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jasw
06-04-2008, 11:59 PM
Hi Guys, need a bit of help.

Just recently, My coolant light on my 53 polate Audi A3 keeps coming on every couple of weeks. I put coolant in, and then the 2.0TDI drains it all out within cuple of weeks.

I cant see no visible leak or problem, any hints? help?

loki
08-04-2008, 05:52 PM
Hi Guys, need a bit of help.

Just recently, My coolant light on my 53 polate Audi A3 keeps coming on every couple of weeks. I put coolant in, and then the 2.0TDI drains it all out within cuple of weeks.

I cant see no visible leak or problem, any hints? help?


There's got be a leak somewhere if you're using that much coolant. Check for green residue around the radiator and connecting pipes especially.

Crasher
08-04-2008, 06:04 PM
No start up shudder in the morning?

Bilibong
08-04-2008, 06:29 PM
If you can't see a leak from the engine then maybe it's going through it, i.e. head gasket failure.

If it's losing water that quickly I would expect to see a pool of coolant under the car. Are you losing all coolant or just seeing no water in the expansion tank? Have you checked the oil filler cap to see if it's emulsified? This would result in a white goo on the inside of the cap (Sorry if you already know what I mean by this).

Also some cars have protection panels under the engine and water can congregate here until you move off.

mwilson79
08-04-2008, 07:22 PM
Just had the same problem with my 53 plate 2.0 TDI.
Turned out to be the EGR cooler.
After searching the internet it seems to be a common problem which Audi are quite happy to ignore.

Crasher
08-04-2008, 08:39 PM
EGR cooler, inlet port porosity and head gasket failure are a problem with these engines.

a8 tech
08-04-2008, 08:56 PM
Also and very common the cylinder head cracks and cylinder 1 and 4 leak small amounts of coolant into the cylinders.Presure test the coolant overnight and start it up,if you develop a misfire and white smoke it most likely to be the cylinder head.The egr leak is easy to detect as you can see burnt coolant inside it when removed.There was a certain production year/make of heads that suffered with the cracked heads,ATTACH]2266[/ATTACH]

With V 330 cylinder head check the cooling system as follows:

Check the fuel quality. When using bio diesel white smoke and erratic operation after the start is possible.
Drive the vehicle till the engine is hot and then wait till the engine is cold. If there is now erratic engine operation and white smoke from the exhaust, proceed as follows:
Check the exhaust gas recirculation cooler for leaks.
Perform a pressure loss check of the cooling system with tester VAG 1274 and adapter VAG 1274/8. Keep the cooling system for at least 2 hours under pressure.
Remove the intake manifold bridge.
Set the cylinder 1 on TDC (valves must be closed)
Check whether there is coolant in front of the valves of the cylinder 1.
If this is the case, replace the cylinder head.



Check the cooling system with V 125 cylinder head as follows:

Check the fuel quality. When using bio diesel white smoke and erratic operation after the start is possible.
Drive the vehicle till the engine is hot and then wait till the engine is cold.
If the engine is difficult to start and there is white smoke and erratic engine operation, perform a pressure loss check of the cooling system with tester VAG 1274 and adapter VAG 1274/8.. Keep the cooling system for at least 2 hours under pressure.
Check the exhaust gas recirculation cooler for leaks.
If there is a pressure loss and no leak to the outside can be found, replace the cylinder head

jasw
11-04-2008, 09:13 PM
Guys cheers for the advice. Sorry for the late reply. Rang up audi n dy pretty much sed da same thing, its a common problem.

However, theres still no visible leak. Theres no "white stuff" underneath the oil cap either.

But, i did notice a shudder when i start the engine, what does this mean? (referring to crasher's post)

Sooo, what does that leave? What could it be?

a8 tech, thanks for the detailed. But i dont think id be able to all the stuff you mentioned!!!

Crasher
11-04-2008, 09:26 PM
But, i did notice a shudder when i start the engine, what does this mean? (referring to crasher's post)


Refer to A8's last post, the same thing.

jasw
12-04-2008, 11:52 AM
So, if it does seem to be the Head gasket, is it safe to drive?

a8 tech
12-04-2008, 02:28 PM
not hesd gasket but cylinder head failure,exspensive repair and its your choce if you drive it as i wouldnt like to say but get it checked out

jasw
12-04-2008, 04:21 PM
ive still got warranty via the used car scheme, so that should be covered right? I will be handing it in in a few days to get it checked out, but in the mean time - the cars wont blow up will it!!???? hahaha.

by the way, i did seem to notice a different kind of spillage, underneath my car today. But it had been raining, so i could quite really tell. But there was a small patch of wetness beneath my car, towards the bottom of the engine area. could it be the radiator?

I'll get it checked out on monday, and ill let u guys know what it was!! Thanks for the help tho, much appreciated!! Very helpful

jasw
15-04-2008, 04:40 PM
Arrrrrrrrrgghhh!! Guys still need your help!!

Took it to Audi VW Specialists, they conducted some tests on it and found that the head gasket and head cylinder are fine. Did a "colour test" and seems thats fine too. They dont actually know whats wrong with it, as theres no obvious leakage either.

WOT ELSE COULD IT BE??!?! its reallly getting to me now!! Any other ideas?

toonvw
22-04-2008, 07:45 PM
ive had the same problem with my bora tdi, it was losing water on and off for 6 months or so, turned out to be the head gasket, it was leaking at cylinder 3 and pressurising the coolant system and forcing the water out.
the test that i was told to do was to lift the header tank out(coolant bottle) and put a sponge underneath the overflow pipe on the bottle and replace the bottle. drive the car on a reasonably long journey to allow the engine to warm up.
if the sponge has coolant on it i would say it is more than likely the head gasket.

sillydior
29-07-2009, 02:52 AM
my A3 1.9 TDI 1998 sport has a similiar problem, with a sort of judder sometimes on start up what does the judder mean?
plus i don't know where all my coolants going?
but can smell it i think when i'am in front of the grill i think!!