[s-cars] S-CAR-List Digest, Vol 36, Issue 19

[Kevin Day]

On 10/6/06, s-car-list-request at audifans.com <s-car-list-request at audifans.com>
wrote:

> Also, where would one begin to diagnose a cruise control that just plain
> doesn't work?  All the mechanicals seem to be in place.  Is there a known
> item that commonly fails here?  Is there an dash light that illuminates
> when
> it's activated?


There is a good diagnostic procedure in the Bentley.  However the first
thing to try is to get some contact cleaner and really work it into the
switches on the stalk.  For some reason (infrequent use, maybe) the switches
get gunked up and they stop working.

Some more details here:
http://forums.audiworld.com/s4s6/msgs/125936.phtml

One more thing.  My car could use an alignment.
>
[...]

> Can a fairly respectable shop do the work, or is it best to let the dealer
> handle it?


My experience is that most shops can't or won't do it correctly.  I am 0 for
2 in getting good alignments, at two different shops.  I haven't tried a
dealer, since I don't think they necessarily have any special expertise with
these cars, now that they are both rare and old.  I am going to get a new
alignment next spring at a Porsche/Audi specialist that works on both street
and race cars.  You want someone that has worked on "weird" suspensions
before,  is willing to spend more time on your car than he would aligning
grandma's grand am, and is used to catering to enthusiasts.  Your odds are
poor if you show up at a tire store expecting them to give a crap about
getting your weird old german sedan aligned correctly.

-Kevin