Re: Newbie V8 Owner in the UK

[Roland Broberg <broberg@execpc.com>]

Get that belt changed.  I did mine at 80Kmiles when Audi was telling us
90Kmiles. Shortly thereafter Audi changed their minds and said 60Kmi
since they were having expensive failures.  No way you can get that job
to take 14 hours.  Did mine myself.  When I opened the thing up the belt
was so loose you could spin the water pump with the belt in place.  It
amazes me that the belt never jumps cogs and caused engine failure.  I
just opened it up at 132Kmiles and the belt is tight, but has stress
cracks in the surface.  Time to change again.  That belt is available
through alternate sources in US.  I believe mine is a Gates.  Paid about
$50US two and half years ago.  Also, replace the serpentine at the same
time.  Some also suggest the idler and water pump.  I only suggest
checking them while you're in there.  Your tranni problem desription
would scare me a lot.  Get it checked out by an audi shop that knows the
car.  It could be nothing or could be that your electronics are in need
of attention.  Mine certainly does nothing of the sort.
Roland

David M. Lancaster wrote:
> 
> Having recently bought a 1991 V8Q to replace my wife's totally unreliable Range Rover, I need to seek the opinions of experts - and my research tells me that this list is where they are!
> 
> The car has 122K on the clock and no record that the cam belt has ever been changed. I have just had a full service done by B.R. Motorsport and I asked them to check and replace the cam belt. They made inquiries with VAG in Milton Keynes and were told that there had never been such a belt in the UK (but they did quote an Audi figure of 14 hours labor to replace one!).
> 
> My question is: Do they really last for ever?
> 
> Despite the mileage the car is in tip-top condition however, when pulling fairly hard, the auto transmission seems to pause when changing gear (up and down) which causes the revs to rise between gears so that the next gear comes in with a bit of a thump. Is this a common complaint?
> 
> Thanks for advice received..
> 
> Dave Lancaster
> 20v coupe quattro
> V8 quattro
> Range Rover (which has never been so reliable now it is not needed!)

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Roland Broberg, P.E.    Broberg Engineering     broberg@execpc.com
414-646-8084 Voice      414-257-6103 FAX

Current Wheels   Former Notables
90 V8            91 100                     60 Karmann Ghia Convertible
86 Vanagon       86 5KTQ                    35 Plymouth Coupe
                 84 5K                      62 Corvair Spyder
Convertible
                 57 Carrera 1500 GS         76 Saab 99 
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