Coupe Repairs...

[Nivi@aol.com]

Hi guys,  (sorry if I posted this thrice, sometimes the AOL mailer bounces my
mail
               back if one person's account bounces...originally I meant to
cc: all the coupe
               owners, but things kept bouncing back!!)

I just *forced* my Audi dealership service department to give me an estimate
on my airconditioning system, which had been leaking during the last four
months, but I decided to hold off repairing it. They came back with an
estimate for a hydroulic pump and a hydroulic accumulator as well as a
"ignition system". I had taken the car in earlier the day before to check a
knocking sound coming from the front of the block, and took a ride with the
mechanic. He said that there really wasn't anything wrong, and that I should
just wait until the parts break down...*but*, that's not what the "service
representative" said! Check this out:

Hydroulic pump = $ 844
Hydroulic accumulator = $ 354.50   (is this the "bomb"??) I actually
diagnosed this, and 
                                                    told the mechanic that
the brake light was on for a 
                                                    bit on startup.
Ignition = $ 400     When I asked, "is that the distributor?", they replied
"yes, I think so"
Labor (@ $ 70.00) = 4 * 70 = $ 280

Then I asked, "is any of this really necessary?", he replied "well, if you
want your car
to perform as it should..."      What balls! I was *told* that it wasn't
necessary, and this 
******** tries to get me to replace shit that I don't really need - I need an
airconditioning system to defog the car now!

Well, the guy is *not* the normal service manager, who's on vacation, so I'll
wait and see whether there is a change in the diagnosis...I had to call them
three times to get my estimate. (the wrong one, needed the a/c...)

I *will* keep you guys up to date on how this dealership is diagnosing
problems, and I'm *not* paying $ 70/hour for bull***t! I can go to another
one, bring my own parts, and pay only $ 56/hour, but I prefer the mechanic at
the dealership I have been using - he knows his stuff! I won't disclose the
name of the place right now, but later, when I have verified everything.

Any of you coupe owners replaced the hydroulic pump yet?? Bet that you
haven't!! I know that the "bombs" go after a while....and can anyone verify
that the accumulator is the "bomb"? Or, do I have to *add* to my grand total
of $ 1,878.50??

BTW, the total quote for an a/c condensor, compressor, charge, labor and
freon is..... (hold your breath!)....$ 1,800.95!! (I *don't* mind paying the
$ 70.00 labor if things are done right!!)

TIA everyone,

Dorab (Nivi@aol.com)
1993 S4
1990 CoupeQ
1986 Chevy Caprice