1.9TDi Coolant Water Leak Rear of Engine - Advice Please

[delta925]

I have year 2000 Avant 1.9TDi.

Recently I found level in reservoir down to about half. (The level normally stabilies just above minimum mark and blows out if topped up higher). Topped up with antifreeze / water mix and confirmed the level was dropping.
Initially could not work out where leak could be then spotted pink staining on gearbox housing followed by stains on hose to heater - hard to see never mind access!!

Took to local independant to examine. They said replacement of hose and alloy fitting as alloy fitting corroding was required. I had this years ago on auto choke housing of an Astra so was happy with diagnosis.

The job was done Friday afternoon. After a run today I checked a coolant level and noticed it was down again. I then looked at problem area and found still wet / leaking. As I've said difficult even to see but leak could be between the alloy fitting the hose is connected to and the next metal part, or water could be running from higher up.

Possible the garage have just not have fitted properly, access is difficult - or they have not found / changed the faulty part.
I will be back to them tomorrow.

Has anyone else had this problem?
Should the garage have changed another part?

Any guidance will be appreciated.

[AlastairR]

Hi,

I have an a4 Quattro 3.0 and that sounds so familiar. It went to the garage twice - Audi Dealership and they could not find anything wrong. They did say that I had the wrong coloured coolent which suggested that it had been topped up "elsewhere" - ie not an AUDI dealership. When pushed they wanted to charge £120.00 to start then an hourly charge and may have to strip the engine down....with no max time promise. told them that I would take it elsewhere.. Took it to a local garage and they did the pressure test to the cooling system. Took 5 minutes to find the problem. they did the pressure from the other way and found it to be a faulty cap and replaced both the expansion tank and the cap ... topped with anti freeze and including labour came to £111.63.... Result.

[delta925]

I went back to the garage and once I showed them the leak was still there they instantly offered to investigate.

When I took car the in they showed me old hose and fitting. Basically fitting on end of hose is just a push fit similar to a garden hose. I was surprised.

They removed turbo piping etc again to gain access then dismantled, allowed to dry then reassembled with sealant.

Leak free so far.

Hence suggest if others get this problem to reassemble with sealant first time. In fact original hose and fitting were probably OK and sealant all that was required.