stuff fits up like new...all the compartment lids and such all work flawlessly.  There's a lot of little trim bits that are just broken in this audi...like the center console rear ashtray and speaker covers and such and te sunroof's broken...all after only 120k miles.  Makes it kind of a toss up between them.  I'd like Bimmer reliance and Audi look, please...haha...

f%$king stereo is pimp, though

[makenzie71]

sold...for $2k...wish i had the 3 months to really break her down, I could have made 2~3 times that...oh well.  It gets us into our house.