grease/doorhandle/motor flush..long...

[Huw Powell]

> I am planning on lubing and greaing various parts of my dear 4kq's soon, and
> need to know the proper/best lubes and greases for the following
> locations..also..where do you guys get your stuff?

> doorhandles?
> sunroof tracks?

Anything "good" will do if you do it twice a year, with some cleaning. 
try to have something light for small mechanisms and something heavy for
big clunky things...

> cleaning and lubing window switches?

there are a number of electrical contact cleaners out there.  The last
stuff I bought came from an electrical supply house, supposedly flash
free (nice, less fires that way!).  Silicone dielectric gel after
cleaning will help maintain integrity of switches, contacts, connectors,
etc.

> my car shifts hard...I would like to try lubing the ball joint that the stick
> attaches to before I delve further into bushing and other stuff within the
> mechanism...there appears to be a white paste-like substance there
> now...what's the deal with this?

I think that is fairly dried up OEM grease - I may have tried to order
some but the part # in TFA is NLA.  Mebbe I should look in the data for
a newer car application!

> 
> also...is there a preventative maintenance to do to prevent the odometer from
> failing? Maybe a spray lube with teflon squirted somewhere? Where and how, if
> this is possible/advisable?

usually they fail because a little gear cracks or at least starts
slipping on its shaft - so go real easy with lubrication.  Perhaps
pinpoint application "downstream" mechanically from the gears might help
a bit.

> 
> Now onto the doorhandle problem..after wrestling with my new used driver's
> door handle (many thanks to Chris Semple!) and the pins to connect/disconnect
> it and changing the lock tumbler...I put the damn thing back together and it
> works wonderfully...except now the door no longer locks! *&%#%^%&!! It will
> lock from the inside and power locks are fully functional. However, turning
> the key in the lock cylinder from the outside does nothing either way the key
> is turned! The key turns but no locking action whatsoever. Help, where did I
> go wrong? And what is the solution?

sounds like you might have missed one of the two rods that connect to
the handle?  or it fell out while finishing installation?  I know one of
them has a tricky little locking bit that clicks over the rod once it is
in place, but I forget if that is the opener or the locker.

> Motor Flushing. Yes? No?
> 
> I went to the parts store and found some GUNK Motor Flush in a round silver
> can. However, the parts d00d said that he flushed his 79 Ford Fiesta with it
> and ruined his "moter". Heh. So what should I do? Car is an 86 4kq with about
> 250K on it (broken odo of course) with tappy, loud lifters and too many oil
> leaks, one from the oil pump gasket and another from where the transmission
> meets the engine (I think). And another from somewhere else...<sigh> I am
> scared of either a) destroying my engine (this engine is the peppier one of
> my 2 4kq's) or b) causing many more leaks or significantly worsening the
> leaks I do have...advice?

Sounds like it could use some actual mechanical work rather than pouring
things into it.  if the oil pump gasket is *really* leaking it is a
nasty one to get to, btdt.  But it is more likely to be something higher
up - like the crank seal, cam seal, or cam cover gasket.  Mine got
damaged because my coupe was dolly towed, and the dolly lifter the car
by the oil pan - ouch!

It might make sense to plan a water pump/timing belt replacement and
include both seals and a new (rubber) cam cover gasket, and a set of new
lifters.  You can't "repair" worn lifters with oil treatments, but they
are only about $6 each...

The leak at the tranny/engine area might be a rear main seal, or tranny
input seal.  Can you wait til you need a clutch to replace them?  They
are under-$10 parts that take many painful hours to get to...

To isolate your leaks better you might try carefully cleaning the engine
of built up crud so you can really see where they come from, with any
luck.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/