so small emergency, where do these vents lead to? They're just to the right and left of the shift **** and seem to go down about a foot then back underneath the car.
I just dropped my 8mm socket down one.

 

They go down under the carpet and blow out under the front seats on to the feet of anyone in the back seat.

 

Ouch ... maybe attach a crapload of duct tape to the end of an untwisted wire hanger?

 

(before I begin my post, thank you to mtroxel, the 8mm socket was found. I was in severe panic mode there)

update #4

elapsed time: about 11 hours

thoughts: do you think they secure the heater core into the HVAC unit with just one bolt as a cruel joke? like at the factory they go, "lets just put it in with one bolt instead of two, we don't want it to be TOO hard to get out"

It's out! And I've rounded the corner and am headed back home! It's certainly a relief to have got it out and the new one in, but now I look at all the connections and I'm concerned I won't find homes for all of them. If I miss one little bolt or two, it might be okay because it'll be obvious if something is or isn't secure, but electrical connections can be missed.

Along those lines, when pulling the HVAC out I noticed a small sensor fell, but from where? Can anybody identify this and tell me where it goes back in? It seems to be in decent shape so I just need to know where it goes.




Anyway, since my update pic will essentially be the same as the last update pic (since that's how far I have it back together), here's the comparison pic:



Here's some pictures of the vent door as asked for. I can't really tell you what I was looking at but I did notice some arms to open and close the doors underneath. One was red and one was blue:

 

Congrats.

And thanks for the pics! Very helpful.

 

Those connection tubes seem to be a common failure point. I cringe whenever I pull my heater hoses off, which is not often.

Good progress there. I have no idea on your sensor. Is there a part# on it?

 

I didn't see a part # or any other writing in fact aside from that number. It fits into a cord in the bundle that has all the hook-ups for the radio and climate control. But I asked my friend and he says thats some radio for the sensor. He seems to think it's on the HVAC box which scares me as the HVAC box is already in and I've spent about an hour working into it's slot and bolting things back together. I really hope if it is, it's on the front side.

Ill check again for a part # when I get home tonight.

 

Any aftermarket stuff in the console? I've never seen an Audi sensor with a big "468" kind of number on it like that. I've seen parts that don't have an Audi part # on it, but only when it's part of a bigger assembly that has an Audi part # on it. I've never seen a sensor that doesn't ahve an Audi part #......

 

You didn't say what year...I don't think. This is the diagram of the HVAC box for 97>. This only shows 2 sensors. I know your picture isn't #15, I know that sensor. Any chance it's #9? Bentley calls it "Sender for outlet temperature, floor outlet - G192. Looks a lot like it, and you can still get to it with your current status.

 

That must be it, that's exactly the location it fell from when we were wrenching it out of there.
Troxel youre a lifesaver.


And it's a 99.

oh god but now i have no idea what to plug into it. oh well ill figure it out.