RE: Wierd electrical system, and hydraulic leaks

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.com.pl>]

Justin,

It's your car and your money, but allow me to throw in my $0.02. The
Audi dealers charge lot of money for even simpliest repair - it is a
known fact. But this particular dealership seems to be plain _mad_. Over
$1K for a rack??? Jeeeez! They probably wanted you to order a brand new
rack from Germany. Steering racks can be rebuilt and it is a repair
method approved by Audi. A rebuilt racks go for about $200 (mind you -
cheaper than you paid for a single hose!), don't know how much labour
would cost in US. Just for a reference, for a following repair:
- my rack rebuilt with factory rebuild kit and OE rubber boot
- new RH tie-rod end
- fresh Pentosin
- labour
I've paid a total of about $250. Labour is much cheaper here in East
Europe than in US, but parts certainly aren't. 
$280 for a hose? Any hose shop will fit a new hose with new crimps to
the existing fittings for about $40. It's as good as the new one for a
seven times less money. Why pay more?
About your dashboard lights problem: check the licence plate bulbs :-)
(seriously)

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.com.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Justin Frankel [SMTP:justin@nullsoft.com]
> Sent:	Wednesday, October 15, 1997 11:50 AM
> To:	quattro@coimbra.ans.net
> Subject:	Wierd electrical system, and hydraulic leaks
> 
> Well, I was pleasantly suprised today when the Audi dealership told me
> that
> my hydraulic leak on my 1988 5000QT was from a hose rather than the
> steering
> rack (my mechanic said it was the rack)... So I spent $280 instead of
> $1k+...
> But when I was driving home (it was dark), I noticed something weird.
> If I
> turn 
> my headlights off and then on again, while driving, the dashboard
> lights don't
> come back on. I need to stop, turn the car off, and start it again
> before
> they 
> will work. Any ideas on this? Is it some relay that needs replacing?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Justin