Hello,

I just picked up my new S4 this weekend. It's a 2001 S4 with only 40K on the odometer. I had to drive back through the mountains during a big storm, and have to say the all wheel drive system performed to perfection. Passing most 4X4's with ease.

Anyway, so far I'm loving the car. Thanks to everyone here who helped me with what to look for. I do have a couple of questions. First, I have an air bag warning on the display. The person who sold me the car told me that it is the passenger side pillar that is causing the problem and some one told him that it would only be $100 to fix. Any thoughts on that?

Also, the wiper fluid container must have a leak. I filled it once and in a day it's empty. Are these very difficult to replace?

Finally, the seller has an MTM ecu for the car. He said he installed it but removed it after a week...too fast for him. What would be reasonable price for something like that.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

I'm a little confused about the ecu question, but if you're looking for a reasonable price to buy it for, I've seen used stage 1 chips go for around $300.

As for the wiper fluid container, you can check yourself to see if it has a leak. To do that, you need to jack the front driver's side wheel up so you can remove the wheel as well as the wheel liner. There will be two 10 mm bolts to unscrew. Then remove the bolt on the top of the container and drop it out, make sure you have a towel or two ready. After you get it out, just fill it with water, and see if/where it leaks out. I'm not sure how much a replacement is, but it can't be too expensive.

And for the airbag question, I heard the seatbelts in our cars use airbags and not springs to keep tension. I'm not sure how this works, but to fix this is $106 not including labor, but someone should check me on this because I might be wrong.

Best of luck and congrats on purchasing a great car !!

 

great find!! pics? ya def put a chip ( in the ecu) in it. mtm. or GIAC is another great one. I have it and its amazing. APR, revo, etc ... not bout the other stuff. any other near future mods??

 

Sorry for the confusion on the ECU. He told me he had a complete ECU with the chip...not sure what that means. It has 3" cat back and MTM springs on it. I'm not sure what mods are in my future, but I know the first things will be a VAG and Manual. I'll get some pics posted after she's bathed...lots of snow and mud this weekend.

I did figure out how to get the wiper fluid bottle out, but threw my back out, so it'll have to wait until next weekend. I'll keep checking on the air bag thing.

Thanks!

 

It means that the ecu itself had a performance chip in it, so he must have taken out the chip then? sorry to hear about the back but lookin forward to the pics

 

It sounds to me like he has a totally seperate ECU that is chipped. I would think that is aside from the stock ECU already in your car. I've only been speaking english for a short while (my whole life) but that's what it sounds like to me. You could swap out ECUs in a few minutes. It's really easy. I'd get the extra one from him if you can. If he's giving it to you free that could save you $600 if you decide to get a chip yourself.

I've got the same problem with my windshield washer resevour leaking. I'll have to yank it outa there one of these days. BTW don't trust the stock jack for much more than changing a tire in a pinch. They have a habbit of kicking out.