Occasionally overheating

sugaryling · 03-08-2012, 01:00 PM

I've checked under the car and there seems to be no coolant leaks while the car is off or sitting for days. Sometimes when I drive the car it will overheat. When I stop the car, the coolant expansion tank appears to have a lot of pressure in there. Coolant is trying to escape from the cap due to the high pressure.

Do you think the thermostat is bad and isn't opening up or could it be a water pump issue?

C4.Style · 03-09-2012, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugaryling

I've checked under the car and there seems to be no coolant leaks while the car is off or sitting for days. Sometimes when I drive the car it will overheat. When I stop the car, the coolant expansion tank appears to have a lot of pressure in there. Coolant is trying to escape from the cap due to the high pressure.

Do you think the thermostat is bad and isn't opening up or could it be a water pump issue?

when it comes to such things or such thing like "overheating" its all together but mainly thermostat. Could be also your clogged radiator.

I and mechanics were amazed how my car didn't overheat all this time when they were changing my timing belt and got a Half cracked thermostat out of there...just a miracle.

It could be also your head gaskets going out but probably not as then you would have white smoke blowing out of your exhaust.

sugaryling · 03-09-2012, 04:34 AM

I checked for white smoke and there isn't any. I also did a coolant flush a few months ago. I added a whole bottle of flush, drove the car to operating temps and then for probably another hour. Then opened up a radiator hose and flushed it with a garden hose through the expansion tank. I also ran water through the top radiator hose and water looks like it's running out the bottom radiator hose just fine so I didn't think my radiator was clogged.

Prospeeder · 03-09-2012, 05:24 PM

Thermostat. Do a timing belt and waterpump kit while your at it.

sugaryling · 03-09-2012, 05:30 PM

I was told that the timing belt was done just 5-600 miles ago. That's why this overheating issues puzzles me. The thermostat should be new.

Strangely, the accessory belt was never changed. The TB does look new, but who knows!

Prospeeder · 03-09-2012, 05:37 PM

you would really be surprised how many people don't do the thermostat with a timing belt job.....

sugaryling · 03-09-2012, 05:50 PM

Well I'll find out soon. I just order the camshaft alignment tool.

egp320i · 03-22-2012, 08:03 PM

Happened to me. The previous owner had the TB job done not long before I purchased it but per the records the shop never touched the thermostat. Around 6 months later the thermostat was stuck and I had to replace it.
After doing some research I later found out the shop which did the job was basically incompetent when it came to Audi's.

One of those "we do all makes and models but none really well" kinds.

Rob 635 · 03-26-2012, 03:55 AM

Does it overheat as in the temp gauge shows overheating or does it just smoke?? I have the latter, coolant spews from the expansion tank onto everything. Certified Audi guy told me to change the expansion tank cap which I am doing today.

sugaryling · 03-26-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob 635

Does it overheat as in the temp gauge shows overheating or does it just smoke?? I have the latter, coolant spews from the expansion tank onto everything. Certified Audi guy told me to change the expansion tank cap which I am doing today.

I get both! It smokes, coolant spewing from the expansion tank cap, and the temp gauge show over heating. I can't honestly say which happens first.

Maybe it's spewing coolant form the tank and loosing coolant and therefore it over heats?

03-09-2012, 05:24 PM	#4
Prospeeder AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 837	Thermostat. Do a timing belt and waterpump kit while your at it. __________________ 1992 Audi 100 CS Quattro 1990 Audi 200 Avant Turbo Quattro 1991 Audi 200 Turbo 1999 Audi A6 Avant

03-09-2012, 05:37 PM	#6
Prospeeder AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 837	you would really be surprised how many people don't do the thermostat with a timing belt job..... __________________ 1992 Audi 100 CS Quattro 1990 Audi 200 Avant Turbo Quattro 1991 Audi 200 Turbo 1999 Audi A6 Avant

03-22-2012, 08:03 PM	#8
egp320i AudiWorld Super User 1994 Audi 90 My Garage Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: E.Idaho Posts: 4,373	Happened to me. The previous owner had the TB job done not long before I purchased it but per the records the shop never touched the thermostat. Around 6 months later the thermostat was stuck and I had to replace it. After doing some research I later found out the shop which did the job was basically incompetent when it came to Audi's. One of those "we do all makes and models but none really well" kinds. __________________

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03-09-2012, 04:34 AM	#3
sugaryling AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 557	I checked for white smoke and there isn't any. I also did a coolant flush a few months ago. I added a whole bottle of flush, drove the car to operating temps and then for probably another hour. Then opened up a radiator hose and flushed it with a garden hose through the expansion tank. I also ran water through the top radiator hose and water looks like it's running out the bottom radiator hose just fine so I didn't think my radiator was clogged.

03-09-2012, 05:30 PM	#5
sugaryling AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 557	I was told that the timing belt was done just 5-600 miles ago. That's why this overheating issues puzzles me. The thermostat should be new. Strangely, the accessory belt was never changed. The TB does look new, but who knows!

03-09-2012, 05:50 PM	#7
sugaryling AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 557	Well I'll find out soon. I just order the camshaft alignment tool.

03-26-2012, 03:55 AM	#9
Rob 635 Audiworld Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11	Does it overheat as in the temp gauge shows overheating or does it just smoke?? I have the latter, coolant spews from the expansion tank onto everything. Certified Audi guy told me to change the expansion tank cap which I am doing today.

03-26-2012, 05:44 PM
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