Variable Resistor
 

What is it?

A Resistor that can change the amount of resistance to something whether it is a defined amount of resistance or undefined. Such as a dimmer switch, or the blower motor speed control.

The variable resistor is located in the engine bay, passengers side near the AFM. It can be adjusted and its function is to modify the air fuel ratio. Comes preset and it is not recommended to fiddle with it, but that's never stopped this bunch!

Yeah well i think i might need to change it cause my car does not idle?

dont do that, your better off to make sure you have no vacuum leaks, then warm the car up and check the TPS voltage. After that is adjusted, if the car still wont idle right then look to make sure the butterflys are touching the stop all the way with the car warm. If it still doesnt work, THEN, and only then, you could adjust the throttle stop screw on the TB. But please for the love of god dont mess with the variable resistor near the shock tower.

BTW, can any one tell me what the resistance should be on it for an S4 turbo? thanks, and sorry i dont mean to thread jack!

The variable resistor only effects the idle mixture.

Before it is adjusted, all other systems must be working properly.

why is everyone being so touchy about adjusting it. follow what the FSM says. it does what it does, adjusts the idle mixture. use it for that.

also, make sure that the car IS COMPLETELY warmed up before you adjust it.