[s-cars] I just saved a ton of cash!

[JR]

Fellow listers,

Last fall I took my car to the Audi stealership to have a cruise control 
in my 93 S4 diagnosed and possibly fixed.  The stealer told me I had to 
replace the electronic cruise control controller or some such nonsense 
and it was going to run me about $695!  I about choked!  So I checked 
with the list and checked the net and found it could possibly be the 
vacuum pump located behind the plastic shield in the drivers side wheel 
well.  I bought a used one from Force 5 for $25.  Winter hit and I put 
the car away.  Today it was 70 degrees out for the first time so I 
pulled it out and put the pump in.  Took about 30 minutes.  Cruise works 
perfectly now.  The moral of the story is never take your car to the 
stealer unless you absolutely have to!!!  I'm sure most all of you 
already know that, but you can add this story to your list of reasons 
why you don't.

I also just replaced my dead factory CD changer with a Sony CDX-2001 I 
bought/won off eBay for $9.99.  Works like a champ!  They don't make the 
factory CD changers anymore, but I'm sure if they did they'd want $500+ 
for one.  So in effect I probably saved there too.  I doubt anyone else 
has found on of these compatible units for $9.99.

So when you get to thinking that you own a money pit (which I have done 
a few times since I bought this car), remember this email and look 
around before you spend a huge chunk.  You might find a deal and save a 
load of cash.  I would guess that the information I've gotten from this 
list, sjmautotechnik.com, S-CARS.ORG, and other URS4 websites has 
allowed me to do my many of my own repairs (including my the above 
repairs, timing belt, water pump/thermostat, and a few others), saving 
me thousands of dollars.

Keep the information flowing!

JR