Did I get screwed? (was 5KS stalling)

[Ron Mruss <rmruss@pangea.ca>]

Hi, 
I was hoping someone on the list could help me out with a question.  I e-mailed the list yesterday regarding intermittent stalling, and Robert Myers was kind enough to e-mail back with what turned out to be the correct diagnosis - loose wiring going to the fuel pump relay.  Unfortunately, I had stupidly taken it to a mechanic first, thinking it was something more severe, and got charged two hours of labour for them to find a problem I could have found myself.  Now I have no doubt that had I just looked for it myself, without any advice, I would have spent some time looking, probably a lot - but I'm a novice.  These guys are supposed to be professionals, and the guy who actually worked on it told me he used to work on Audis 15 years ago (hmmmm, anyone ever heard that before?).  I'd really like to know - is two hours to find a loose wire to a fuel pump relay realistic, when a lister was able to give me the answer almost instantly?  Heck, a co-worker at work told me it was probably the fuel pump and I know that she doesn't work on cars.  I'd really appreciate some opinions, especially from the numerous professionals in the group - you know who you are. 

By the way, in the past, I would never have wondered about the integrity of these guys, but they recently quoted me more for a rebuilt PS pump than the dealer, and claimed they couldn't remove the X caps on my unit, which I later managed to do at home.

Regardless, one thing is for certain, in the future, I will try to diagnose and fix problems with my car with the help of the list BEFORE I go to a mechanic.

TIA,

Jeff Mruss
'84 5KS