200 10v'er WASTED...

[Thompson Smith <thompers@together.net>]

Funny noises in funny places...

For about a week, I've been hearing this strange engine noise down low
in the front section of my '89 200tqw 10v, near #1 cyl. The trusty
mechanics at the shop, (Vermont SportsCar) and I got out the stethescope
and listed. It only happened at startup, got quieter after about 2min,
but was always there all the way up to redline. "OK lets do a leakdown
and compression test". Might sound like a piston slapping, broken or
cracked ring maybe. Hmmm... 150k miles... Naaa not from a stout Audi
5banger. I have been racing, driving, tuning and owned over 8 Audi
10v's, for the last 7 years, some turbo some NA. Never have I EVER heard
this noise before. When I purchased the wagon back in Nov '97, I looked
over all the records and couldn't find a timing belt/water pump change.
Hmmm again. The mechanic I bought it from swears that it was done at
about 102K miles at Autosport, and he said he did it, but no receipt.

Long story short...  Just changed the timing belt and man was the water
pump WASTED! That darn thing had an 1/8 inch play in it on the shaft!
Went to pick up the car last night after they got it all back together
and the guys said, "Thompson, uuhhhh... this darn thing doesn't have any
spark...and wont fire up!" I said, "Did you check the hall sensor? The
air temp sensor on the IC?"   They said, "Yes, Yes... BTDT. Hall sensor
works, just no spark". Hmmm... This happened to me once before. "OK
guys, set everything to 0 deg timing and center the distributor on the
little mark." After an hour or more of the guys at the shop trying to
fire up MY Audi Mac-14, I give it a whirl... First time I kicked it
over, she fires up for me. Cool. (with droped jaw amazement from the
rally guys...)

To feel how WASTED that old wasser pumper was, just well amazing. I'm
surprised that the engine even ran. And to think that I was diagnosing a
"cracked piston ring, or piston slap" Duh. Never from a stout Audi 10v!
Heck, I'm gunna have 300K miles on this 10v before I even think of
rebuilding it. 

We should start a 200K mile club on the list...? Dan? I'll make a trick
logo and lets get everyone to pitch in to produce them? What do you
"hi-miler" guys say...? Or should we just do a 500K miler club instead? 

Thompson-
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der 'AudiArt' miester http://autoart.hypermart.net
'89 200tqw "S6 RENNWGN"  '90 20v'er - euro "Pinot"
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