Re: quattro-digest V1 #240

[apowell@ezlink.com]

I read the following with interest....

> From: rochow@pixelmagic.com
> Subject: Re: Heater Valve 
> 
> >> Do I recall correctly that there was a suitable replacement available
> >> from Pep-Boys that you mentioned awhile back?
> >
> >That's right, many have used it. It's just the aftermarket version of the
> >heater control valve. The one I got happened to be a Stant model. These
> >metal-bodied ones are seemingly more robust than the plastic OEM ones,
> >which can split wide open and spew coolant everywhere. The cost is
> >similar either way (~$20).
> 
> Where is it located / from where is it accessible? That's precisely the
> sort of part one ought to just go ahead and replace after buying an old
> used car, the kind of thing you where preemptive effort seems to be rather
> small and break-down effect particularly troublesome...

The reason it's so interesting is that I just finished a 2,000 mile 
vacation trip - and right SMACK in the middle of it, the heater 
control valve (easily accessible between the block and heater core; 
just look at the single hose coming out of the block in back) in my 
1990 200 started leaking like a sieve.  

Unfortunately (and predictably) it was in a small town 90 miles from 
a dealer - and it was Saturday morning.  I made one 180-mile round 
trip just to get a valve from a wrecking yard,  but unfortunately the 
only one they had was made with only the vacuum valve - not the 
thermoswitch which evidently began being used sometime in mid-
1990.  Rats....but it did fill the hole and cost only $16.

So I ended up making a second 180-mile round trip to get a dealer-
ordered (next day service) part the following week.  I can attest that 
the retail price on this valve is $56, which is actually a lot less than 
I expected.

Opinion: If I had another Audi with 100K or so on it - I would replace 
that valve, especially if there was a $20 part which would do it.
__
++++++++++++++++++++WSU-CSU+++++++++++++++++
Al Powell
Apowell@EZlink.com
1958 Fiat 1200 Spyder "Transformabile"
1983 Datsun 280ZXT
1990 Audi 200
http://www.ezlink.com/~powells/
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++