Hello All,

I need some advice from you guys.

Car model is Audi 2004 A4 Quattro 1.8T

Since the winter started, my car started giving strange problems. The first thing was Lot of noise from Engine, When I took it to mechanic, he told me that Rack N Pinion is leaking and entire Power Steering liquid has leaked out. So I got the Rack N Pinion replaced. It cost me around 1200 dollars.

Then, the car heater stopped working. I took it to mechanic and he came with huge list of suggestions.

1) Heater Core Replacement.. The problem he says that is, heater core is clogged and needs to be replaced.
Parts - 180 Dollars
Labor - 9.5 hours -- 108 dollars/ hr
Coolant Flush -- 168 dollars
2) Timing Belt Replacement.. as mileage has reached 75000
Timing Belt Kit - 195
Timing Belt Tensioner - 142
Water Pump - 90
Serpentine Belt - 45
Camshift Oil Seal - 10
Front CrankShaft Seal - 13
Labor - 8 hrs - 108/hr
3) Valve Cover Gasket -- 42
Labor 1.5 Hrs --- 108/hr
4) Catalytic Converter
Oxygen Sensors - 2*160 = 320 dollars
4S (8E0131089DX) - 525
Labor -- 3 hrs -- 108/hr

With all these, he gave me an estimate og 4700 dollars....

Above all, Traction Control (yellow triangle with arrowed circle and exclamatory with in it)...

Does any of the above fixes this Traction control signal also?

I am really not sure whether to fix these problems or not. I bought the vehicle 3 months back, I already spent 2000 dollars for Passenger Window Replacement , Rear Disc Breaks, Rack N Pinion replacement......

Please advice....

Any advice will be of great help to me in taking the decision...

 

First advice is find a different mechanic - that list of stuff is going to be expensive, but you can almost certainly get it done for less money than you've been quoted.

The timing belt stuff alone adds up to $1359, which is at least $300-400 too much. (I paid $975 or so for mine last year and was told by some on the forum here that I paid too much.)

 

You also get what you pay for..... I bet i can pull apart your front end and find all kind of missing and broken pieces. Sheet metal screws holding your bumper on.... So on and so on.

You pay a hack's labor rate and your going to get a hack job

 

But i do agree with your first advice. Most shop will recommend everything they see wrong with your car, Tho is may not be a necessity at the time

 

I absolutely know my T-belt job was not done by a hack, but thanks for your concern. He specializes in VW/Audi and Porsche work, doing that almost to the exclusion of other stuff, and whenever I go to his shop, there are a herd of Audis plus a Porsche 911 or two sitting outside waiting for their turn to be worked on, and the shop is spotless. That many people trusting their cars to him, plus the fact that he's always been honest and fair with me and the friend who recommended him to me, tells me he's one of the good guys.

I'd recommend him highly to anyone in the southwestern part of the Twin Cities metro area.

 

I stay near to St Louis, Can you suggest any Repair Shops..

 

Wish I could help with that, but I have no knowledge of the area - hopefully somebody on the forum lives near you and can suggest some options for you.