HELP! Coolant/Overheating problems

[NewbridgeJob]

Hi all, i've got a 97 1.6 A3 which i've been having a few issues with.

Basically it's overheating. When the engine is cold and i check the expansion tank theres practically no coolant in what so ever. When i top it up the tank wont always fill up an it seems to just drain straight away. If i put more in until its in between min and max the car will stay at around about 95 degrees on a 30 min drive, but as soon as i stop, theres steam coming from the tank and basically all the coolant comes gushing out from what i assume is the overflow. That would appear that i've put too much coolant in but doesnt explain why the tank just doesnt fill up at all..

If i leave the coolant as it is even though it's been topped up, the coolant warning light comes on and after about 30 mins i've had the gauge go up to about 110 degrees which isnt good and is also followed by plenty of coolant leaking out. I'ts definately not the head gasket.

Is there any reason as to why this could be happening? Ive searched high and low on forums but nothing has seemed to help. I've left the engine running with the cap off incase there was an airlock but still nothing.

If i top the coolant right up as stated previously, when the engine is left to cool and i check the levels again, it's more or less empty

Any help/advice would be nice

Cheers

[kite]

Jammed thremostat maybe or water pump broken.

[merlin2002]

check your oil filler cap make sure its not covered in what looks like mayo, if thats ok then possibly what the other guy has said

regards
Rob

[Issac Hunt]

Sounds like a waterpump issue maybe?

[NewbridgeJob]

Yeah ive checked the oil cap for the head gasket signs of mayo etc etc.. I left the car to idle and let it heat up to 90.. as it slowly moved towards 95 i felt the top hose which was boiling.. but the bottom one was stone cold.

Am i right in thinking that the thermo is stuck closed and this is root of all my problem?

Thanks for the replies

[olly-c]

iv done 2 vw engines where the impellar had come away from the shaft in the pump, maybe be worth a look, especially with your water not circulating thru the rad, deffo check the stat first tho

[merlin2002]

iv done 2 vw engines where the impellar had come away from the shaft in the pump, maybe be worth a look, especially with your water not circulating thru the rad, deffo check the stat first tho


I second what he said

Rob

[kularm]

I had same issue... was the water pump in the end... replaced it for a nice metal one wwhich cleared me up proper

[olly-c]

how very odd i was brought a tdi golf today with a duff waterpump maybe i should specialize in vw waterpump replacement lol

[jt77]

i'm having exaclty the same problem, was told it was either head gasket blown or crack in the engine block (not by an audi specialist mind) but i don't think thats so cos there's loads of pressure, causing the coolant to gush out of the expansion tank. does anybody have an idea how much it would cost to replace the water pump?

[jt77]

have just spoken to a friendly audi specialist, he suggested a simple test to see if it is the water pump.

1. remove filler cap from expansion tank.
2. remove small hose connected to the top of the expansion tank
3. start engine from cold

water should start streaming out of the pipe you've just removed

4. rev engine

if flow of water increases with extra revs, then water pump is ok
if it doesn't its highly likely the water pump is dead.

not sure how accurate this is, if anyone has a comment.

am going to try this when i get home :)

[picki]

it may be that the impellar is loose on the shaft but only under high temp.

squirting hot water about isnt advisable!

the plastic impellar gets hot and expands off the shaft making it a bit loose so the shaft spins in the impellar.

i dont know if the 1.6 engine has any similarities to the 6n polo 1.6 8v engine.


with you mentioning hot/cold pipes the thermostat could have pushed itself through the spider that holds its in place, it did that in my old car.

[NewbridgeJob]

Right, got another problem.

Like i said, replaced the thermostat which has helped a lot - The temp is still going to around about 93-95 degrees instead of bang on 90 - It never goes above that though.

No i can drive fine etc but as soon as i stop and pull over, i can hear the coolant boiling and overflowing in the coolant bottle straight out the overflow tube and on the floor.

Before i set off on a journey im always making sure the coolant is between the min and max but can't understand why the hell it's overflowing- Really starting to do my head in now.

Any reason it may be doing this?? I know the fans working before i bypassed it with the use for a paper clip as it wasn't kicking in. I think this is because of the temp sensor but would this contribute to the coolant overflowing?

Cheers people

[kite]

Sounds like its time to change the water pump...

[olly-c]

the pumps isnt that expencive, but while its out you mayaswell change the belt and pulleys, if its getting hot when you stop it could be your fans arent working, your pump is goosed or you may have a slightly blocked radiator, if you feel all over the radiator when its warm makesure theres no cold spots

[NewbridgeJob]

Yeah - Well i'll have another feel of the radiator when it's upto temperature- I took the hose off the coolant bottle and got the car up to temp and there was coolant coming out the hose so would this still suggest that the pump could still be knackered?

It was a slow trickle and the coolant seemed clean and not oiley or anything. Should the coolant be flowing heavy or just steady??

I think im going to just replace the whole coolant bottle with the camp to see if that makes a difference because there never seems to be that much pressure in it.

[jt77]

the coolant should flow out of the pipe quite slowly, if you can get someone to rev the car for you, while you observe the pipe, the flow should increase for as long as the engine is revved.

i'm starting to think i could have a blockage in one of the pipes or rad or somewhere in the system which could cause the increase in pressure.

are you just losing coolant fromt the overflow on the expansion tank? cos thats the only location i can see mine leaking from.

i'm also gonna change the thermostat valve, and test the cooling fan.

then if that doesn't work i'll get the water pump changed, might aswell get the timing belt and pulleys changed at the same time, and if they're gonna take all that apart they might aswell investigate and replace the head gasket.... if that fails. i've got no clue what to do!!!

[NewbridgeJob]

the coolant should flow out of the pipe quite slowly, if you can get someone to rev the car for you, while you observe the pipe, the flow should increase for as long as the engine is revved.

i'm starting to think i could have a blockage in one of the pipes or rad or somewhere in the system which could cause the increase in pressure.

are you just losing coolant fromt the overflow on the expansion tank? cos thats the only location i can see mine leaking from.

i'm also gonna change the thermostat valve, and test the cooling fan.

then if that doesn't work i'll get the water pump changed, might aswell get the timing belt and pulleys changed at the same time, and if they're gonna take all that apart they might aswell investigate and replace the head gasket.... if that fails. i've got no clue what to do!!!

I never thought about revving it to be honest. Yeah the coolant is only coming from the overflow- Ive did a bit of DIY pressure test where by im wrapping my lips from the coolant bottle and blowing like hell- Nothing seems to be escaping which seems to be good news. I've already changed the thermostat and ive bypassed the fan..

If you don't know how to check if the fans working, pull the 3 pin plug which is in the bottom next to the radiator and get a paper clip and just stick it in the main pin at the top and its either the left or the right on at the bottom of the plug and see if it fires up. Mine came on straight away as it doesnt need the ignition on for it to work -

[jt77]

I never thought about revving it to be honest. Yeah the coolant is only coming from the overflow- Ive did a bit of DIY pressure test where by im wrapping my lips from the coolant bottle and blowing like hell- Nothing seems to be escaping which seems to be good news. I've already changed the thermostat and ive bypassed the fan..

If you don't know how to check if the fans working, pull the 3 pin plug which is in the bottom next to the radiator and get a paper clip and just stick it in the main pin at the top and its either the left or the right on at the bottom of the plug and see if it fires up. Mine came on straight away as it doesnt need the ignition on for it to work -


well, replaced thermostat and flushed cooling system. still got the same problem :( bugger

one thing did occur to me though, my haynes manual says that the coolant capacity is 6 litres, i struggled to fill it with 4!!!! which suggets to me that i have either an air lock or didn't manage to completely drain the system.... starting to think i'm just clutching at straws!!!!

cooling fan works too.

ps, note sure how safe it is to put your lips round the expansion tank.... coolant is nasty stuff

best of luck

[mac456]

have you not done the water pump yet?

[jt77]

water pump being done as we speak, along with cam belt, tensioners, pulleys and oil seals etc. will let you know the results in a day or 2. just wanted to get everything done that i could do myself before putting it in the garage.

[NewbridgeJob]

well, replaced thermostat and flushed cooling system. still got the same problem :( bugger

one thing did occur to me though, my haynes manual says that the coolant capacity is 6 litres, i struggled to fill it with 4!!!! which suggets to me that i have either an air lock or didn't manage to completely drain the system.... starting to think i'm just clutching at straws!!!!

cooling fan works too.

ps, note sure how safe it is to put your lips round the expansion tank.... coolant is nasty stuff

best of luck

Bit of an update- Car started overheating again- I replaced the resevoir which gave me loads of pressure- then that bloody hissing noise started coming back from the right side of the engine as you're looking at it.

I had a day off work so i thought sod it im gonna take everything apart- Took all the houses and the temp sensor out, removed the sensor housing only to realise that there loads of cracks inside of it including what looks like a hole thats starting to appear.. Called Audi and the've got me a replacement housing for £12.30 inc VAT.. Im hoping that as the pressure and heat has been building up in the car, these cracks have expanded and thats why the cars overheating- Gonna take it for a run tomorrow once fitted and i'll post back on here

Hope to god thats what it is im sick of messing about with it :(

[jt77]

well had the water pump done and...... its still fubar :mad: they seem to think the head might be blocked cos of some stuff another garage put in it, wondar weld i think its called avoid it at alll cost!!!

really don't know what to do now. hope you're having better luck than me

[mac456]

sorry to hear matey! what fix options do you have? replace the head?

[jt77]

er scratch that last one, they've fixed the fecker :biglaugh: it turns out the water pump was knackered, only a couple of impellars left on it. but also i replaced the expansion tank too, which actually started this off. where the return pipe to the tank attaches was sealed up!!! this was causing a massive build up in pressure, etc. defect probably caused during the molding process!!! they then pierced a whole in it et voila :D fair play to the new garage i just used they've spent alll day checking it and testing it till they sorted it. sooooo happy.

in short, if you've replaced the expansion tank, check that. and probably go get your water pump done, and while they're at it do the camblet and pulleys. should all be done together

good luck

most garages i spoke to didn't recommend opening up the head, cos its never certain its that. if it is great but if its a cracked block, its either got to be fixed, or the engine replaced. out of which replacing the engine is probably cheaper!!!! i wasn't lookin forward to that prospect!!!

[NewbridgeJob]

er scratch that last one, they've fixed the fecker :biglaugh: it turns out the water pump was knackered, only a couple of impellars left on it. but also i replaced the expansion tank too, which actually started this off. where the return pipe to the tank attaches was sealed up!!! this was causing a massive build up in pressure, etc. defect probably caused during the molding process!!! they then pierced a whole in it et voila :D fair play to the new garage i just used they've spent alll day checking it and testing it till they sorted it. sooooo happy.

in short, if you've replaced the expansion tank, check that. and probably go get your water pump done, and while they're at it do the camblet and pulleys. should all be done together

good luck

most garages i spoke to didn't recommend opening up the head, cos its never certain its that. if it is great but if its a cracked block, its either got to be fixed, or the engine replaced. out of which replacing the engine is probably cheaper!!!! i wasn't lookin forward to that prospect!!!

Glad to hear it mate! and as of yesterday, my cars all fixed too!! I replaced the housing that the temp sensor fits in which is called a "Flange" apparently (the old one had cracks in it). Got a part direct off Wearside Audi for £12, fitted it myself, refilled the coolant and fannies your aunt!!.. So after endless threads, a new coolant bottle, 2 trips to the garage, a haynes manual and a **** load of patients the things now back to normal!

Cheers everyone

[picki]

er scratch that last one, they've fixed the fecker :biglaugh: it turns out the water pump was knackered, only a couple of impellars left on it. but also i replaced the expansion tank too, which actually started this off. where the return pipe to the tank attaches was sealed up!!! this was causing a massive build up in pressure, etc. defect probably caused during the molding process!!! they then pierced a whole in it et voila :D fair play to the new garage i just used they've spent alll day checking it and testing it till they sorted it. sooooo happy.

in short, if you've replaced the expansion tank, check that. and probably go get your water pump done, and while they're at it do the camblet and pulleys. should all be done together

good luck

most garages i spoke to didn't recommend opening up the head, cos its never certain its that. if it is great but if its a cracked block, its either got to be fixed, or the engine replaced. out of which replacing the engine is probably cheaper!!!! i wasn't lookin forward to that prospect!!!


This may seem like a silly thing to ask, but have you found all the bits of your old water pump impellar?

[jt77]

er.. got to hope so really, but the garage did the work, they did completely flush the system and spent a good deal of time taking every pipe off and checking them with an air line for blockages. the car drives fine now, infact feels better than ever :D though i'm guessing thats the new timing belt etc... plus the removal of paranoia that the cars about to drop all its coolant or explode....

[CHAMBO25]

Hi all, i've got a 97 1.6 A3 which i've been having a few issues with.

Basically it's overheating. When the engine is cold and i check the expansion tank theres practically no coolant in what so ever. When i top it up the tank wont always fill up an it seems to just drain straight away. If i put more in until its in between min and max the car will stay at around about 95 degrees on a 30 min drive, but as soon as i stop, theres steam coming from the tank and basically all the coolant comes gushing out from what i assume is the overflow. That would appear that i've put too much coolant in but doesnt explain why the tank just doesnt fill up at all..

If i leave the coolant as it is even though it's been topped up, the coolant warning light comes on and after about 30 mins i've had the gauge go up to about 110 degrees which isnt good and is also followed by plenty of coolant leaking out. I'ts definately not the head gasket.

Is there any reason as to why this could be happening? Ive searched high and low on forums but nothing has seemed to help. I've left the engine running with the cap off incase there was an airlock but still nothing.

If i top the coolant right up as stated previously, when the engine is left to cool and i check the levels again, it's more or less empty

Any help/advice would be nice

Cheers



I had the same problem with my 98 (r) 1.6 sport. i took it to my mate who had a look at a small fuse block above the battery, we found that a fuse had gone n melted the fuse holder, i went to my local scrap yard n found a replacement. Once fitted my fans kicked in and stopped the problem however i also found that this had caused the head gasket to breakdown between the 2 middle cylinders which is currently being replaced today at a cost of £180 labour n £95 for parts