Hi All, I just bought a 2000 A4 1.8T and it came fresh with a couple of error codes I'd like to poke at.

I've looked around the forums a bit and found some good info regarding both of these error codes, but I'm getting some odd symptoms which don't fall into the solutions I've seen so far.

First off:
P0118 Engine Coolant Temp Sensor Hi: From what I've read, this is a relatively cheap and simple part to replace, but according to the other threads, the symptom will be a dancing temperature gauge. I'm not getting that. FWICT the temperature gauge behaves as it should. When the engine is cold, the gauge reads accordingly and will come up to a *normal* temperature as I would expect when as the car is driven. Any thoughts here?

Next: P0411 Secondary Air Injection System Incorrect Flow: The other threads indicate either a loose vacuum hose or a messed up bypass valve. I have an interesting symptom that may or may not be relavant. Every now and then when the car is idling (perhaps at a stoplight), the RPMs will dance back and forth a bit from say 600 RPM up to 1000 RPM *as if* the AC compressor was kicking on and the engine was compensating for it, but it seems kind of excessive. This entire thing will last for about 3 seconds wavering between 600 & 1000 RPM and will finally settle back to 800 RPM. This may or not be expected behavior, I dunno. I've also seen a blurb on http://tsb.govwebs.com/2000_audi_a4_...turbo_atw.html regarding P0411 explicitly, but I'm not gonna pay for the subscription until I know it's relavant. (I'm also not sure yet if mine's the AEB, ATW or the AWM variant. <sheepish grin>, where can I find this out?)

Last but not least, this isn't an error code, but the "Driver Information Center" display is corrupted with only about 30% of the rows in operation and about 90% of the columns. I've read that the entire instrument cluster needs to be replaced in order to just fix this one thing at a cost from the dealer of about $715 just for the part. FWICT the instrument cluster comes out relatively easily, but I've also seen comments about the cluster having something to do with the Immobilizer alarm. This troubles me. Thoughts on this?

I've just ordered my VAG-COM and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I'm pondering the purchase of the Bentley service manuals, I'm just not sure if I wanna throw the money that direction yet.

Thanks for everyone's time,

Ryan

 

Welcome

you off to a good start getting everything you going to need
for your Audi.
On the first code, most prob it is the Sensor but have a look at the
contacts at the plugs...
As the sensor can be bad internal and still work proper

The second code, is an Emission related code you will have to go over your
hoses and Bypass valve, just out of curiosity wat is the outside temp
of where you live ?

 

Hi Shaunp05, many thanks for your reply.

I'm in the upper left hand corner of South Carolina so it's pretty warm and excessively humid. It's currently about 89F but was up to about 102F late last week.

Ryan

 

Check the hoses around your secondary air pump. it sits below the airbox. Usually the hoses get brittle over time and crack, and not enough air gets pumped into the back of the head.

 

Thanks, mmart. I'll poke at that this evening after I leave the office.

 

No problem. I hate that damn secondary airpump. I had to relocate it to make room for my front mount intercooler pipe and I've had problems ever since.

 

Are you a Tiger, Ryan?

I'm class of '96.