This manual is built for the 1989 Audi 80 Quattro specifically, so the torque values, wiring routes, and adjustment procedures inside match the Base Sedan 4-Door as Audi documented it that year, not a generalized 80-series writeup.
Engines covered
- 2.3L inline-five — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sedan
Trims covered
- Base
Known issues on the 1989 80 Quattro. Two recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first covers the transaxle: differential oil is lost over time to evaporation, and the resulting low oil level causes premature bearing and gear wear that can lead to axle failure, a loss of drive power, and in extreme cases the front wheels locking and causing rapid deceleration and loss of vehicle control. The second covers the airbag sensor/control module, which does not meet Audi's own durability standard over the vehicle's lifetime and can malfunction in a way that deploys the airbag without warning, risking a loss of vehicle control. Owners have filed 10 complaints for the year, and no technical service bulletins are logged. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind both of those systems are here.
Whether you're checking transaxle fluid level or diagnosing an airbag sensor fault, it keeps you on Audi's own procedure and specification for this exact 1989 80 Quattro.
THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL OF THE TRANSAXLE IS LOST OVER TIME DUE TO EVAPORATION. LOW OIL LEVELS CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING AND GEAR WEAR AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL.
IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE, THE VEHICLE'S DRIVE WHEELS COULDLOSE POWER. IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK, CAUSING RAPIDDECELERATION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACC
DRAIN AND REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR OIL WITH OIL HAVING HIGHER PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
IN THE EVENT THE SENSOR SHOULD MALFUNCTION, THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAN INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONT
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY FAILED DUE TO LACK OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID PRIOR TO RECALL, REPAIRS WERE NEVER DONE (93V-006). *AK
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED THREE YEARS AGO FOR THE TRANSMISSION. NOW THE TRANSMISSION DAMAGED AGAIN DUE TO LOW OIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
OIL LUBRICATING TRANSAXLE GEARS WAS LOST DUE TO EVAPORATION, CAUSING VEHICLE NOISE PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (93V-006). *AK
NO SUMMARY
DIFFERENTIAL FAILED DUE TO EVAPORATION OF THE OIL, (RECALL, HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED # 93V-006).
MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. YH
TRANSAXLE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP.
BEARINGS MELTED/SHREDDED.
Showing the 8 most serious of 10 complaints filed with NHTSA.
