Hi Paul.
I'm glad my suggestion led you in the right direction and to a warmer ride.

I'll bet that your temporary fix for the vents is a long stick through the dash
vent to hold the flap open. BTDT in one of the '84s.

On your brakes you should look to see if the pads are actually low. The Audi
rotors have a tendency to get surface rust if they sit for a while. In that case
, a few aggressive braking runs from highway speed might clean them up and
eliminate the grinding sound. Of course you might just have worn out pads.

Have more fun.

Tonyj

Paul R. wrote:
> Hi Tony!
> Thanks for taking the time to read the message and for sending me in
> the right direction.
>
> As you speculated, the faulty flap/spring apparently was
> malfunctioning... The spring was disconnected from the interior arm
> (but not from the flap). I temporarily repaired it and i think it
> should be ok. I will be testing it for sure in the next couple of
> days, but I think it's fine. (It's too damn cold to work on this crap
> with the doors and windows open.)
>
> As far as the ventilation being directed through the proper vents
> goes.... well, let's just say I made some improvisations and it looks
> stupid, but it seems to be sending air through the front vents. If you
> would like to know what I did simply let me know. (I also busted up
> something I shouldn't have touched to begin with, but that's a whole
> other story.)
>
> My brakes are grinding now, so tommorow it looks like I'm bracing the
> NY weather and try to get some new pads on. Hopefully, it's smooth,
> but if it isn't I know what group will help me now.
>
> Once again, I do appreciate you taking the time and making the effort.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Paul
>
>
> On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 22:02:28 -0600, Tony >
> wrote:
>
>
>>Having owned four T44s I have seen a lot of the issues.
>>
>>Fogging is a sure sign that the outside air recirculation flap is not working right.
>>
>>The improper direction of air to the vents may also be related to this same problem.
>>
>>Fix:
>>Remove the glove box (two screws and quite easy to do).
>>
>>On the fire wall up behind the glove box is the recirc door. With the engine off
>>it should default to a closed position against the fire wall. I bet yours is
>>hanging part way open.
>>
>>If you pull it open there should be a spring attached to the center of the door.
>> It is probably gone or broken. Feel around inside the door (bi the condenser)
>>and you might find the spring. If you find it and it is not broken then the
>>attachment points are probably broken. One is a plastic ring in the center of
>>the door. The other is up inside the door in the center of two plastic struts.
>>If that is broken it is easy to bend a coat hanger in the shape of the letter
>>'M' that will be a mount for the spring.
>>
>>After you have resolved the spring issue you will also fine a vacuum servo
>>inside the plastic pillars. This is used to open the door and override the
>>spring. You can almost bet that the vacuum line that goes to the servo has
>>fallen off. Dig around in there and re-attach it to the servo from the front.
>>This is a tight fit and very awkward to do. Try to borrow someone with small hands.
>>
>>While the glove box is out you will also see a black box in the same area. That
>>is the climate control actuator that controls all the vacuum to the flaps and
>>operates the heater control flap by the blower by operating a cable with a
>>stepper motor. That might need some TLC as well but the recirc door fix may be
>>all you need.
>>
>>Have fun.
>>
>>TonyJ
>>Current: 98.5 A4 1.8 TQM APR S1
>>Former: four T44s '84 - '91