My Almost V8 Experience

[cobram@Channel1.Com (Cobram)]

 -=> Charles Schwartz illuminates us with <=-


 CS> There was an ad in last Sunday's New York Times for a 1990 V8 Quattro
 CS> with 45k and a bad trans.  The owner wanted the best offer over the
 CS> $1200 he had been offered by the local dealer Zumbach.  Zumback had

     I saw the same ad, by the time I had figured out towing costs
     and what I'd offer it had been sold.  I was going to part it
     out and keep the engine et.al for experimenting.

 CS> The V8 trans is very electronic and uses around 15 solenoids
 CS> internally. For this reason, it requires special diagnostic equipment
 CS> to test it.  It could even be possible that the various gears and
 CS> bearings are okay, but the problem could be electrical.  Very few if
 CS> any Audi dealerships bother to have this diagnostic equipment. 
 CS> Instead, they just replace the trans for 10k or so.

     The problem is easily (compared to other procedures) traced with
     the fault codes which can be read by following the procedure in
     the repair manual. 

 CS> You can buy a completely rebuilt and tested V8 trans for about $1700
 CS> plus $70 shipping from Autosports Unlimited.  Their trans comes with a
 CS> 12 month/12K warranty.  There may be cheaper places but by the time I

     Maybe tested...I don't think even they can get the components
     alone for that cost. I traced the problem in my friends V8Q to
     a bad solenoid or two (the harness was fine) but searched high
     and low for just the solenoid.  (The original post should be
     in the archives.)  Had to buy the whole body, which came with
     a new wiring harness. 

  CS> So the moral of this story is to not be afraid to by a V8 if it only
  CS> has a trans problem.  There are economical solutions.

      Especially if you keep the valve body with all the solenoids and
      harness to canibalize.

 CS> Charles



... Shake, a man of note, wrote so many things to quote.