My first Q - what have i done? I miss my Synchros already!

["scott miller" <macatawa@hotmail.com>]

Wow parts are expensive!  I guess I'm not in Kansas anymore.  It's a '90 
200 wagon, 10V, pearl white with white wheels and blue leather, 120k.  
Beautiful, but can I keep it running?  Can I even get the rear brakes 
working?  My local Audi guru has ordered rear brakes, rotors, pads for 
$200, ouch.  I just reamed out the caliper sliders on my VW when the 
brakes froze, much cheaper.  I'll be at a hotel in Detroit all month, 
and I can't lock the rear hatch because the central lock air pump was 
eaten by battery acid and the key won't turn the hatch lock.  What fits 
between the rear seat and the security cover, it looks unfinished at the 
sides?  How hard and expensive is it to replace the weak oil pump?  Can 
even Slick 50 protect me?  I'll mostly be on the highway in Michigan.  
Air conditioning - dare I ask about a rebuilt compressor?  Bad ground 
somewhere, the turn indicators light up with the headlights and brighten 
with high-beams, but still work.  I'm guessing a bad ground somewhere 
under the fuse box or behind the grill?  It starts well but takes a few 
cranks and sometimes smells of raw gas after a short stop - seeping 
injector valve?  My wife had a 5000 wagon when I dated her, I pray I 
don't have those problems again.  I wanted a car, not another hobby!  Oh 
well, I've enjoyed getting my hands dirty again after six years with two 
reliable VW Synchros (deers totalled both), and it rides great.  I love 
to tinker, I used to be a mechanical engineer and a factory maintenance 
guy before that.  My wife loves it and the kids think it's cool.  I've 
been unexpectedly called to spend three weeks in Detroit, where I have 
access to a large shop with hoists, pneumatic and hand tools, machine 
shop.  I'll bring out my tool boxes next week and get to work.  Most 
people here can't even pronounce Audi, Quattro brings a blank stare.  I 
think I'm on my own with this one.

I go to Germany about every other month.  Usually just a quick stop at 
an Air Force base or two.  Is anything I need cheaper there?  
Headlights?  I haven't driven this car at night yet, and there's that 
short in the wiring.

Anyone from Australia out there?  Can I get a bull bar for this car?  I 
saw six dead deer on the road today, probably lots more dead off the 
road.  The brush guards they sell here are only good for brush, would 
never stand up to hitting a medium-size mammal.

Scott Miller
macatawa@hotmail.com

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