What have I done, Cont'd

[Tom Werner]

I took Amtrak from Charleston, SC down to Jacksonville, FL to pick up the 
'91 200 tq I bought on Sunday.

A friend drove me from the train station to the car, where I did the final 
checks for the 250 miles home.  What I found, two miles later while pumping 
up the tires, was that the coolant resevoir had started leaking.  It wasn't 
leaking when I test drove the car, or when I checked over the engine minutes 
earlier.  I think this is what men in Europe's Dark Ages would call "an 
Omen."  Whether it is a good omen or a bad omen remains to be seen.

As is stated so eloquently in Douglas Adams' Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy, 
"Don't Panic."  Several years ago, I had bought a few parts for a VW Passat 
I owned briefly from a salvage yard in Jacksonville.  I'll refer to this 
yard as "E Auto Parts", because that is its name.  The place was just a 
couple of miles away, and on my way out of town, so I tracked down the 
number and placed a call ahead so that a used resevoir might be ready for me 
to pick up.

A fine plan, indeed.  Until, I was quoted FIFTY BUCKS for a coolant 
resevoir.  That's right, Fifty Bucks for a used coolant resevoir.  A 12 to 
15 year-old coolant resevoir that could most likely be found on any Audi 
made between 1988 and 1995.  When I pointed out that I could buy a new 
resevoir for around $25 over the internet, I was invited by the parts guy to 
do just that.  The Prick.

In defense of the salvage yard, I did talk to a manager who agreed to sell 
me a resevoir for the low, low bargain price $30, but after checking 
inventory, no resevoirs were found.  Just Great.  Even better was when I got 
to listen to how this particular yard prides itself on professional service 
and low pricing.

While I was fuming on hold I did some thinking.  Since the cracked housing 
was above the cylinder head and radiator (barely), I figured that even if 
most of the coolant leaked from the resevoir, I'd still have coolant flowing 
through the engine and Radiator.  Also, as long as the car was moving, the 
coolant would stay at a lower temperature, thus producing less pressure 
within the cooling system.  This reduced system pressure from the lower 
coolant temps would also force less coolant through the crack in the 
resevoir.

Triple AAA could tow me the last 100 miles if need be so, at worst, that 
only put me 150 miles away from getting home that day.

I filled up the coolant resevoir, hit I-95, flipped E Auto Parts the finger 
through my sunroof, and headed home.  I stopped to get gas and check the 
resevoir at the first exit in Georgia (the land of cheap gas).  After 40 
miles, about 3/4 of the coolant remained in the resevoir.  So far, so good.  
There was a growing pool of coolant on the ground, but I attributed it to 
the higher pressures from a stopped engine.  Time to top off and hit the 
Interstate.

150 miles later, repeat gas stations fill of gas and coolant, making sure to 
put the appropriate container, leaking or otherwise.

All told, after 270 miles, nearly 11 gallons of gas, a half gallon of 50/50 
Prestone Extended Life / Men's Bathroom Water mix, and 4 tense hours full of 
worry and silence (Thanks, radio "Safe Code".  Thanks Previous Owners who 
didn't bother to replace recalled rear speakers.)  the 200TQ and I are home. 
  Now all I need is for my Bentley to arrive and my timing belt parts to be 
UPS'd.

If anyone needs to reach me in the next 8 weeks, I'll be the guy spending 
every spare minute pacing between my car, my Bentley Manual, the 
SJMAutoteknic site on the Internet and, oh yeah, bugging you guys every 
chance I get.  Speaking of which, what's the procedure for entering the 
radio code on a 91 200tq?  And, who wants to buy a 88 80q in great 
mechanical condition?  Or even, who wants to save my sanity (and my 
weekends) by making me an offer on a 200 tq that I can't refuse?

May your Audi days be far less worrisome,


Tom Werner

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