sick avant...(long)

[Peter Schulz <schulz@iatcmail.ed.ray.com>]

Labor day weekend, a weekend of rest, right?

Not if you own two older audis...  ;-)

While my wife was driving, with me as shotgun, I heard the
dreaded "whir, grunch"  from the passenger front window, just
before the window slid into the door (and oblivion).
My wife 's response was that she was glad that it happened to
me, not to her.  So much for support  ;-)

Took the window assembly out of the door - started with replacing the
lock cylinder ( busted cam) and installing the "upgrade".  I found that
the cylinder cam interferes slightly with the delrin link for the door
handle - in part due to the door handle link cam having a bit too much
play- so I filed an angle onto the delrin link to eliminate the binding.

I ensured that the half tooth on the alarm cam was engaged properly,
and tested it but turning the lock back and forth with the key while
holding the door switch in.  Everything seems to work, however the
key needs alot of pressure to open or close the lock. I found that the
force required is no less when locking/unlocking the door with the
door knob.  (I did lubricate the lock cylinder with grease, and also
the coil spring, which I installed properly (after three tries!)
Visually, I can't see any cause for the  binding.  I did lubricate
the pivot points, but since they are delrin (or nylon) do they really
need it?

Back to the window - I removed the regulator and found that the
window pivot was no longer attached to the cable- Ok so, I consulted
Bentley and assumed that  I would just need  2 swivel pins to fix that.

Further investigation found that the yellow gear in the drive mechanism
(above the motor) had bound for some reason, and the cable ends totally
destroyed the gear.  At this point I have to replace the regulator, sans

motor ( I tested the motor to ensure it still works).  The only good
news
was that the cable and pulleys were in decent shape.

What's the collective wisdom on window regulators? New, new type
(no cable), rebuilt, or used? If the 200 regulator is the same as the
100
and 5000s, then there are an ample supply in the local wrecking yards.
Can someon with the Family Album do a cross reference on p/n
443-837-398 D?

Some web research found that the rebuilt Mountain Auto regulator goes
for $135, I assume w/ motor and a three year warranty.  Blau wants
$99.95  (less motor, I assume).

Any ideas? Anyone?  Bueller?

Also I think that I found the source of my poor gas mileage/hard
starting:
the crankcase breather hose collapsed, AND has a hole in it.  The ECU
also dropped 2121 (idle switch) as a code- time for more Bentley
troubleshooting.

Thanks in advance for any advice. And thanks to Chris Miller's 200 web
page,
the new Audifans search engine, and Dave Ohlemachers' web page for
photo and text guidance.


-Peter Schulz
1991 TQW (sick)
1990 CQ (not so sick)

schulz@res.ray.com