Quick question from a fellow Audi owner. Someone recently tried to> break into my vehicle and the locks are broken. How much do you> estimate this costs to repair?>

Jaime>

2000 A4---1.8T---77K miles: Note, I am trying to fix an A/C system so I > can sell my car. $1400 to replace the evaporator is just nuts at this > point.>

There is a leak in the A/C system that both my mechanic and dealership > have concluded must be in the evaporator core because the dye just isn't > coming out anywhere.>

However my mecahnic is puzzled by something though: His company repairs > Audi's a great deal and he said that since this car has had several > recharges with 1 leak stopper that targets the O-rings one of which I > replaced and at least 2 of the leak stoppers that is meant for heavier > leaks with dye's both UV and bright red, that he is having a hard time > imagining that even the evaporator core could hold that much dye + > stop-leak oil base. There is no sign of a leak anywhere: clean condensor, > weld points, compressor, lines, etc., etc.>

Here's the whack job history:>

1. June 2005: Mechanic 1 recharges system with dye.> ---> a/c dead nearly right away>

2. later June 2005: Dealership sees no dye and recharges with some form of > stop-leak (I think) and dye.> ---> this lasts through the summer.>

3. April 2006: A/C dead---Dealership recharges---sees no dye----puts in > more dye.> ---> this lasts maybe a week>

4. May 2006: Mechanic 2 recharges the system with a light stop-leak (not > the "gold" type) and replaces an O-Ring and the Schrader valve.> ---> a/c dead but took a few days to lose a small amount of coolant. The > coolant is still there at a lesser amount but too low: the low-pressure > switch has shut down the a/c.>

6. June 2006: Mechanic 2 is encouraged by the slow leak and refills and > drops in the dye and expensive stop-leak stuff. He lets it sit in his lot > for a few days and it holds pressure and produces very cold air.> ---> a/c dead in a few days.>

7. July 2006: Mechanic drops in one more strong stop-leak and dye.> ---> This is gone within a few hours.>

Can you tell me if there is any chance that the problem is not with the > evaporator core? Any other thoughts?>

THANKS!>

-- > Doesn't /anyone/ know where I can find a credit card company that emails > me the minute something is charged to my account?>

For DIY you will need to borrow or rent a special tool that holds the crank> shaft to loosed and re tighten the main bolt to 240 ft/lbs. If you buy the parts> from an on line source you can usually rent the tools.