Mike's 200 20v avant

[AudiSport4000]

Finally, after owning Audi's since 1999 I have my very first typ44. Not sure how I went this long without owning a large chassis older Audi, but this will be a nice start.

This particular car was owned by a fellow enthusiast in Georgia who happened to take a liking to my B5 A4 that I've been attempting to unload. We struck a deal, met between GA and IN, and the rest is history.

I actually am unsure if I've ever driven a true 200 20v, but who knows. The 5hr drive home was so excellent. The car is old but has been pretty well kept. Some highlights and questions/wants are below.

Lago Blue
Gray comfort interior
TONS of service records. The original owner was apparently quite anal as the car was in and out of the dealership for everything!
178k miles (odometer not working)
Avus wheels with brand new tires
Euro headlights

As I noted the drive back was awesome but there are lots of things to keep me busy in terms of troubleshooting and fixing.

1. The fuel gauge is my primary concern. After a fillup the autocheck gives me the low fuel warning for a few miles then it goes away. The gauge itself isnt accurate. It will read full or mostly full. I ended up doing a blind fillup within 3 hours. Ideas here?
2. Water temp gauge has a mind of its own. Sometimes it works, other times it just reads cold. MFTS?
3. Pretty much all interior instrumentation lighting (radio, switches too) dont work. I was told that the fuse would blow. Common area to look for wiring issues here?
4. I can feel some feedback through the steering wheel over bumps. Almost feels like something is loose behind the wheel itself. With airbag cars how does the steering wheel come off?
5. Braking experience is odd. Feels like air in the system. Nice amount of shaking from braking at high speeds. UFO's seem damn pricey but they seem to work well. Worth it to keep?
6. Odometer doesnt work. This isnt a huge deal but I'd like a working one. Any 200 speedo will work?

I'm sure there will be more questions. With Carlisle coming up it may be a good opportunity to get some parts. If anyone has a few big ticket items listed below lemme know!!

- V8 tail set
- UrS4 front seats in Platinum, or I would consider gray 200 sport seats
- Interior sunroof panel (the small flap on mine is missing all the fabric)
- Instrument cluster
- Drivers side door switch combo (some of the lights are out, would be nice to replace)
- Trunk shocks

This is the only photo I have now. I'll get more once I get the car titled, etc.

[Dan McBoost]

love it. good luck with everything!

[Mystified]

Congrats Mikey!

MFTS coukd be culprit for the temp issue. They are cheap & fairly easy to replace.

I'll throw you those IC's!

The little bulbs are blown in the door switches etc. (minus the radio- does that work btw, but just doesn't light up?) Those little bulbs can be replaced gingerly! Great project!

Fuel guage...could be the float or an issue @ solder on IC getting flaky.

The UFO's are nice but most upgrade the brakes to G60's or others. Are UFO's still available? The shudder prolly is the rotors.

Get a set of Bentleys...but Quattroworld was the b#mb back in the day...go there!

Enjoy!

[AudiSport4000]

Crap, I forgot to add. The car has a TAP chip (a mild one from what I'm told) and the car came with the 3 Bentley set.

I am beyond excited for this thing!!!!

[dustin4kq]

Ive owned quite a few type 44 avants and love them! Tons of rooms and they don't look like any thing else on the road. You don't find many turbo wagons that are awd and manual trans. My mom had a forester with a manual trans and the 2.5 turbo that was pretty fun. Plus you can sleep in them on road trips or camp/weekend trips.

[dustin4kq]

I think the b5s4 brakes bolt up pretty easily to the ufo strut housing, maybe check that?
I ran a 20v cluster in a 20v car without any issue. The redline is different though, biggest thing I remember.

[loxxrider]

The odometer is most likely just a broken odometer gear. They can be had on eBay. It's the same as some Mercedes gears. My temp gauge does the same thing in warm weather. I was going to try the mfts next. Feedback thru steering wheel could be the steering damper being blown.

[AudiSport4000]

Spent a bit of time on the car this evening.

- Got all the wipers replaced (new ones were included from the PO) and fixed the front washer line. I just need to adjust the nozzles a bit. The wiper motor itself sounds kinda wonky. Replace or is this thing able to be lubed up?

- Got the XM antenna wire installed and everything tucked away nicely.

- Looked into why the license plate lights werent working. The PO said he pulled the fuse for the cluster lights, which I found out to be the same fuse as the license plate lights. I found the fuse puller in the glovebox with a 10amp fuse but the fusebox calls for a 5amp. I crossed my fingers and tossed a 5amp fuse in, and wouldnt ya know it, almost all the interior lights came to life! All the cluster lights seem to work great. The switches need the bulbs replaced, but the radio lights work.

- Lastly I replaced a few other bulbs in the tail section.

One question. Aside from filing down a regular dizzy rotor, where would you guys find the proper 10mm one? Records indicate the distributor was replaced early on, then the rotor during service much later, so it shouldnt be glued on, correct? Just thinking for future service.

I'll call tonight a win. Going to clean the car up soon and get some photos up. I'll make a formal WTB thread in the proper section . I love this car! So comfy and it scoots.

[AudiSport4000]

Some parts enroute. Hatch struts, dizzy rotor, air filter, and a new oil pan drain plug.

Was hoping to take the 4kq to Carlisle but damn, the 200 is so damn comfy. I may have to take this thing.

Question. Whats the proper way to remove the steering wheel on this thing? Never messed with an airbag car before.

[Grillage]

Do you need a Bentley Set?

Edit- never mind! I see you have one

[88a5tq]

Look s like you feel the same way about these cars as I do

NEVER turn the ignition on while airbag is unplugged! First there's a red (yellow) plug either on the DS or PS of the center console where the skirts come off with a few Philips head screws. Umplug that and start taking steering wheel apart. You'll need to take narrow/long trim piece off under cluster iirc. It's not at all difficult but the bentley should go into detail. There's also a hidden "hose-clamp like collar that holds the stalk controls steady on the steering collumn. Can unscrew at an angle through a hole on bottom side of collumn trim. Be. CAREFUL. with the plugs and parts pertaining to the bag.

[loxxrider]

Also, unhook the battery for at least 30 minutes to allow the capacitors to drain before you unplug the bag.

[AudiSport4000]

Thanks guys

I have a few spare clusters enroute. I really just need the fuel gauge fixed and upper timing cover put on before the trip to Carlisle. Looks like the PS pump needs moved to get the cover on/off?

This car has been so nice. The 4kq is jealous as it sits in the garage

[Aktapod]

Nice Avant! And the 4000 looks sweet, too! I'm stoked to see this at Carlisle. Seems there'll be quite a few 20v's out this year.

For the timing cover, I think you'll need the PS belt off, and then just lift the pump a bit so the pulley clears the cover. You'll also need to move the V-shaped deflection bracket out of the way, since it sits in front of the cover (provided you still have it). It's just held on by two 17mm bolts on the snub mount bracket.

[AudiSport4000]

Yeah, there are apparently a few last minute things I'd like to get done (new belts, voltage regulator) so parts will be getting here dangerously close to next week.

I asked on the UrS forum on QW, but what do you guys do for replacement hose in terms of the turbo coolant return line (under the intake manifold)? I cannot find the factory hose anywhere.

[DE80q]

I used some 3/8" silicone hose for my 20vt. I know it will fit the factory metal part, only because I was sent one for a 20vt on accident.

I'm quite jealous of you on this car Mike...

[AudiSport4000]

Thanks! The car kinda fell into my lap. The A4 was "sold" on ebay but the buyer stated his account got hacked, so it really wasnt sold. The rest is history at that point since Casey took interest in it and I really wanted a wagon and his happened to be a 20v one. Interestingly the car was once owned by a stand up AW/QW member of Mr.Fru-t-pants. Some will remember his Urq project.

Hoping to get a few things done on the 200 this weekend and have a great drive out east. I'll have lots of questions, of course, but had a great time ripping the 20v block out of Frank's 200 wagon a month ago in Canada. That experience taught me a lot actually.

[AudiSport4000]

Hatch struts done, still more to do (belts, voltage regulator, cluster repair).

What size vac hose does this thing use? The hose from the bypass valve to the back of the IM needs replaced (its been spliced with smaller hose). Wouldnt mind finding some of this stuff in bulk.

[Midnight]

I really like these cars in lago. It should have 4mm (5/32in) vac hose. I bought half a roll from a local parts store and replaced all the vac hoses at once.

[Mystified]

Mikey, is this a coolant hose you need? It is NLA, and I happen to have a mint used one.

World Impex use to be able to get them I do not know any longer. Last check they sold thru there for $137.

PN# 447-121-101-S Reg. OEM Audi retail was: $160 new

Let me know....I told you I have some things! Do you need wood trim?

And Mr. Fruit-T Pants was the b*mb back in Audiworld/Quattroworld times!

[AudiSport4000]

Dang Barbie. Looks like I gotta hit you up in terms of more parts

I dont think I need any wood trim at the moment as whats in the car is in pretty solid shape.

[AudiSport4000]

Got some parts for the car but really didnt get much done this weekend. I usually end up having something really shitty happen before a trip, so I think I'll be a bit careful. I have Wednesday off, so we'll see if I can get a few other things taken care of.

Oil change done
Found climate control is stuck on "auto" mode, no response from turning it off or other modes (temp and outside air temp buttons work).
I got some spare clusters from Barbie (thank you!) and took my time learning how to get the old one out. What a cluster fuck with leaving the steering wheel in place. Got it out and figured out how things come apart. I tossed in the spare 20v cluster but something internally is pretty wrong, as it started to smoke and blew the cluster fuse. Back to the drawing board there. Got it all put back together and working as it had been.

The only thing I could see myself doing Wednesday before the trip are belts and a voltage regulator. Looks like the Bentley walks through the belts pretty easily. These can be done without any bumper removal, correct? Any tips that are listed in the bible?

[loxxrider]

My number one tip for replacing belts is to get new tensioner gear thingies. Just get under there and loosen them up. It's pretty easy for the alt and ac compressor at least.

[AudiSport4000]

My number one tip for replacing belts is to get new tensioner gear thingies. Just get under there and loosen them up. It's pretty easy for the alt and ac compressor at least.

I did get one of those when I got new belts, so thats good.

[88a5tq]

Lol also be certain HOW those work too! Not knowimg is the best way to shred them. I did my first time through hah