"REAL Stories of the Quattro Patrol"

["James A. Zwahlen" <jazman@cnmnet.com>]

Hello, Q-listers,

Just got back from a weekend roadtrip from St. Louis MO to South Central Kentucky.  Knew 
my '87 5KCS TQ was in peak condition, so was not worried about driving thru the rain 
for 7 hours on end.  About a half an hour from Dale, IN I felt my cruise lag suddenly, 
but continued to cruise at a slower speed.  I turned it off and guess what.  I continued 
to cruise.  I had to tap the accelerator with my foot to get it to slow down.  The 
accelerator continued to work but was notchy and would stick in different places.  I
pulled off I-64 at the next exit (in the rain)  and pulled under a gas station canopy.

The cruise control linkage had broken.  The brass link which  connects the vacuum 
diaphragm to the thottle link had separated at......can anyone guess.....a rubber
bushing (no, I did not put vaseline on it)  which connected the link rod to the vacuum 
diaphragm.  The loose rod was catching underneath the hood causing interference with the 
thottle.  I disconnected the broken rod and everything was fine, except,  I drove the 
rest of the weekend without cruise.  :P

I called ahead to Bluegrass Motorsports (Louisville Audi dealer).  They did not have 
anything in stock, but said that the bushing was not sold separately, that you had to 
buy the complete linkage for $53.

Does anyone know if this is an Audi pricing policy or was this dealer just taking 
advantage?  Does anyone know where I can get just the bushing.

Other observations:
1.  An A4 headed toward St. Louis on Friday.  They look Mavelous!
2.  Sharp 5000 in Louisville on Sunday.
3.  New Chevrolet 4 WD upside down in the median in Mt. Vernon IL on Sunday.  It looked 
to be very serious.  Looks like it took the median for some reason and then started 
barrel rolling.  The ambulance had not arrived and 3-4 people where strectched out 
wanting for help.   Please, everyone be careful out there.


jazman