Alan Jones

Team, suddenly having trouble starting the shark. Car turns over once or twice then get rapid clicking on the LHS of the engine bay.

Type-No. 8 appears as a message on the left most window of the digital dash. Car is an 89 S4 Auto.

I am hoping that all of this means that I need to charge my battery. Hoping that it doesn't mean electrical gremlins. All other electrics seem to work!! (except starting the car)

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers

Al

89S4

Melb Australia

WallyP

Your first problem is that either the battery is very low (most likely) or a battery connection is bad. The first step is to fully charge the battery and get the car running.

Before charging the battery, carefully clean the battery connections, including both ends of the ground strap. Check the fluid in the battery if possible.

It is safer to charge the battery with it disconnected. NEVER try to crank the car using a battery charger or booster. Using another battery with jumper cables is acceptable, if done properly.

Once the car is running, the next question is, Why did the battery go down? While you have the battery box open, hook a voltmeter to the battery terminals. With the engine not running, you should have 12 vdc or a little higher. When the engine is running at about 1500 RPM, you should have 13.6 - 14.4 volts. If you have less than 13.6 vdc, you should check the alternator belt tension - it should be really tight. If that isn't the problem, you may need to get the charging system checked.

The info that you saw shows up on the dash any time that the voltage gets low.

T_MaX

I have seen this same thing when I have not driven the car for a month and tried to start the car on a very low battery.

I second what Wally said.

Alan Jones

Thanks guys, I thought as much. I took the battery out last night, checked the fluid levels and hooked it up to my charger. Will get out the multimeter tonight!!

Much appreciated.

Cheers,

Al Jones

T_MaX

LOL, my battery was very low tonight and when I tried to start it, it gave me a Type-No. 4. I guess I should drive it more than once a month.

I have the charger on mine now and when it's charged, I'm going to run it thought the Instrument Cluster Diagnosis to see if it shows anything.

I looked through all the manuals and informationals and did not find a list that tells what Type-4 or Type-8 means. I don't think it's anything critical, I would just like to know.

Sure wish Mark A., Marc T., Dave R. Wally P., Dr Bob or someone would through a bit of light on this Type-? business.

Steve Cattaneo

Max.
What does it say in the left cluster box?

Actuators
Sensor
Switch
Memory
Cluster


If you or any one with a digital displays what to decipher the diagnostic procedure I have the information. Any one interested can email me at mastertech@mastertechtrans.com or 928euro@mastertechtrans.com and I will mail you a copy of the technik ( 13pages.)

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Steve Cattaneo

T_MaX

Steve, if I remember right it's like this

|Type-No||4 || |

Next time I will pay more Attention to the origination.

Thanks for the offer, I have a copy of the "Diagnosis of the Instrument Cluster (DOTIC)" I looked though the booklet but didn't see any reference to the above.

This will be my first time to use it, looks like you can get a lot of engine and chassis sensor information via the dash cluster. I can't believe I haven't heard more people talk about it.

If you have any helpfull hints as far as the DOTIC, feel free to offer it up.

T_MaX

Alan, I charged my battery and all is well.

Also, I used the DOTIC for the first time late last night/early morning. I was impress with what one can see from the dash i.e. Actuators, Sensor Switch, Memory and Cluster.

If anyone has an 89 or later 928 this is a good tool in it's self to have.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific but I'm on the way out for the weekend. I just wanted to express a positive note on this.