Just Got an A4

[elsurfo11]

Hey guys I been looking around at a4 Avants for a while now and just picked one up. 134k 5 speed in real good shape except the hood needs to be repainted. Its all stock so I was looking into a few thing to mod it some. Any suggestions to make more power? The usual go to is intake, exhaust and a chip I'm guessing. Not sure what to get though I'm new to the who car and Audi scene. Any help would be awesome thanks!

[elsurfo11]

ttt

[fallingreason]

Start with just a Stage 1 chip and a new diverter valve (710N is fine). Have fun with that for a while and upgrade the exhaust later. Intake doesn't really need to be done IMO.

Unitronic and APR are both great choices for chips. Both have a lot of dealers and are highly regarded. The Unitronic tune is a little more aggressive and I feel that it delivers the power more smoothly throughout the RPM range. APR is more conservative, daily driver feeling. Many dealers are APR dealers as well, but the enthusiast shops are often Unitronic dealers. (034 Motorsport, as well as some small local places where I live) I really enjoy my Unitronic tune and it's what my friend's run on their 1.8T's as well.

Also, APR tries to get you to buy into their whole package with all the APR hardware as well, but Unitronic just tunes engines, that's it. I prefer to use a company that will be compatible with whatever I plan to put in my car down the road.

[elsurfo11]

Alright I'll look into that. How much does a Unitronic usually run for? Also is it safe to chip a motor with 134k miles on it?

[TDI-Tim]

First, check all the maintenance and get the engine running perfectly. Compression check good? Any CELs?

After that, I would skip Stage 1 and just go 2 immediately, with an intake and exhaust. Stage 1 will be ok for a bit, till you get used to it and then want more.

[elsurfo11]

Yup engine right now is running great no CEL, the airbag light comes on and off from time to time not sure what would be causing that, maybe just a bad sensor. Now I was looking at that but I would have to probably spend a fortune just for the stage2? Would I have to buy apr fuel injectors or is that only required for stage 1+? Also what would I be looking at for a new cat and test pipe? I was thinking it would be around 2gs with all said and done.

[elsurfo11]

anybody?

[Diztek]

Stage 1 is just a chip. Stage 1+ is chip and injectors. Stage 2 is ko4 chip, same injectors as stage 1+ and upgraded turbo from ko3 to k04. 1+ and 2 use 380 or 386 cc injectors depending on which tuning software u go with. Personally I would go with the Audi tt injectors (386)

[gregg3gs]

the airbag light comes on and off from time to time not sure what would be causing tha

I would start with the obvious.

Turn the car off, lift all your seats and double check all seat and air bag connections. That is where I find the most issues (in both a4's I had). Sometime just disconnecting and reconnecting has worked for me. Other times, I had to press the connectors a bit to bend them, to assure positive pressure between copper after reconnecting the plug. (I think oxidation is an issue sometimes too.) Helpfully you would have access to Vag-Com (I am speaking of something like Ross-tech.com or alike). If you do not have it, an plan on owning Audi of VW, and you can do your own repairs, I suggest you get it and own it (right along with all the tools).
You could use the said vag-com to scan the chassis for errors and you would see what air-bag is lighting the control light on.

Any suggestions to make more power?

As for the upgrades and staging.

The first answer you got was spot on. With emphasis on APR has all their setup and it mostly is in Kit form. Since I own the ko4 setup from APR I can tell you that in order to get to another stage I would have to purchase an entire stageIII package. That's just how their system is setup and how they support it.

As for what stage you should go into right away? If you got the $$$ to put down and get the ko4 setup from APR or similiar from Uni., than that is the way I would go.

There is an important peace of info you will not find (unless you search and find my previous posts)
if you go stage II (apr or uni), you will blow oem turbo hoses in your car the first few days you own the setup.
So..... get the silicone, Kevlar reinforced high pressure side hoses wit the purchase of the stage ii.
Afterwards you will need:
-high flow catalytic convertor and exhaust
- air input pipe from apr or alike (get the one with wire mesh inside, to prevent collapse under negative pressure)
- stage II clutch or s4 or rs4 fitted clutch (you will now that stage ii clutch rattles a bit )
- front engine mount (get it right away, from hard plastic)
- oil and pressure gauges (I love podi, and most people will agree that they are stellar)

anything else just ask.....



Good luck with the car and the build.
You sould post a pic of the darn thing....

[elsurfo11]

Here a picture of her.

I'm not sure about the stage II, sounds like about 5k in parts and work I was only trying to drop around a thousand for now so I guess I will probably go with the Stage I. I mean its already fun to drive and moves especially compared to my truck haha.

[Miko16]

I would start with the obvious.

Turn the car off, lift all your seats and double check all seat and air bag connections. That is where I find the most issues (in both a4's I had). Sometime just disconnecting and reconnecting has worked for me. Other times, I had to press the connectors a bit to bend them, to assure positive pressure between copper after reconnecting the plug. (I think oxidation is an issue sometimes too.) Helpfully you would have access to Vag-Com (I am speaking of something like Ross-tech.com or alike). If you do not have it, an plan on owning Audi of VW, and you can do your own repairs, I suggest you get it and own it (right along with all the tools).
You could use the said vag-com to scan the chassis for errors and you would see what air-bag is lighting the control light on.



As for the upgrades and staging.

The first answer you got was spot on. With emphasis on APR has all their setup and it mostly is in Kit form. Since I own the ko4 setup from APR I can tell you that in order to get to another stage I would have to purchase an entire stageIII package. That's just how their system is setup and how they support it.

As for what stage you should go into right away? If you got the $$$ to put down and get the ko4 setup from APR or similiar from Uni., than that is the way I would go.

There is an important peace of info you will not find (unless you search and find my previous posts)
if you go stage II (apr or uni), you will blow oem turbo hoses in your car the first few days you own the setup.
So..... get the silicone, Kevlar reinforced high pressure side hoses wit the purchase of the stage ii.
Afterwards you will need:
-high flow catalytic convertor and exhaust
- air input pipe from apr or alike (get the one with wire mesh inside, to prevent collapse under negative pressure)
- stage II clutch or s4 or rs4 fitted clutch (you will now that stage ii clutch rattles a bit )
- front engine mount (get it right away, from hard plastic)
- oil and pressure gauges (I love podi, and most people will agree that they are stellar)

anything else just ask.....



Good luck with the car and the build.
You sould post a pic of the darn thing....

This post should be stickied!