[V8] V8Q Salvage Value?

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

You may want to sit down and have another brewski before you make a decision.
You have a long list of problems here - there may be a less expensive way to get
back on the road.
Do you have a second car - or is this your daily driver?
If it is your daily then you have a problem but if you can go slowly, you may
get out of this fairly cheap.
The big key is if you can work on it yourself. If you have to pay labor things
can get expensive quick and it may not be worth it to you.

Do you know for a fact that both the bomb and rack are bad? You may just have a
bad hose - and that is pretty cheap to rebuild. Seeing that you work at
Lockheed, there has to be someone there that could fix a hydraulic hose - it
ain't rocket science after all :-)
You can usually have it done for around $50 at a good shop. We all like Spokane
Hose because they do mail order and good work.
If you get into this, remember you can use very cheap Chevron RYKON 32 or Mobil
DTE 13 hydraulic oil. 5 gallons of this stuff costs about the same as 3 qts of
Pentosin.

Likewise the alternator can be rebuilt on the cheap for about $00.50 if all it
needs is brushes. Full DIY rebuild including bearings and regulator is still
well under $100.

The radiator hose could possibly be repaired with a splice too. It would be a
short term repair, but cheap.

On the timing belt, many on this list have done their own, and it is not that
hard if you are at all mechanical. The required tools are rentable from various
sources.

Now for the girlfriend. She is going to have to learn sooner or later thet you
have an Audi problem. May as well break her in quickly...


Dave


Quoting "Klein, Nathan P" <nathan.p.klein at lmco.com>:

> Hello,
>
> This is my first posting.  I've been watching the V8 message boards
> since mid-April when I committed to buy a pearl white 1990 V8Q, of which
> I took delivery over the Memorial Day weekend (a little over a week
> ago).  I've really enjoyed the information on this site.
>
> This is my first Audi.  I've owned cars from all over the spectrum, but
> never an Audi.  I purchased it from Way Up North, and drove it 17 hours
> (almost) nonstop to Texas (V8Qs are few and far between here).  Didn't
> think that I had much to worry about.
>
> On the way home, the 'BRAKE' light would blink on and off while going
> over bumpy surfaces, but I figured it to be a loose sensor wire.  The
> day I got home, I lost the top radiator hose in front of my girlfriend's
> dad's house, getting coolant all over their driveway and manicured lawn.
> I also noticed smoking coming from the underside of the car, creating a
> very pleasant aroma in the front yard (way to score points with the
> dad!).  Over the succeeding 72 hours, I lost power assist to the brakes
> and power assist for steering, which turned out to be the brake pressure
> accumulator and the steering rack.  Thursday I lost the alternator
> (losing your lights on the interstate at night is a heck of a thing!).
> I think that was my first experience with the car's 'limp' mode.
>
> I knew that the car needed a timing belt and tires when I purchased it,
> and had the resources set aside to do this.  I hadn't planned on these
> other components going awry immediately.
>
> Since I'm in the middle of summer school and remodeling a house in my
> "spare" time, I unfortunately don't have time to perform all needed
> repairs in a reasonable timeframe.
>
> The car is otherwise in pretty good shape.  Body is fairly straight,
> save a few rust spots, interior is spotless, transmission shifts
> smoothly, ride and drive is outstanding.  The car has meticulous service
> records.  It feels better than my buddy's 420SEL going down the road.
> Extremely comfortable.  Motor purrs.  No noises.
>
> Was wondering what the consensus is as to how much I could get out of it
> in the current mechanical condition?  I really don't have any idea.  I
> know that if I had my tools and the time I could get it going, but I
> unfortunately don't have either at the moment.  And I know my girlfriend
> wouldn't like me spending weekends under the car for a while.  I am not
> interested in parting the car.  I'd like it to go to a good home where
> it will be repaired and enjoyed (and, I'd get a big fine for parting out
> a car in my driveway).  Is there a 'floor' below which these cars won't
> go unless thrashed?  Not being familiar with the depreciation curve of
> these vehicles, any advice is greatly appreciated.
>
> I may decide to keep it, but I'd sure like some advice from those that
> have been around them for longer than myself.  Thanks in advance.
>
> Regards,
> Nathan
>
> Nathan P Klein
> Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
> F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program
> nathan.p.klein at lmco.com
>
>
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