Hope everyone is good, couple of jobs done and a lucky find!
First of all a fresh MOT, only thing was a very slight mist on n/s front shocker. Not sure really what to do with that one. Said its nothing and smallest amount so dont worry! Well im not going to rush out buying 2 new bilstein shockers anyway. Said he loves it, doesn't see many and mint! Will do for me, i like piece of mind.
Now i had an econ light come on, obv an issue as its putting the compressor into a safety mode. Carista showed nothing, so needed VCDS. In the time i was sorting that, a little research led to 2 things. Obv a leak! or what seemed common was the high pressure sensor...........this one!
Can see corrosion
Can see the little pin inside, this when removed shuts a valve, stopping gas escaping
So if you have an econ light on, you can actually do this job at home, bumper in service mode. Just check and double check audi send the right sensor. As there has been numerous upgrades or versions over the years! which i found out the hard way. They sent the wrong updated one
Which brings me onto job 2! As you do, you have a look around , now before the bumper was undone, i tried spraying the sensor with elec clean(to no avail) but noticed the alternator belt(only belt on the v8). At 1st glance it look frayed right down the centre, right along the length. New belt ordered, turned out it was 2 belts, split right down the middle. So check this if not already, they get neglected as out of sight and not a 5 min job to do(well not with bumper on anyway!). If this snaps it could do a whole lot of damage, inc taking the fans out!
Tensioner was seized to, freed off though. Its not spring loaded like some on BMWs for example.
I have a slight oil leak........deep joy. Its wet under and appears more from rear. Again reading up as you do, seems a higher chance of the rocker cover gasket, PCV or the oil filter housing gasket (looks like a figure 8). More chance of that than rear crank seal anyway. Its not dripping, its not actually using any oil or what is noticeable on the dip stick. I will go as far as saying its almost impossible to trace. Many use 0.5L per 1000 miles which again is classed as "normal" . However i am not on 5/40 anyway. Will wait for weather to ease up and start at the top. As no idea where the slight leak is coming from. No rush as i pretty much know, if i do the rocker covers(so to speak) they can leak again anyway, just like subaru and the flat 4's........but those are a pita to do. As with high pressure switch, i kind of have a gut feeling its the oil filter 8 seal........cheaper than engine out lol. If it was the rear seal, then obv might as well do chains to if engine coming out. That i want to obviously avoid and right now overkill as its running sweet.
Cheers