Re: Typ 85 CQ - gas mileage and other questions

[Tom Nas <tnas@euronet.nl>]

Huw Powell <audi@mediaone.net> wrote:

>> Hmmm. When I mention Audi power windows, everyone keeps on saying "Oooh
>> ,they're crap, don't get 'em, just another source of endless repairs". So
>> they're not? Better get 'em myself, then...
>
>This is an interesting bit of psychology.  Let's say, for example, that
>the "failure mode" of a given speaker is that the tweeter is the first
>thing to break.  You can beat them up all day long, but when they
>*finally* break, it's always the tweeter.  Over the years, that speaker
>will gain a reputation for having crappy tweeters (they always break,
>right?).

Hmmm... I've something to add: after five years of very intensive
scrapyard-hopping, and looking at hundreds of manual-window Audis, I've
never noticed an (undamaged) manual window not working. I had a manual
window fail only once- when half of one track had rusted away on a '78 Golf
due to a rotten lower window seal. Door handles, yes. Manual windows? They
always work. Whichh brings me to my conclusion that it's at least a less
failure-prone part than the power window.
>
>Now look at just about every 80's Audi for sale used.  Guaranteed at
>least one window doesn't work.  This is I think more a function of the
>book value not supporting the cost of the repair in cahoots with the age
>of the car (MTBF 12 years...).

But it is a weak point, whereas I can't consider manual windows as such. Be
it the switches, the wiring or the mechanism- there's something that'll
fail at an (unconvenient) moment...
Given the nature of the part (not easily accessible) it'll get no
maintenance for a large part of its life. It needs to be engineered for
that IMO.

BTW- I've known a couple to fail on a five-year old car, and one on a
six-year-old, both in regular dealer maintenance. That's way too soon for
me.

>> I've never heard of a _manual_ window assembly failing on an Audi-
>
>You have now.  Sorry.  the passenger side window reg, manual, on my 1982
>Coupe had stripepd part of its gear and would only move over half of the
>rotation of the handle.

Still not really a common failure mode.

>> Made by major manufacturers, too.
>
>I'm not arguing with your proposal at all.  Whatever solutions work
>right are what people want to know about.  How about the details so the
>originator of this thread can weigh their options?

Right. I believe he was in Germany- it's a common accessory here in car
parts stores in Holland (can't be that much different in Germany), and D&W
have several different sets for sale in their catalogue. $120-150 is a
common price, but I've seen sets as low as $80. Bimetallic switch makes it
switch off when there's too much friction (never noticed it, not even with
iced-up windows). As I said- haven't seen one fail yet despite attempts to
break it, easy to mount.

My Dfl .02

HTH,

Tom