Wholesale Parts Quick Ref. Catalog - Review/comment

["Dave C." <conner@cfm.ohio-state.edu>]

I stopped by a local Audi Dealer (Byer's) and bought a copy of 
"Wholesale Parts and Quick Reference Catalog, For Audi Vehicles Model Year
1987 to 1997"
I paid $17.50 and they had it in stock.  They first tried to find it in the
computer using the part number but found nothing.  Then the parts guy said
he thought he had seen this recently and went searching in the office,
returning with a copy.  He said if I was a "Wholesaler" he would give it to
me free of charge.

So after looking it over I thought I'd offer my preliminary observations.
It's a useful document and well worth the cost...to me.
But it does have a few shortcomings.
1...it shows nothing prior to 1987, just as the title suggests.  So if
you're looking at a 1986 4kq in the boneyard and wondering if those shiny
new whatever's on it will work on your 1987 Coupe GT, it's no help.

2...it generally lists only the most basic parts swap operations and the
most obvious parts needed to do it.  For example...Hydraulic Pump
Replacement, and the P/N of the pump for each model of car.  No information
about rebuild kits, banjo bolts, sealing washers, etc is included.  This is
the biggest disappointment for me.  I was hoping it would list all those
little diddly things that you want to have on hand before starting a job,
then you could just FAX that list to a supplier and know you'd have it all
on hand.  No such luck.  

3...It has a bit of what I would call idiotic redundancy.  Example..One
operation it lists is "Replace Fuel Injector", with the part number of each
fuel injector, sealing washer, etc needed for each model.  The next
operation in sequence is "Replace >All< Fuel Injectors".  Here they list
everything again, the only difference being they show the total number of
each item needed...e.g.   5 each instead of 1 each.

4....There is no preface or index, so if you're wondering about how
something is organized, or anything else about the book, you're on your own
trying to get an answer.  For example...they give a part number for the
window regulator, but don't indicate if it's a new improved version, or the
same as the old one.

5....It seems to omit some models.  For example...under "ECM, Fuel
Injection - Replace" it lists only the 1987-88 5000 with either KZ or NF
engine.  No mention of the MC engine or any separate listing for the 5000
TQ, etc.  The ECM is more often called the ECU (engine control unit) or
computer.

So, overall, I think it is a worthwhile addition to my reference material,
but not as useful as I had hoped.
Dave Conner
Columbus, OH
91 200Q 20v avant (for sale)
89 100E
87 5KS 
86 4KQ


At 05:03 AM 10/8/98, Ron Wood wrote:
>Re:Wholesale Parts Catalog EC Article, 4kq
>
>From: Ron Wood <vw-audisport@worldnet.att.net>
>Subject: Re:Wholesale Parts Catalog EC Article, 4kq
>Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 15:20:10 -0700
>
>The book covers all models from 87 to 97, and includes part #'s & 
>descriptions (very breif) for more than 5000 service operations. It is 
>very handy for a particular repair as it gives you all the parts needed
>for that job. It is list current part #s that may have superseded old #s
>on the microfiches that are hard to pry out of the dealer's hands. It 
>won't tell you straight out about parts interchangibilty amongst models 
>as it list the part #s by car models, but you can find out if that part
>is listed for other cars as well. The best thing about it is you don't 
>have to rely (or wait) for your trusted parts person to look up a part 
>only to get the wrong one.
>  In looking at the book just now, I found the following order info:
>Phone 1-800-523-8477 ext 2
>Fax 301-294-4979
>Online www.hayes-ligon.com
>HTH
>Ron Wood-Audis a plenty
>