I'm waving my white flag (long)

[Joshua Van Tol]

On Monday, February 24, 2003, at 04:27  PM, Audi-Dude wrote:

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> First off to the list - my apologies for being so long.  I have been
> saving up my Audi woes until it has now reached critical mass.  This
> email covers several nags, so please bear with me.
>
> First and probably most important:  I have been hobbling around all
> winter with a bad passenger side CV joint.  The darn things are just
> too hard to catch in stock anywhere and when they do show up on the
> radar they are way too expensive.  I have used the excuse that it is
> too cold, too wet, etc. to mess with it.  Well TIMES UP.
>
> Last Thursday I was travelling down one of the most well maintained
> roads here in Southern Illinois when I heard something that sounded
> like something had come loose and was flopping around in the front of
> the vehicle.  The flopping noise turned into 'road noise'.  It
> reminded me of driving on the 'experiMENTAL' highways across the
> southeast US.  Only thing is it was not the baby's butt smooth road I
> was on - it was somehow coming from the car itself.  I pulled off the
> road and inspected the car visually but saw nothing out of the
> ordinary.  Hopped back in and made it about a quarter mile when the
> steering wheel started vibrating and pulling left really hard.  I
> decided to limp back home by taking some back roads.  The trip was
> quite hair raising.  The steering wheel had a mind of its own.  If I
> did not keep a death grip on it, it would turn hard to the left and
> immediately recover.  I was travelling along just fine at 30 MPH until
> I ran into high water and could not make passage.  I was forced into
> putting the car in reverse and backing into a driveway and turning
> around.  Amazingly the problem was REPAIRED by putting the car in
> reverse.  I drove home on the highway (at very low speed) without any
> symptoms.  The car is sitting waiting for new parts right now.  I do
> not think my 'cure' will be long lasting.
>
> My question for this problem goes like this:  has anyone experienced
> similar?  was I right
> in assuming it to be ball joints?  I also noticed that the Pentosin
> was a little low.  could that

Just had the exact same problem with a vw quantum, and it was the CV
joint. I guess when it heated up due to the lack of lube, it began to
bind. Replacing the joint with a new one from Rod cured the problem. Do
not waste your money on a rebuilt axle, they're cheap, sometimes
cheaper than a single new joint, but they are unmitigated junk. You'll
need that lifetime warranty for sure. Instead, buy a new joint and boot
from Rod at the parts connection, or other good vendor, and replace it.
It's not terribly hard,  and it should fix your problem.


> be a culprit or should I consider a new rack?  I live in an area of
> the country that sees an Audi occasionally but none of the local junk
> yards have a donor car for me to strip.  I have so far ordered
> Pentosin juice, tie rods, ball joints, lower control arm bushings,
> strut mounts, bump stops, and strut bearings/ dust covers as well as
> the infamous drive axle.  Do I need to replace the strut inserts as
> well?  I am a bit put off by the $160 X 2 pricetag.  The car is a 1990
> 90 Non-Q.  I may be sinking too much into this titanic. If so - give a
> shout to me and I will junk it with great disappointment.  All total -
> with the new fuel pump and regular  maintenance type work I am
> currently out over $1,100 in the last 2 months alone.  I guess it
> beats a car payment, though.
>
> Just when you thought I could ramble no more.......
>
> The car idles high on startup - sometimes over 2K on cold mornings and
> then does not want to start up when it finally gets warm.  Cold
> starting is no problem but shut it off after the temp guage gets above
> the first mark and it sputters and usually dies on restart. I usually
> just leave it running if I am going to run into a store for a second
> or two to save the frustration and embarrassment.  Sound like an ISV?
>
> Since repairing the crankcase vent tube I have noticed strange odors
> inside the car.  It smells like burning paper with a slight hint of
> oil burning and maybe a little coolant.  Can't be sure if all these
> odors are coming from the same place but I cannot smell any of them
> outside the car.  It can sometimes be very strong.  Is this a sign of
> impending doom?  I have learned not to take this car at face value.
> It truly has a mind of its own and sometimes only hints at what is
> going to go wrong next.
>
> The rest of my list is as follows: Water pump, timing belt, v belts,
> thermostat, and misc parts like light bulbs that my local Napa does
> not carry plus the parts mentioned above.  All these parts should be
> here for the weekend coming up.    Anyone up to trade some garage time
> for a case of MGD?  Drop me a note off list.  You will be responsible
> for your travel expenses.  LOL
>
> Any insight with any of these problems would be MUCH appreciated.
>
> Ben
> 1990 Audi 90 Non-Q Non turbo 5 cly AUTO
>
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