Newbie: v8 ring gear done, steering rack needed soon? (longish)

["Salah Khan" <salah.khan@gte.net>]

Seasons Greetings!

I have owned a 90v8q for a year now and have just joined the qlist. I have a
couple questions to ask the pros and a couple experiences to share with
anyone out there who is as mechanically-challenged as I am.

I had a major problem on the V8 recently: a busted Ring Gear. Car broke down
a couple blocks from home, so that wasn't too bad. (But, good thing I
checked the owner's manual on towing proceedure, 'cause the tow company did
not send a flat-bed at first!) Later, the dealer quoted a very expensive
repair (needed the ring gear, a starter and many hours of labor...) So I cut
corners through some friendly mechanics in the Olympia area (i.e. got the
ring gear used, but in perfect condition at Max's Audi Volkswagen down in
Centralia for $300 off the dealer price, etc.) Then had the dealer do the
work and install the parts. (the other mechanics who know Audi's here either
didn't have the time or quoted same repair price as dealer). Still, the job
was an unexpected drain.

Perhaps the qlist has an idea on what may have caused the ring gear to break
(I saw it: 4 or 5 teeth in a row were either missing or chewed real good).

The car was described to me when I bought it as "a cold starter" but I have
yet to understand what that means. It generally takes 10-12 seconds of
cranking to start, even with the new starter. But sometimes it starts on a
dime, like it should. The colder it gets outside has no bearing on the
starting time, so why should it be called a "cold starter"? Could the eight
years of long cranking have been the cause for the broken ring gear? More
importantly, do these cars always start that way?

In any case, I always joke that my V8q would make for a pretty lame get-away
car!

While in the shop, the dealer informed me the Steering Rack was leaking and
would have to be redone (or replaced I don't know). $1,400 estimate includes
cv joint or boots and a couple motor mounts (can't recall exactly). Turns
out, the previous owner had serviced the car there and knew about the
problem but didn't tell me. Oh well...

The good news is that it is not urgent. The Audi mechanic said that for the
next six months or so I'll be fine, just to check the fluid level. I do, and
rarely need to add any fluid, and if so just a tad.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might save a few dollars on this
upcoming repair? I heard from one v8q lister that I might be able to make
some substantial savings on the purchase of a rack. Does anyone know how?
Would Jorgen Automotive that was mentioned todat for a 5k be the place to
call? Would the dealer accept to install a rack I purchased elsewhere?
Finally, can I stretch the wait period longer than six months before I have
to get the work done? (All I know about the rack is that both the brakes and
the power steering are involved.)

In spite of the above, I hope I can hold on to the V8 'cause it's a really
great ride.

p.s. I've been wanting to take a winter-driving course. Does anyone knows of
one, preferably Quattro, planned for the Northwest?

Sorry if I've been too long-winded.

Cheers,

Salah