rmr25

The PO of my '88 S4 auto removed the vacuum hose from the 5-way connector under the air filter and just stuck a screw in the opening. The hose is connected to the modulator at the tranny and I can see it disappear somewhere up toward the front of the car. But I can't see anything in front of the firewall. Can anybody help me with the routing?

jeff jackson

if its like my 86.5 automatic...it comes up the flywheel cover and is secured by a clamp adjacent to the engine RPM sensor and TDC sensor. This is under the air Cleaner box, and in the small opening between the firewall tunnel, and the flywheel cover (bellhousing)...

borland

On my 90' S4, the engine bay vacuum line (hard plastic), leading to the tranny, connects to a long metal vacuum tubing mounted on top of the torque tube. The connector between the metal and plastic tubing is a short rubber coupling.

So you might look on the front top of the torque tube.

I don't believe any of this is shown in the PET for my year model S4.

rmr25

Thanks guys:

The car's up on the lift right now. I'll check with the mechanic tomorrow, following your suggestions.

rmr25

We found he vacuum hose. It's on the passenger side of the TT just above the right side exhaust pipe .... totally out of reach of anything! We can see a rubber connector fixed to the line coming from the rear. We'll have to drop some stuff and feed the hose in from the front of the connector up over the bell housing and into the 5-way rubber connector under the air filter housing. PO's sure do some strange things!

borland

If you remove the exhaust heat shields, you'll see that the vacuum line on top of the torque tube is held in place by two hose type clamps.

I replaced the rear hose on my car during a tranny overhaul. With the torque tube installed in the car, but tranny removed, I was able to loosen the rear hose clamp and pull down the hard tubing low enough to install the replacement german braded rubber vacuum hose, then reposition everything and tighten the clamp. So, you might try something like that on the front end.

Good luck,

borland
90' S4, Slate Metallic

Tony

Instead of moving stuff and all that, just go buy some vac line and re route your own stuff. I had the hard line come off on Dariens car, right on top of the front bell housing where you can get at it.(be carfuell there!!!) I got some hose and ran my own line along the brake lines underneath.

How did your car shift with the line unhooked?
Big "clunk" going into D from park?

rmr25

Guys: Again thanks for the suggestions. We got the hose installed in the original position. Reached it by removing the heat shields and a bracket just above the right exhaust pipe. Without the hose (as the PO had left it), the shifts weren't too hard or abrupt. I haven't driven it yet with the hose installed. Still some other small items needed to clear state inspection here in MD., e.g. turn signal return, window tint removal, power steering line replace.