A6 1.8T overheating

[Grommit]

My first thread on here. Coming home tonight our A6 1.8T is overheating, with red light on. Wife keeps driving it with red light on and hears noise so she stops :zx11:

It cools to normal quickly but overheats on any distance, particularly uphill. No noise though now cooled:o No leaks or hissing os steam or water in the oil cap.

Looks like thermostat stuck closed -as started to overheat just at point would normally have reached normal operating temp.

Questions: Any harm done by driving when hot?

Is it thermostat?

Is thermostat easy to change. I'm familiar with job on other cars but lifting Audi bonnet where is it and is it easy to change and refill system?

Any help welcome. maybe I should get an A6 Haynes manual - is there one?

Cheers.

[Boardboy]

Sorry Grommet I don't know where it is on an A6. I wouldn't drive it whilist it's overheating. You could end up damaging it. Buy the manual and have a look. I know what you mean about opening the bonnet. I've gone from a MKII golf to an A3.
Regards Boardboy

[adamss24]

Do the fans kick in when its overheating? Check fuses and relay. Also is there any sludge in the coolant-sign of blown head gasket- or mayonaisse like stuff on the inside of the oil cap ? Thermostats dont fail that easy on vag cars and i would not advise you to carry on driving the car as more damage may occur-warped heads, brocken piston rings, etc. Just make shure you dont top up with cold water while the engine hot because the head will crack ! Check the car for fault codes to see if its anything electrical...Good luck.

[Grommit]

Thanks guys. Well no sign of head gasket problem ...no sluge, no leaks, no steam. Since read that thermostat (if it is that) is behind water pump and located from below. Most curious is fact that when got hot made noise now doesn't.

So I'll bung it in local Audi independent specialist. Really good one we use ...all ex. audi guys, only Audi parts and £60 and hour labour which compares to £105 an hour at local Audi dealer ...probabaly for a 18 year old trainee to look at it (we're in South East obviously!).

[JayB5UK]

[/qoute] So I'll bung it in local Audi independent specialist. Really good one we use ...all ex. audi guys, only Audi parts and £60 and hour labour which compares to £105 an hour at local Audi dealer ...probabaly for a 18 year old trainee to look at it (we're in South East obviously!).[/quote]

Hi, i'm in S. East too, who is it you use?

[Grommit]

Hi Jay,

It's called Mastertechs and visit www.mastertechs.co.uk (http://www.mastertechs.co.uk) for details. They're several guys who worked at Audi dealer Whites in Wimbledon for years and years and they set up this own independent Audi/VW garage a few years ago. Based near Morden. Really nice to deal with, know the cars inside out and no rip-off prices. You deal with the man who works on the car, not the suit in the franchised Audi reception who can't answer any technical question.

If you're pushed to get the car back they sometimes stay on in evening to sort it for you. It's quite a nice experience going there and local tram goes down to Croydon, which helps.

[VW Techniker]

Sounds like coolant pump going.

N.B. Thermostat located on RH side of block as you look at the engine, same place as PD engine but more difficult to get to.

[Grommit]

Spot on VW. Yes, was water pump and apparently it's common.