Audimus_Prime

I had a nasty run in with a semi tire tread on the highway, middle of the night didn't see it, and it has left me with a few major fixes.

1: Alternator/battery problem
2: fuel line leak

The fuel line is straight forward, but my charge problem is a mystery. I bought a new battery and it's a no go so it has to do with the alternator. I got under the car and it seems that the part which sticks into the alternator has come loose. I have no idea what it's called but it looks to be some sort of air hose/vacuum. Is this not being connected the reason for my problem or no? If so what is the part?

Junker CQ

If this is a 90 sedan..no. It has nothing to do with the charging system.

Audimus_Prime

It's clicking when I try to turn it on, which is normal for a dead battery/alt. What's the problem if that's not it?

520

and there are some wires going through IIRC. Some of those wires might have ripped?? Did you not have your belly pan?

Pull that ducting off, carefully and check what's going on.

Audimus_Prime

belly pan was off before I bought it, unfortunately

coupe d'mike

your muffler bearing is loose

Audimus_Prime

How does the muffler have anything to do with the car turning on.

axe_360

starters will make clicking if there defective

Audimus_Prime

I've gotten it jumped a couple times and it'll start right up then die after a few minutes

Harowing

check the wires on your starter, may be loose or damaged from the debris(yes jumping it will work if its just loose or damaged.....sometimes) and you said there was a tube that looked like an airhose floating about somewhere in there not plugged in? well, check the top of your intake manifold, it may have been connected there once upon a time, that could be the cause of it dieing after it starts, also, check for loose/damaged wires everywhere if this doesn't help ya at all, well sorries, report back with a little more information/pictures...might be able to help more.
oh, and a side note, make sure your alternator is putting out proper voltage, if you can get the car to start, use a digital multimeter, and put the probes on the battery posts, if i recall correctly at idle audi 90's put out 13.2? volts, anyways, whatever doesnt matter, just make sure its putting out 13+ volts while running if not, A) alternator is toasted, or B) field charge isnt getting through(i know on mine the field charge runs through the battery light in the dash, so if that goes out if have to rig it through other means or replace the lightbulb to fix it) also option C) make sure all wires are screwed tightly onto the alternator(assuming yours uses screw on connections) of course this info may be useless for you, don't know, running on info from my audi 90's =) goodluck
edit: if its a bigger tube, check down on the drivers side of the engine, somewhere between the middle of the engine and where the transmission bolts on, it may connect there, if im right thats the crank case breather.