The Black Pearl

Horn mod didnt happen today as I used up all the daylight with a long lunch and faffing about over the radiator skew issue* and then an oil change** which has revealed a dipstick/tube mismatch.

*This was down to a badly installed top mounting rubber being 90° out and not clipped into the rad frame. All is now well, a fresh air guide (which works quite hard as it is in tension) brought it all into line.

**PO helpfully supplied a brand new suffix G dipstick, but being a replacement has a "bead" on the cable very close to the end, which prevents it going down the metal tube, so its not compatible anyway.
Furthermore, the handle is the wrong type to clip/plug into the top of the tube and so doesnt even seal properly, it also fouls the flap and has gouged the aircon gas label on the back...

The sump had about 4 litres in it and the oil looked old.

Filler tube off, filter off, clean up, primed the new oil filter and then put a total of 3.3 litres in so at least that is correct.

Suggestions for which dipstick this AUA should have that will correctly clip onto the tube please!

I will happily swap this new unused suffix G dipstick for one that will work with this tube (suffix P?)
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Now this is interesting...
So that is the correct handle/clip to work with this tube, but the engine is an AUA.

Does it mean that this car is changeover example?
 
It could also be that a prevoius owner broke the old tube top end and by mistake bought a never style?
They are available by Audi still, I bought one last year.
 
That is also possible. AUA were supposed to be pre 2002 from what I have read but this is a 52 plate not 02, not that it means much what with delivery lead times etc.
I think that a cycle brake cable poked down the tube to work out the correct dipstick length is required before spending money on the wrong dipstick.

Would it matter if I ran an AUA with the later BBY parts? Its fundamentally the same engine or am I missing something?
 
We have an AUA registered Jan 2004, so I don’t think the reg dates mean anything. I believe BBY was introduced late 2002 build date.
Ian
 
Now this is interesting...
So that is the correct handle/clip to work with this tube, but the engine is an AUA.

Does it mean that this car is changeover example?
I wish you had asked me when you came over, I have a few of these you could have had to save you a few pennies, as I know you have bought loads bits already.
 
We have an AUA registered Jan 2004, so I don’t think the reg dates mean anything. I believe BBY was introduced late 2002 build date.
Ian
Precisely my point. There is always a overlap when a spec change is introduced and its never a clean break like the parts catalogues suggest.
It would make more sense to me to go with the later type dipstick as the suffix G is obsolete.
Equally, I could make a custom end for the old dipstick and change the tube top but its more time, effort, money to go that route.
 
I am slightly concerned that the car looks too high at the back, but according to ZF Sachs the 996940 are correct for non-sports springs with OSS.
https://aftermarket.zf.com/go/en/sa...ID=4382&vehicleIDs=13360&assemblyGroupIDs=188
They were very cheap (£48 the pair, delivered!) and easy to fit though, so I might swap to sport to level the car up (but then It will need new spring seats) or change the front springs to standard and give a bit more compliance on our dreadful roads.
 
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Returning to the dipstick, going by this post the correct dipstick for this AUA is the suffix R, which would fit the tube funnel correctly.

Typically, its the expensive one...
 
I pulled the trigger on a new suffix R stick with the late type black end. Outrageous price but cheaper than a clogged kat or a siezed engine.
 
New suff R dipstic arrived, genuine VW. It's made from what appears to be glass fibre rod, not a steel bowden cable like the earlier type.
For reference (and in the event of future failure)
Lengths from end of handle, high mark 610mm, low 620mm, bead at 365
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Yes, it has the "TOP" V- guide on the handle. I will fit this later and see if the level is correct, I expect it to be at the full mark with the 3.3 litres I put in (including pre-filling the filter)
 
We now have a fully functioning fuel flap thanks to this little spring, kindly sent to me by Ami.
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Also, a huge box arrived from oemvwshop.com with the new (diesel) undertray inside!
I'd post a pic but due to the current Google/chrome/android update issues I can't resize any images because half my phone apps keep crashing...
 
New dipstick is correct :)
Horn mod went well (I put an M6 rivnut in the upper crash beam) The one on the left is very tight, it has to be this hand and orientation but fits the space, I drilled out the stud hole to 8mm.
It now sounds German.
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Bumper back on, fog lights work best when plugged in (someone before me hadn't bothered!)
Ami kindly swapped the un-needed rad pack and frame for a good offside headlamp, so that's all sorted now.

Gearbox oil change next, I presume these two plugs in the nearside diff casing are the drain and fill? Can't see any others.
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Ian:
I will send you a picture via whatsapp shortly, the location of the gerabox, drain/Refill shortly, I got from a member here not sure its the same on 1.4 petrol though, but a good guide.
 
New dipstick is correct :)
Horn mod went well (I put an M6 rivnut in the upper crash beam) The one on the left is very tight, it has to be this hand and orientation but fits the space, I drilled out the stud hole to 8mm.
It now sounds German.
View attachment 78153
Bumper back on, fog lights work best when plugged in (someone before me hadn't bothered!)
Ami kindly swapped the un-needed rad pack and frame for a good offside headlamp, so that's all sorted now.

Gearbox oil change next, I presume these two plugs in the nearside diff casing are the drain and fill? Can't see any others.
View attachment 78154
Evening,

Very nice work indeed. I should be following suit next week once I have the bumper off. I’ve had the twin tone horns for so so long and thought I’d never get them on.

I’ve seen a few variations of how these can be fitted but like yours and will copy what you have done. Thanks for sharing.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
Like the twin horns. Only thing is not an ideal location for the second horn if you have a diesel as that would be too close to the intercooler. Easier placing both horns on the same mounting point, one up and the other down.
 
Like the twin horns. Only thing is not an ideal location for the second horn if you have a diesel as that would be too close to the intercooler. Easier placing both horns on the same mounting point, one up and the other down.
Great timely advice as always Graham. Yes OEM is an AMF so will take heed sir.

Kind regards,

Tom
 
For once, I am lucky in that there was some free space! I couldn't get both horns crammed in the original location, the Klaxon/Mixo are quite a bit bulkier than the Hella beeper.
The bottom of the FCU gearbox:
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