1999 Audi A4 1.6 as a first learning exercise?

Sleepy

As posted in the main motors forum recently, I've got a non-running A4 sitting in my driveway that I was thinking about just throwing up on adverts or donedeal and see if I could get a couple of hundred for it.

While watching the excellent 'Love the Beast' last night I got to thinking that it could be a good idea to take the chance to work on a car that I'm gone past caring much about that's not worth an awful lot to me i.e. if I make a balls of it, I've not trashed something worth more than a good night out with the missus.

To date, I've done nothing more than oil changes, filters, sparks etc. on a car but classics restoration is something I intend to get into when the kids are a bit older and I've got more time and, hopefully, a house with a garage.

So, the question is, am I out of my mind? Is this a decent car to learn about motors on? I'll be teaching myself via the internet, a Hanes manuals and anything else I can get my hands on.

From a quick look, my mechanic reckons the car needs a new coil pack and a good service. I know myself that the clutch will need replacing at some point soon - she's riding high at the moment but not yet totally shot. This was what made a garage repair a non-goer - no point spending a few hundred on a coil pack change and full service when a 5/600 euro job is only around the corner and I'd be doing well to get more than a grand for the car if I sold her on.

I'm guessing I can get breakers parts for this fairly easily as it's a pretty common car on Irish roads.

I'd need to pick up some tools but unless I buy complete rubbish that's a decent investment anyway. At present I've a hydraulic jack, jack stands, a wide assortment of spanners, screwdrivers, wrenches, a spark plug tool etc. I know I'll need to add a decent socket set to that but is there anything else I'd definitely need? Obviously a diagnostics unit would be handy - is there any way of just getting software and a cable and using a regular laptop for this?

So, in summary:

Am I completely mad?
Is the A4 a bad car to learn on?
Is this too big a job for an entry level amateur mechanic?
Can a regular laptop act as a diagnostics tool?
Any tips / recommendations for tools / evening classes near Clontarf etc?

Sleepy

Well, I've now learned that with software and leads from ebay, yes my laptop can act as a diagnostic tool.

El Guapo!

Am I completely mad?
No your not mad. If its something you'd be passionate about and would see through till the end, I say go for it.

Is the A4 a bad car to learn on?
Its the perfect car to learn on since you already have it, so you dont have to go buying a scrapper. Personally I hate Audis as they are a pain in the arse but you'll get plenty of experience on it.

Is this too big a job for an entry level amateur mechanic?
No not at all. Just take it one step at a time and dont be afraid to ask questions on something you dont know how to do. No point making a balls of something if you can get decent advice.

Can a regular laptop act as a diagnostics tool?
Yes. With the right programmes which can be expensive though.

Any tips / recommendations for tools / evening classes near Clontarf etc?
Get decent tools. Nothing too expensive but not Lidl or Aldi!!! Your tool collection will build over time.
The most important will be get a decent set of axle stands and NEVER EVER get under the car without it being properly supported.


Best of luck with it anyway. Keep us posted how you get on. Most of all, have fun. No point doing it if your not enjoying it. Oh and be prepared to bust a few knuckles along the way!!

Sleepy

Thanks for the encouragement!

Nice to hear my first job is on a car that's a pain in the arse!

Had my first baby-steps this evening, fixed the central locking on my 600 by replacing the door switch and a fuse... 5 minutes of stupidly easy work after an hour's researching on-line but it still felt good to do something on a car myself instead of paying someone else to do it

af_thefragile

I wanna do the same with my Ford Puma. Instead of scrapping it when it dies (which it is about to in a couple of years time), I plan on fixing things on it myself than taking it to the garage. I might have to take it to the garage for big things which would require expensive specialist tools and heavy pulleys, but all the stuff you can do with a set of screwdrivers, spanners and the lot, I plan to myself.

The first thing I fixed on my Puma was the Heater Control Valve and it felt so good when you got it done by yourself! You didn't have to take it to a garage or pay anyone to do it. Then I fixed the CD player in a way I can connect my ipod to it. Which felt like quite an achievement as well. So slowly I wanna move onto the big stuff. Break pads, clutch assembly, exhaust and stuff like that. It saves a fortune doing it yourself and you also learn how to fix cars! Not to mention the good feeling you get when you fix something yourself!!

Sleepy

Got a nice big socket set (the Halfords Pro set), the Haynes manual for the A4 and a few other bits and pieces in Halfrauds at the weekend. Next step to pick up some diagnostic software and cables from fleabay

Thinking the tools are gonna be expensive initially but they *should* pay themself off over time.

kingbrumak

Personally I would love to have this opportunity. I say go for it and don't be afraid. As previous posters have said invest in your tools first and foremost because there's nothing worse than being stuck for the right equipment.

I'm sure we're all looking forward to hearing how this progresses, keep us updated.

Sleepy

Thanks for the encouragement kingbrumak.

Ordered VAG diagnostic software and a cable from ebay this afternoon and got the bonnet up and my hands dirty tonight Even better, I think I've spotted a couple of the problems...

I took the plastic engine top cover off and had a look underneath at the spark plug / HT leads set-up etc. First possible problem: there was dirty oil all around the oil filler cap. Took it out and it was covered in black gunge. Possible that oil was coming out here? I cleaned it off with a rag and cleaned the filler cap, it went in much more securely after the gunge was wiped off.

Next I fired up the engine - horrible chugging sound and vibrations as it was clearly only firing on three cylinders. Took a look into the engine and could see a rhythmic sparking within. Killed the engine and moved around a few cables to get a better look. When I fired it up again I could see that the spark was coming from the other end of the HT lead running into the furthest back spark plug (it would be the hardest one to access wouldn't it?!)...

The Haynes manual for the car isn't the best as all the diagrams are for the 1.8 engine rather than the 1.6 which sits an angle where the spark plugs are off to the side rather than at the top so I'm a little unsure as to where to go next... is this an indicator that, as my mechanic thought from listening to the engine, a coil pack is in need of replacing in the HT lead? Or have I mis-understood this and the igntion coil and HT lead are all a single part? Or something else altogether?

Another quick question from looking about the car: I pulled a fuse at random to take a look at them and they look as if it should be very obvious if one of them is blown. Am I correct in thinking that the small wire visible through the plastic should be broken if the fuse has blown?

Thanks in advance and apologies if these questions are stupidly basic!

kingbrumak

Sleepy wrote: »

Another quick question from looking about the car: I pulled a fuse at random to take a look at them and they look as if it should be very obvious if one of them is blown. Am I correct in thinking that the small wire visible through the plastic should be broken if the fuse has blown?

Hi Sleepy, this is a picture of a broken fuse. If you look at it closely you'll see the broken connection in the wire that runs through the center. It's not always easy to see though so take your time when checking the fuses.

El Guapo!

Im not 100% on what you mean regarding the HT lead. Do you mean you can you see a spark without even taking the lead off??
If this is the case then you need to replace the HT leads. If they are worn and cracked then the spark may not be making it down to the spark plug. By its very nature, the spark will try to find the shortest route to earth and if the lead is cracked then the spark will escape through the crack and earth off the block thus not igniting the fuel and causing a misfire.
Its fairly easy to diagnose and an easy fix too, as long as you put the leads on in the right order.

Sleepy

kingbrumak - that's exactly as I suspected.

Dean09 - when the HT lead is connected, the spark seems to be coming from the end of the ht lead that's not connected to the spark plug. I'm not sure what the part it's connected to is called so it sounds like it could be a problem with the lead.

El Guapo!

Sleepy wrote: »

kingbrumak - that's exactly as I suspected.

Dean09 - when the HT lead is connected, the spark seems to be coming from the end of the ht lead that's not connected to the spark plug. I'm not sure what the part it's connected to is called so it sounds like it could be a problem with the lead.

The part its connected to will be the coil pack. Inspect the leads for any tears/cracks. This is most likely where the problem is. You'll pick up a set of 4 plug leads for cheap enough in the motor factors and you'll fit them in 5mins. Just make sure to put them back on in the order they came off.
Keep us posted.

Sleepy

There'll be no worries on keeping ye posted Dean, I'm guessing there's an awful lot more wrong on this motor than just a dodgy set of HT leads...

Great to get oily though

kingbrumak

Sleepy wrote: »

Great to get oily though

Stick with it, you'll get there. And it is great to get oily, my first experience of anything like this was about eight years ago when I decided to do a full suspension change on my pride and joy at the time (a '95 Opel Corsa :P). I borrowed a torque wrench and spring clamps and changed the dampers, springs and upgraded to polyurethane bushes (Bushes were a pain in the ****!), achieving a drop of 60mm all round. It was a great success and I haven't looked back since, so persevere with it.

El Guapo!

Sleepy wrote: »

There'll be no worries on keeping ye posted Dean, I'm guessing there's an awful lot more wrong on this motor than just a dodgy set of HT leads...

Great to get oily though

Ah sure the more thats wrong with it, the more of an excuse you have to get oily!