j99

Just wondering, any things (issues) you think I should know about or particularly helpful threads I should read? Very excited about the car. It is in good shape with all records, but could use a paint overspray and work done on the door panels (leather parts coming untucked). Eventually I know it will need a new head gasket, catalytic converter and maybe some other things. I am not a mechanic but am interested in at least being informed. BTW, it is a 4 door, black with leather upholstery, 5 speed manual transmission. Incredibly fun to drive.

Also, I see you can buy a shop manual online (in DVD format). I am not a mechanic, but can pick up the basics easily. Worth it to buy the manual just to be better educated?

CRAZY_RUSSIAN

congrats, welcome to the "club'
start with this: http://12v.org/

Lago Blue

Re: "any...particularly helpful threads I should read?" What a great idea for a thread.

You may become more comfortable learning to do your own work rather than paying for someone else to learn. I find there has been a generational change in staff at many garages since these cars were new; and that may cost you if you can't do your own work. Even if you don't have the facilities, the better read you are; the better off you'll be. (Warning, you may also become a mechanic; a mechanic of necessity!).

As for myself, one of the biggest revelations has been just how good, a near to stock car can be. It looks like a long list, but a satisfying one to be the beneficiary of.

There is an abundance of helpful material in the old posts here. The kinds of things I would point you towards (besides the Bentley) below, many of which would also be searchable (I.E use them as search terms):

Research (on & off car)
- clean, inspect, lubricate;
- do a survey of the entire car;
- read the little owners manual;
- survey the records and determine whats new; and what isn't;
- change all the fluids;
- draw up a long-term maintenance schedule (there used to be one at 12V.org);
- start a log-book to keep notes, make lists, track your fuel mileage and gather reference material;
- decode the trunk sticker to determine what model you have and what the car came with from the factory;
90CS Quattro vs. 90CS Quattro Sport - AudiWorld Forums
ScarGo02... What makes a CQ a Sport model? - AudiWorld Forums
- also do searches for engine related items on the sister forum here: 12v V6 Discussion

12v V6 Discussion - AudiWorld Forums

Besides 12V.org, see also 20v.org, as these early cars share much with B4s.
- Learn the TSBs for these cars;
- Use some time when you are not fighting fires to research and prep for both, the known Achilles's heels; and occasions of necessary repairs where you can use that opportunity to reduce costs, improve reliability; and increase performance.

Build / collect a small on-board spares kit to include but not limited to:
- Code-pull cable
- DTC code chart
- POS
- Fuel pump relay;
- visit your local pick-n-pull; and also test your newly acquired spares for said kit;

Into your maintenance schedule, plan on inserting the following tasks:

Critical:
- How long since last water-pump/timing belt/tensioner replacement? If undetermineable, get it done ASAP.
12v Pages - Maintenance
Use cyl. #3 at TDC during above T/B replacement procedure;
timing and crankshaft position - AudiWorld Forums
- replace O-ring behind oil/water heat exchanger (during an oil & filter change);
- replace your ignition switch with a revised genuine OEM unit;
- inspect engine-bay fuel lines for leaks;
- replace all the fuel injector O-rings (to fuel-rail & to intake-manifold);

Basic (in no particular order):
Engine bay:
- insure you have a dealer bought OEM paper air filter;
- learn how to safely clean the MAF sensor;
- re-cycle via the post office, your 2nd set of fuel injectors that you got at the wrecking yard, through this world-renowned service shop: RC Engineering in California;
- replace the small ID vacuum hoses in the engine bay with BMW hose;
- replace the rubber seal between the Intake Noise damper and the Throttle Body;
- do the telephone cord mod to the above intake N/D seal;
- do the mod formerly known as the EGR mod to prevent damage to EGR system components and remove a cause for a CEL;
What are the "telephone cord mod" and the "egr mod?" - AudiWorld Forums
- do the valley pan procedure to remove an oil leak;
- do the CCV hose and connector upgrades to help engine develop vacuum;
- develop plan to get tools (to mechanic if necessary) to do T-belt/T-stat/W-pump/Tensioner;
- do the remote vacuum reservoir mod;
- do the coil power supply wires mod;
- convert from GOO-2000 to synthetic ATF (as part of your fluids change-out);
- add magnets to your P/S reservoir (during above);
Hey VAP question for you. I'm going your route about PS fluid but I need to know one thing... - AudiWorld Forums

Chassis:
- replace the Fr. lower control arm bushings with new dealer-sourced OEM items and at the same time add low-friction thrust-washers (see "Arm-Stops" at S2 Forum) to them (before alignment & / or tire change);
Tightening A-arm bolts?? - AudiWorld Forums
Forged front control arm upgrade - AudiWorld Forums
- learn to read the failure signs of front strut top-mounts;
Pro-Mount Pro-Rally/Off Road version... - AudiWorld Forums
- buy & install Mount-Savers, see also "Strut-Stops" at S2 Forum;
Long term stress-testing OEM strut mounts by manufacturer... - AudiWorld Forums
Inducing catastrophic mount failure... - AudiWorld Forums
So.... - AudiWorld Forums
Just blew past 10,000th Mount-Saver! - AudiWorld Forums
- replace the Rr. upper control arm inner bushings;
Update to "Poor Man's B4 Rear Upper A-arm Inner Poly Bushings..." - AudiWorld Forums
- re-hang your exhaust system;
Re-hanging a stock B4 exhaust... - AudiWorld Forums
- inspect your under-floor fuel-lines for rust (before winter);
- re-do your trunk hinge-point wiring;

Intermediate (but immediate fun):
- upgrade your snub (to one from the Mount-Saver maker);
- re-build your shift linkage joint;
shift linkage tighten up success - AudiWorld Forums
- add velocity-stack to intake (from the Mount-Saver maker)
- consider replacing your OEM strut top-mount bushings (which you previously replaced, including a set of Mount-Savers) with Pro-Mounts and transfer the Mount-Savers to the new mounts (from the Mount-Saver maker);
-consider doing the procedures to best install yellow Bilstein HDs.
quattroworld.com Forums: An atypical case of Bilstein frozen strut syndrome?
Bilsteins again - AudiWorld Forums

Advanced (thinking):
- get spare Fr. and Rr. control arms at the yards;
- get spare intake manifold/injectors/fuel rail/FPR/TB/ISV and metal cam covers (requires alternate gaskets) at the yards; and
- do your suspension bushing replacements and mods below in advance to your spare parts while you continue to drive the car. When completed, then you are able to more quickly just swap out the parts:
- do the cam-covers CCV port mod to reduce oil consumption;
- do the EGR Passage polish procedure to help prevent associated CEL's;
- do the trueing-up of the Intake-Manifold upper & lower halves mating surfaces so that your engine can pull vacuum and operate the fuel pressure regulator as per originally designed;

On car cylinder-head work;
- do the injector spray right-of-way mod;

Back to the I/M again (because trying to do the entire workshop procedure all at once can be pretty depressing!):
- consider doing the remaining port work of Mance's wonderful I/M Workshop last.
Tour (II) Through a Modest (& Mostly OEM) Intake System; Intro... - AudiWorld Forums

Is that sufficient for now? I'm sure I've forgotten a few things. I will come back and up-date this. If you have any questions about any of the above, don't just ask, do a search, then ask.

What? Did nobody warn you!
(photo below (thanks Mance!): light at end of (EGR) tunnel)


HTH
Lago

j99

That is amazing Lago. Thank you!

4AudiQ

You might want to check out another Forum:
http://forums.quattroworld.com/9080/