Thomas G. Marshall

My 2000 a4 / 1.8T has accumulated some repairs that I'm going to tackle
all at once. I live in North America. New England, actually.

I'm going to handle a number of them myself, I hope, but I was wondering
if anyone here had any thoughts as to the cost I should expect to pay
(dealer or other shop or done by myself), and if any of them are worth
tackling on my own.

Not in any particular order:

1. The /electric/ fan in the front has worn bearings (please no one
lecture me about tightening the fan belt, it really isn't the one that's
screeching.)

2. Two wheels have worn breaks: RF, and RR. Do I need to replace the
sensor as well? Do I /really/ need to replace the rotors everytime? I
keep hearing that the rotors on audi's these days are far too thin to be
turned. How bad is it for me to just keep slapping new pads on until
the rotors are obviously HORRID? And are aftermarket break parts really
gonna squeak and warp on audi's like my mechanic warns?

3. RF also has a worn wheel bearing. Can't do that myself. Dealer or
3rd party ok?

4. Over 60k miles. I'm hearing that the a4's are known for early timing
belt breakage. Obviously nothing I'm doing. But I had my mitsubishi
eclipse GSX turbo TB replaced once by a 3rd party who botched the
bejeebers outta it and I lost like 40% power. Are the audi TB's as
"tricky" to do?

5. Need a new set of plugs. I've done this before on my own with my
eclipse, but what is a good price to expect for it to be done by others?

6. Driver-side door handle is loose as all get out, but works. I've
heard that it usually means that some lever arm inside has broken. Is
this hard to do?

Thanks so much!!!!!!

Thomas



--
While using is ok, actually /writing/ free software is a disingenuous
activity. You can afford to write software for free only because of
someone else somewhere actually paying for it. Just say no.

Mike Whiteman

1. The secondary fan is easy to replace, do it when you do 4.

2.You can replace the pads + rotors yourself . If they are really worn you
need to replace the rotors check thickness and for warp.As far as I know
there are no sensors in the rear brakes.You need a caliper tool to rotate/
retract the pistons in the calipers.

3. Thats a dealer or independent unless you can get a "hub shark" tool. to
pop the bearing in and out

4. You are wise to worry about the belt on the 1.8T. Change the accessory
belt, thermostat and timing belt tensioner at the same time.If you are into
modifications fit a snub mount at the same time since you are in the same
place.The belt takes about 5 hours to do.Audiworld.com has a article on how
to do it. Check the tech section. Buy a bentley manual.

5. 1 hour job. Use the NGK's

6. No idea.


"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail. com>
wrote in message news:Uafjc.35003$2v.23034@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
>
> My 2000 a4 / 1.8T has accumulated some repairs that I'm going to tackle
> all at once. I live in North America. New England, actually.
>
> I'm going to handle a number of them myself, I hope, but I was wondering
> if anyone here had any thoughts as to the cost I should expect to pay
> (dealer or other shop or done by myself), and if any of them are worth
> tackling on my own.
>
> Not in any particular order:
>
> 1. The /electric/ fan in the front has worn bearings (please no one
> lecture me about tightening the fan belt, it really isn't the one that's
> screeching.)
>
> 2. Two wheels have worn breaks: RF, and RR. Do I need to replace the
> sensor as well? Do I /really/ need to replace the rotors everytime? I
> keep hearing that the rotors on audi's these days are far too thin to be
> turned. How bad is it for me to just keep slapping new pads on until
> the rotors are obviously HORRID? And are aftermarket break parts really
> gonna squeak and warp on audi's like my mechanic warns?
>
> 3. RF also has a worn wheel bearing. Can't do that myself. Dealer or
> 3rd party ok?
>
> 4. Over 60k miles. I'm hearing that the a4's are known for early timing
> belt breakage. Obviously nothing I'm doing. But I had my mitsubishi
> eclipse GSX turbo TB replaced once by a 3rd party who botched the
> bejeebers outta it and I lost like 40% power. Are the audi TB's as
> "tricky" to do?
>
> 5. Need a new set of plugs. I've done this before on my own with my
> eclipse, but what is a good price to expect for it to be done by others?
>
> 6. Driver-side door handle is loose as all get out, but works. I've
> heard that it usually means that some lever arm inside has broken. Is
> this hard to do?
>
> Thanks so much!!!!!!
>
> Thomas
>
>
>
> --
> While using is ok, actually /writing/ free software is a disingenuous
> activity. You can afford to write software for free only because of
> someone else somewhere actually paying for it. Just say no.
>
>

Thomas G. Marshall

I love posts like this. Wham wham wham wham done.

Thanks!


Mike Whiteman <mickdw@msn.com> coughed up the following:

> 1. The secondary fan is easy to replace, do it when you do 4.
>
> 2.You can replace the pads + rotors yourself . If they are really
> worn you need to replace the rotors check thickness and for warp.As
> far as I know there are no sensors in the rear brakes.You need a
> caliper tool to rotate/ retract the pistons in the calipers.
>
> 3. Thats a dealer or independent unless you can get a "hub shark"
> tool. to pop the bearing in and out
>
> 4. You are wise to worry about the belt on the 1.8T. Change the
> accessory belt, thermostat and timing belt tensioner at the same
> time.If you are into modifications fit a snub mount at the same time
> since you are in the same place.The belt takes about 5 hours to
> do.Audiworld.com has a article on how to do it. Check the tech
> section. Buy a bentley manual.
>
> 5. 1 hour job. Use the NGK's
>
> 6. No idea.
>
>
> "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail. com> wrote in
> message news:Uafjc.35003$2v.23034@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
>>
>> My 2000 a4 / 1.8T has accumulated some repairs that I'm going to
>> tackle all at once. I live in North America. New England, actually.
>>
>> I'm going to handle a number of them myself, I hope, but I was
>> wondering if anyone here had any thoughts as to the cost I should
>> expect to pay (dealer or other shop or done by myself), and if any
>> of them are worth tackling on my own.
>>
>> Not in any particular order:
>>
>> 1. The /electric/ fan in the front has worn bearings (please no one
>> lecture me about tightening the fan belt, it really isn't the one
>> that's screeching.)
>>
>> 2. Two wheels have worn breaks: RF, and RR. Do I need to replace
>> the sensor as well? Do I /really/ need to replace the rotors
>> everytime? I keep hearing that the rotors on audi's these days are
>> far too thin to be turned. How bad is it for me to just keep
>> slapping new pads on until the rotors are obviously HORRID? And are
>> aftermarket break parts really gonna squeak and warp on audi's like
>> my mechanic warns?
>>
>> 3. RF also has a worn wheel bearing. Can't do that myself. Dealer
>> or 3rd party ok?
>>
>> 4. Over 60k miles. I'm hearing that the a4's are known for early
>> timing belt breakage. Obviously nothing I'm doing. But I had my
>> mitsubishi eclipse GSX turbo TB replaced once by a 3rd party who
>> botched the bejeebers outta it and I lost like 40% power. Are the
>> audi TB's as "tricky" to do?
>>
>> 5. Need a new set of plugs. I've done this before on my own with my
>> eclipse, but what is a good price to expect for it to be done by
>> others?
>>
>> 6. Driver-side door handle is loose as all get out, but works. I've
>> heard that it usually means that some lever arm inside has broken.
>> Is this hard to do?
>>
>> Thanks so much!!!!!!
>>
>> Thomas
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> While using is ok, actually /writing/ free software is a disingenuous
>> activity. You can afford to write software for free only because of
>> someone else somewhere actually paying for it. Just say no.

--
While using is ok, actually /writing/ free software is a disingenuous
activity. You can afford to write software for free only because of
someone else somewhere actually paying for it. Just say no.