This 1989 Audi 90 factory service and repair manual is built around the Base Sedan 4-Door as Audi originally specified it, so every torque value and diagnostic step traces back to the paperwork for this exact car rather than a generic transaxle-era substitute.
Engines covered
- 2.3L inline-five — SOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sedan
Trims covered
- Base
Known issues on the 1989 90. Two recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first covers the transaxle's power train and axle assembly: differential oil is lost over time to evaporation, and the resulting low oil level causes premature bearing and gear wear that can make the drive wheels lose power or the front wheels lock, risking rapid deceleration and loss of vehicle control. The second covers the frontal air bag sensor and control module, which can fail to meet durability standards over the vehicle's lifetime and inadvertently deploy the air bag restraint system without warning, risking loss of vehicle control. No complaints or technical service bulletins are logged for the year. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind both systems are here.
Whether it's a differential oil check on the transaxle or inspecting the air bag sensor wiring, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 1989 90.
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.
