Engine Managment light-Coolant leak

[pembo1976]

Hello everyone,
I've recently bought an A4 1.8T quattro sport 2002 (3 days ago!!) and I now have the honour of the engine managment light on and a small coolant leak.The car seems to be running fine but when I run the engine then switch it off I can hear a faint hiss from the back of the engine, this ties up with the small pool's of coolant found on the driveway over the last 2 days which look as though they are coming from the back of the engine. I cant see anything coming out and was just wondering if someone could point me in the direction of usual faults/pipes to check in that area???

As far as the Engine Managment Light goes I've been quoted £30 to run a diagnostic by a local garage, is this expensive? Does anybody know of someone in the lancaster/North West area that could help or recommend how I should progress this problem?

Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
Steve.

[nickynibbles]

Wouldnt pay £30 for someone to run a diagnostic when you can buy the cable yourself for less & run a freeware version of vagcom for free! One option for you is to remove the engine cover from underneath the car, run it up onto some ramps at the front and have a look for signs of coolant leak. If you cant spot anything obvious, start the engine & let it warm up before having another look. Obviously be careful not to burn yourself on anything hot underneath!

[pembo1976]

First of all thanks for the reply.

I managed to get a diagnostic and the engine management fault cleared by the local auto-elec this afternoon for £25 , he said it was just a blip? (I dont have a Laptop so I bit the bullet). I can take it back there for nowt so its not too bad.

As far as the leak its coming from the back of the engine at the top, I can see the drips coming down from that area but cant see exactly where its coming from(admittedly i dont have any ramps). There is a silver cylinder (the size of a small tin of sweetcorn) attached to top of the engine at the rear and its coming from somewhere underneath that. Pretty horrendous description, apologies.

Cheers
Steve.

[MCCLATCHIE]

Hi I have a leak down the back of my engine its bugging me NOW, right at the back is the coolant temp sensor .I replaced this when I drained down the whole system when I had the high speed fan coming on every time i started up.
There are two sensor the one under the rad runs the fan this was faulty so I REPLACED both at the same time.They sit on a rubber seal this I think was causing the leak so I have put some sealant around it I hope this sorts it.
I have found on ebay a hanyes manual for the A4 2001-2004 hope to get it this week at last I can have a look were all parts are. Also got VAG COM running on my lap top now works great had to reprogram my keys. HAD a major water leak under the carpet this is were Audi put the comfort control unit traced the leak to the pollen fiter lid split at the back something that was cheap from AUDI check yours to be safe.
when that went down Audi wanted silly money to fix it done it my self again parts from ebay.

I hope to come back with some ideas.

[RickT]

There is a coolant pipe that sits and the bottom, back of the engine bay, these tend to leak over time..

Your best beat is to get it on a ramp and have a look..

even if you buy some Axel stands you will be able to see..

Also remember.. if you have the lower engine tray on the bottom of the car the water will leak at the lowest point maybe sending you on a red herring search point..

RickT

[MCCLATCHIE]

Hi All small leak I have sealed the state and was still getting a small leak
down the back all the system has been flushed all running OK I have added
a smell bottel of rad sealant now NO LEAKS