[V8] V8Q Salvage Value?

[Buchholz, Steven]

... I must say it is great to be able to find other list members making
similar recommendations as I would ... sure saves on typing!  I
wholeheartedly agree with everything Dave is recommending ...

As to the alternator ... I was able to get a rebuilt from a local FLAPS
for a little over $150 ... and that included me eating the core charge
so that I could have a spare on the shelf.  Incredibly enough, the V8
alternators are available from other than "Audi specialists" ...

The "BRAKE" light blinking on bumps may simply be a marginal fluid level
in the brake fluid reservoir (the DOT-4 stuff).  

Loss of steering *and* brake assist doesn't sound like a bomb and rack
to me, each system has its own pressurized fluid supply ... perhaps a
bit of quick analysis will uncover something simpler to be the cause.
Especially when you think you need an alternator too ... checked the
serpentine belt?  Is it slipping because of the coolant that got on it?


... any thoughts as to the source of the aroma?  Do you have your nose
calibrated to the nuances of Pentosin smoke as compared to oil smoke or
tranny fluid smoke?  The V8 is prone to several engine oil leaks that
are very easily resolved.  

Chances are the top rad failure is at the funky "T" ... assuming this to
be the case, a bit of careful work with an Xacto knife and whipping up a
fitting made with a copper "T" from a local hardware store and three
hose clamps will get you back on the road for no more than a few $.  

If memory serves, there's a lister who lives in Texas who rents out the
TB tools ... of course Texas is a big state ... ;-)  You need a good
weekend to do the TB yourself, which will save a bunch of $.  Perhaps
you can find a friend who can help with the house remodel work ... 

I'm thinking the event is the Audi Gods helping you to determine how
well SWMBO lines up with the sacrifices required to be a true Audi owner
are ... if she passes the test you will really want to work hard to keep
her around!  ;-)  I never realized this testing was going on when my
wife and I were dating ... but it really did work out great!  ;-)

Good luck, and Welcome aboard Nathan!
Steve B
San Jose, CA (USA)
> 
> 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>:
> 
> > 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