LewTurboB5A4

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/126505/stain1.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/126505/stain2.jpg">

Found this yesterday during the rain. Wasnt wet when I found it, even though it was pouring. It was raining all night though. Had a small patch of this once before maybe 2 years ago, but nothing like this. Searched the forums and found people talking about clogged sunroof drains and coat hangers? Some other guy had to have the dealer rip the headliner out to find a pinhole leak in the water channel that runs down the side of the car? If the coat hanger works, where do I shove it? What else has worked for others? Looks like hell. But just on the passenger side and only the c-pillar cover, no wet seats like others I read about. Anything will help. Also, as you can see I have airbags there. Will it blow up in my face if I try to just rip it off? Unhook battery? Help!

slightly disgruntled

It didn't get any bigger recently and I've left it alone.

Audiboy

I haven't checked this on the Audi, but I think I've seen the drain tube there when I was working on bumper related stuff.

But in any case, you can grab an old speedo cable, or any thin cable - like a bicycle rear brake or shifter cable, insert in a drill, then insert in the tube and roto-router it free.

You may be able to find the drain tube looking from the sunroof area (way back inside the roof), or go from the bumper drain area. I haven't done this with our A4, so I can't be too specific.

slightly disgruntled

CPO deductible anyway.

LewTurboB5A4

Im gonna give the bike cable a shot tomorrow and see if I can find the tubes. I would like to take the panel off to see if I can see the leak, or maybe try to clean it up a little if not replace it. Will the airbag explode in my face if I try to pry this peice off. I hear you have to muscle it off a little.

Audiboy

early A4's had a few unexpected cases of Steering wheel airbags go off with static electricity because of poor grounding. But that was remedied on a recall and subsequent designs.

You'll be safe but at least don't test it with how much static electricity you can generate and touch an iairbag igniter When in doubt, don't wear a lot of polyester, and touch something metal before touching the airbag. Or just don't touch the airbag at all Pulling the cover doesn't mean you touch the air bag.

Monkeyboy

What you can do is remove the C-pillar cover and clean it, reattach.
If you want to clear your sunroof drain, you'll likely want to remove the rear bumper. Pretty easy. I wrote a FAQ, but cannot find it in the Tech Articles at the moment.

To remove the C-pillar cover. pry open the plastic "Airbag" cover plate. Remove the single screw underneath. Once out, you can pry off the cover - careful not to bend in one spot...go slow. Once it is off, dampen it, apply a carpet cleaner to a wet clean cloth and brush it in. Once done, take a clean wet cloth and go over the c-pillar cover again. Let it dry in the shade. Reattach.
No need to disconnect battery, but go ahead if you feel better.

Monkeyboy

My passenger rear C-Pillar cover was looking pretty nasty. Looked like a combination of water and/or excess glue on the C-Pillar cover. After clearing out my sunroof drains, I needed to clean my C-pillar cover (or buy a new one).
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/CPillar/cpillarstart.jpg">


You may want to clear your sunroof drains in case your problem was caused by a clogged drain. Mine ended up being very clean, so this problem may come back for me.

Turn the car off.

Start by using your fingers to open the plastic 'Airbag'indicator cover. There is a single hex screw located underneath.
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/CPillar/cpillarcover.jpg">

Remove the screw
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/CPillar/cpillarscrew.jpg">

With the screw removed, use your fingers to pry under an edge of the C-Pillar cover. Gently pry the cover off. Mine did not require much force at all. The entire cover came off as I pried under one edge.
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/CPillar/cpillarclips.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/CPillar/cpillarclips2.jpg">

With the C-Pillar cover removed, it is time to clean it.

I used a clean white T-shirt and blotted it wet.
Then I applied some spot/stain remover directly to the c-pillar cover. Massaged it in with my wet rag.

After a few minutes, I took another clean white T-shirt soaked in water and brushed the C-Pillar. I let it dry in the shade for @1 hour.

Reassemble.
Line up the cover, making sure there are no wires that will be pinched. Press the clips into their respective holes.
Make sure the screw hole (under the plastic 'Airbag' cover) is lined up.
Apply a little Blue Loctite to the screw (not entirely necessary), and secure.
Press the 'Airbag' cover back in.
Done.

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/CPillar/cpillarclean.jpg">

Monkeyboy

<b>Procedure to clear sunroof drain and remove your rear bumper</b>

Start with an Audi
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumprear.jpg">

There is one hex screw that attaches the rear wheel well to the rear bumper. Remove the one screw from each side.
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpscrew1.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpscrew2.jpg">

Remove trunk liner to access the bumper bolts
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpliner.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpliner2.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpliner3.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpliner4.jpg">

Make sure an exit tube behind the passenger rear wheel well is not tangled
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpunder.jpg">

With the 2 hex screws and 4 bolts removed, you can push the whole bumper forward
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpforward.jpg">

With the bumper pushed forward (as far as it will go), you will now need to unclip the bumper from the side supports.
Go to one side, grab behind the bumper @4" down from its top and pull (gently but firmly) straight out / a little down (towards you) from the side of the car. This will release the top portion of the bumper.
Look down and you'll be able to see the bottom clip still attached, just give that a little pull up / out to release it completely.
Do the other side.
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpclip.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpclip2.jpg">

What the attaching clips looks like from the inside of the removed bumper
<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpclip3.jpg">

With your bumper removed, you can clear out the sunroof drains, one on each side. Make sure your sunroof is open before proceeding.

Use a standard speedometer cable and snake it through starting at the exit point (under the rear bumper) which will lead thru the rear of your open sunroof.

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpcable.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpcable1.jpg">

<img src="https://home.comcast.net/~thomapa1/audi/Bumper/bumpcable2.jpg">


Do both sides.
Done.


<b>To reassemble your bumper.</b>
Pickup the bumper and slide the bumper supports (on the bumper) into the bumper holes on the frame of your car. Slide the bumper as far forward as it will go.

Ensure the bumper lines up correctly with the rear wheel well.

Once it is lined up, push each side of the bumper straight into the side of the car to reattach the side clips. They should 'pop' back in.
Once secure, pull the bumper back (rearward) to line up with the 4 bolt holes in the trunk.

Insert and secure each bolt (good and tight). Make sure you reattach the cargo net plate and hook as you insert each bolt.

Screw in each hex screw on both sides of the rear wheel well.

Done.

Audiboy

These writeups need to be in the Tech Articles. Great work!