1995 Quattro 2.8 manual

[megavolt]

Recently purchased an N reg Quattro. Sometimes in the mornings the dashboard display shows a red warning symbol that seems to be brake related. But brakes are working fine (incuding ABS).

Any suggestions as to what this means and where to start.

Thanks,

Megavolt

[zollaf]

top up the power steering resevoir first, using the right spec green mineral oil. youll notice theres no brake servo, as the brakes are hydraulically assisted , the power coming from the pas pump.

[megavolt]

Thanks Zollaf,

I checked the fluid level, and it appeared ok.  However, I noted that there was a yellow 'something' at the bottom of the reservoir. Upon pushing a small plunger in the filter of the reservoir, this 'something' then moved upwards to the top.

It would seem that this yellow bit was the float which may have been stuck and although the previous owner may have topped up the level, the float may have remained stuck and has now been jarred loose, with an intermittent signal to the display.

I'll check this over the next day or so and advise.

With thanks


Megavolt

[zollaf]

excellent

[megavolt]

Hi Zollaf,

Nice try, but the red light came back again. Logo appears to be circle with exclamation mark in centre. Very similar to the orange start-up display followed by the OK sign.

Do you know what the function of the display in this mode is, i.e. what is the warning light for?

Kind regards,



Megavolt

[zollaf]

ok, that light is telling you either pads low , brake fluid low or hydraulic pressure low. try starting car, wait till light goes out, then pump brake pedal. the light should come on , then go out again. turn engine off and pump the brake pedal until it goes hard. mine does about 30 pumps, then goes hard. im not sure of the limit but there is another thread on here all about it. i believe less than 20 ? and your bomb has had it. thats the sphere that holds the pressure in the hydraulics, and looks like a hand grenade somewhere below you abs pump.

[megavolt]

Hi Zollaf,

I did some checking around, but no improvement. There was no problem with 'the bomb' but I have noticed the following scenario:

1. When the warning appears it is accompanied by three bleeps. This will usually start within about 1 minute of driving off in the morning.

2. This will be repeated at frequent, irregular intervals for the next 10 to 15 minutes. It all then disappears until the evening or following morning when everything has cooled down again.

Hmmmmm??

Kind regards,


Megavolt

[andrewaudi]

top up the power steering resevoir first, using the right spec green mineral oil. youll notice theres no brake servo, as the brakes are hydraulically assisted , the power coming from the pas pump.

Nothing to do with the fault in this thread, but was wondering where Audi had put my servo.... Thanks :-D

[megavolt]

As Zollaf pointed out earlier in the thread, there is no conventional servo on these models, which is traditionally 'powered' by using the vacuum generated in the inlet manifold. Instead, it uses pressure generated by the power steering pump with a reservoir being the 'bomb' which is located under the ABS block. As he describes it, it looks a bit like a hand grenade . . .

Incidentally, the problem is now solved, dodgy PAS level detection - thanks Zollaf for the pointers