to sell or not to sell

[Huw Powell]

> I've got an 84 4000 S Quattro, with 210k miles. Having the powersteering
> pump replaced next week along with an associated hose, for me it's only
> around $450 for the whole thing plus labor.

Have you bought these parts yet?  A good used pump should run you about
$50, i would imagine, and the hose 20-ish maybe.  There are several Audi
dismantlers out there, but I would say start with force five, Chris is a
good guy and eagerly supports the rather old Audis that others ignore
now.  link & c. at the audifans vendor pages.

> It seems like all I will be
> doing from now on will be replacing items like this, high priced ones. The
> suspension is about due for some new pieces. Needs a new windshield. Hood
> needs repaint, A/C and cruise don't function.

my recommendation would be to get a used copy of the Bently manual for
the car, about $50, and a decent basic set of metric tools and a meter.
You can buy *all* that with what you will save by installing a used pump
and filter on the car yourself.

And get a new windsheild put in.

> My concern is that I am putting money into a vehicle which may or may not
> last for another year. I rather not spend upwards of a grand if the car is
> going to call it quits. If I can sell it now and get some money out of it,
> then the better off I am.

That car will last indefinitely, the final downfall will be rust.  How's
the body?

You've got another 100k miles to go at least on the engine and
drivetrain, so long as the engine was not badly overheated or run
without oil pressure at some point.

While a set of struts can run you some money, if the susp. bits you need
are just a bunch of bushings, a couple of hundred dollars and a few
weekends under the car to replace *all* off them will pay off handsomely
in handling and feel.

Ignore the A/C unless all it needs is a charge (and of course, that
would mean it leaks somewhere...), unless you live where it is very hot,
you might as well slowly remove the A/C parts with those new tools and
get rid of some useless weight.

The cruise should be cheap/free to fix.  check it's vacuum hoses under
the hood for cracks and leakage, and check the the switches (the ones
with vac lines to them) at the pedals for continuity when closed - they
will probably need cleaning with some contact cleaner spray.

If it starts poorly when cold, you probably need a coolant temp sender,
bottom side of top radiator hose neck, about $20-30 or so.

As someone said, go to my site... read *all* the files under 'type 85'
and memorize their locations if not their content.

work on things one by one and the car should start to seem much more
appealing to keep.

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/