AUDI A4 | B5 | 8D 1996 - 2001 FAQ Frequently Asked Questions and Common Problems Thread Collection

[BSK]

article in the tech section with detailed pics.
audi recommendation is around 85K miles which most engine dont see unless the timing belt had been previously changed. its not the belt that fails it is the tensioner giving in resulting in a major engine rebuilt

• http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng35.shtml

[A4SilverT]

If you've purchased a used B5 A4 that didn't come with owner's manuals, you need to purchase them. There's just too much information that you really need. Common question answered by the main owner's manual: Why does my alarm go off when I park with the windows cracked, and how do I prevent it?

The information below applies to the 2001 model year, but is essentially similar for all B5s.

Here's where you can get manuals:

AoA Technical Literature Ordering Center

There are basically four manuals you might consider:

Owner's Manual
Radio Manual
Maintenance Manual
Warranty Manual

If you have the navigation system or the telephone, there are also manuals for them.

So which of the four primary manuals do you need?
Definitely the owner's manual and the radio manual.

The maintenance manual is a booklet for the dealer to stamp, and contains basic information on what should be performed at each interval. That's available elsewhere, including in this FAQ. Skip.

The warranty manual can also be skipped. Your B5 A4 is out of warranty by now, and the extended warranty info on the polution control system is available on the AoA web site.

For the radio manual, get the Symphony/Bose which covers both. The difference is not in the radio itself (properly called a head unit), but in the amplifiers, speakers, and equalization settings that come with the Bose package. When you turn the radio on, the Bose package unit should say "Bose" on the display, but that's not a sure sign. Non-Bose owners can turn on the Bose equalization settings with the VAG OBD2 software.

Look on the list of manufacturer's codes on the sticker in the trunk. If you see the code 8AX, it's a Bose. If you see any other code beginning with 8A, or no code at all beginning with 8A, it's not a Bose.

If you see 8RB, 8RQ, or 8RY, it has Bose speakers and is a Bose. Bose systems should have 8 speakers, whereas the non-Bose have 6. But again, someone may have modified your system.

For those of you with older A4s, the Symphony radio only came in the 2000 and 2001 model years (MY). MY 1999 and most MY 1998 had the Concert Radio. Very early 1998 back to 1996 had the Delta CC head units. Sadly, the Audi literature web site linked above offers you almost every radio choice with every model year. If you don't know how to identify your radio, use this site:

Radio photos and descriptions

[BSK auf Arbeit]

• http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2356059.phtml

[bitjockey (bum)]

[2000SForce]

[ModifiedA4]

• http://homepage.mac.com/edyjun1/S4/index.htm

[SpeedyDTP247 CQ+UrS4]

• OSRAM SYLVANIA - Replacement Guide

[Nate (ETKA+Scumbag)]

"That patch is what I needed to make this work, and I'm amazed I got it. Now, my CD version is 99.12 and until now has only worked in Windows 2000 Professional SP4, but that patch changed it to some extent and allowed me to run it in Windows XP with SP2.

The trick is to install the included Netscape browser on the disc. I only did the bare minimum installation of it, as I will not use the browser for anything else. I also have the latest Sun Java installed (update 4 I think) on my computer, and you MUST have it install prior to attempting the Bentley install or the install will fail. If you already have all the software needed installed and you can open the main screen of the manual, and let it stay open.

Open Netscape and hit the Return to repair info button and Netscape should nab it. If not, just copy and paste it into the address bar. I also set the main page of the repair manual to my home page so if the starter screen of the manual is open, Netscape doesn't need to be opened prior to starting the manual server."

- GilliamOS

Basically, I did what AudiDreamr suggested followed by GilliamOS's suggestion.

The result is this:

I'm using Netscape 4.6 as the browser to be used w/ the old Bentley. That means, I have IE6 set as my default for day to day purposes.

When firing up the Bentley, I just close the IE6 window and use the Netscape window w/ the homepage set to the "repair manual" tab. Works as it should. Granted, not a full fix as it involves an extra step, but I can live with it.

- Sal R.

• Link to Bentley's Software Support Website

[ModifiedA4]

• http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2379649.phtml

[BQAD]

1.8 - http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2278952.phtml
1.8 - http://www.ca-va.org/tech/camtensioner/index.html
1.8 - http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2324152.phtml
2.8 - http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/1650707.phtml