Denio24
05-26-2013, 07:35 PM
So I've been reading up on audizine for quite some time now (since last november) and finally decided to join this great forum group. I have always been referencing many posts for diy's and other useful information.
So, this being my first post, grab some popcorn, and read up. Here is my story.
Last november I purchased a mighty audi a4 b6 1.8t fwd 5 speed machine. Me barely knowing anything about cars at the moment (I previously had a volvo s70, but my car got totaled by a cop - whole 'nother story), I purchased the vehicle for a little bit more than what I should have paid for it, but that's not the point of this story or what this forum is for.....
It was winter, and I didn't have any heat coming through my heater core. I thought, jeez what kind of car did I buy! The individual that set up the car totally fooled me into thinking I got a good deal. After the point of purchase, here is what I found out to be wrong. The kid told me that a new timing belt was installed (gates), which turned out it wasn't. Should have known better - that was my fault. Next was the heating issue and minimal coolant leak which I had no idea where it was coming from. Stranger, the leak ceased after i used secnd2no1 DIY on the coolant flush. So I thought hey looks like this car will be fine a couple more thousand miles. And it was.
Part of my learning experience of the course of two years (when i still had my s70) was due to regular maintenance, and part to my own stupidity. Life goes on.
After I figured out the vehicle still had the second timing belt change on at 135k miles, I decided to do it myself. I bought a timing belt kit from the oh so great ecstuning and did everything myself. I fabricated my own crank holder tool, removed the front lock carrier, front bumper, completed a vacuum p/s flush, cleaned the front of the block, installed a new water pump, and other regular maintenance. Everything was torqued to spec, yet I still managed to forget one thing that would send me down an endless pit.
One bright sunny morning I took my car out for a cruise. Luckily I wasn't too far away from home. [:p][:p] I remember distinctly listening to radiohead and enjoying myself cruising around 35 mph, when, low and behold, my coolant sensor indicator light comes on the lcd. I almost shit my pants considering the fact that I didn't realize that the beeping two minutes ago was all my coolant coming out from the lower radiator hose by the coolant temp sensor. I instantly pulled over and shut my engine off. By that time, the reservoir was long empty and the engine was lightly smoking. Wish I had taken pictures to show the community. I took a break to clear my mind over what had just happened.
If there would be one thing I could ask this community to do for me in exchange for this story is to tell me how to get the coolant temp sensor retaining clip on between the slits and over the temperature sensor. I have broken 5 clips trying to get it on. This is the same clip holding in the sensor by the coolant flange. Yes, I have: made sure that there is only one o-ring in the plastic hose, made sure that the sensor is in all the way until the clip is able to slide over the metal part of sensor, and for the hell of it i even lubed up the sensor to make it slide a little easier. With all this that damn retainer still won't go in. If you don't feel like helping, please ignore my rant. If you do, I will thank you very much [>_<]
Back to my story:
I probably should not have done this. I was about 1.5 miles out from my residence when I decided to run the engine to get home WITHOUT COOLANT. Yes, you can say I was fucking stupid. But, I kept the engine at 1,000-1500 rpm (luckily I have a manual so i can cruise in fourth at around this rpm). I made continuous stops to make sure nothing overheated - it probably still did. [headbang][headbang]. When there was a straightaway I pushed the car with the engine off. Eventually got home very mad at myself. So, I replaced the o-ring for the coolant temp sensor and rigged my own retainer with a cotter pin (since i cant get the oem retainer in - please help! there must be a method to it). Filled the engine up with coolant, bled it, and let it run. Sure enough, there was a coolant leak coming down on the driver side near the middle of the engine block and down the middle of the oil pan. It was fairly substantial. So that, and alot of research and determination, led me to this:
http://imageshack.us/a/img832/6126/gopr0016copy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/gopr0016copy.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Turns out the head gasket, j-plug, coolant flange, oil filter housing, thermostat o-ring were all leaking. Looks like you'll be telling all your best buds what happened to "this guy right here". I basically have to take the head off.
Now the wiring harness is completely removed, and will be rewiring it because of the cracked outer cable sleeving (pics coming up within the next few days). I will be replacing it with silicon rubber tape resistant to many things..... I am taking the head off. Any suggestions and tips to installing a head gasket? Any other tips and suggestions while I have the head off will be appreciated. i.e. machine the block, clean the block, etc. I have a minimal budget.
So, this being my first post, grab some popcorn, and read up. Here is my story.
Last november I purchased a mighty audi a4 b6 1.8t fwd 5 speed machine. Me barely knowing anything about cars at the moment (I previously had a volvo s70, but my car got totaled by a cop - whole 'nother story), I purchased the vehicle for a little bit more than what I should have paid for it, but that's not the point of this story or what this forum is for.....
It was winter, and I didn't have any heat coming through my heater core. I thought, jeez what kind of car did I buy! The individual that set up the car totally fooled me into thinking I got a good deal. After the point of purchase, here is what I found out to be wrong. The kid told me that a new timing belt was installed (gates), which turned out it wasn't. Should have known better - that was my fault. Next was the heating issue and minimal coolant leak which I had no idea where it was coming from. Stranger, the leak ceased after i used secnd2no1 DIY on the coolant flush. So I thought hey looks like this car will be fine a couple more thousand miles. And it was.
Part of my learning experience of the course of two years (when i still had my s70) was due to regular maintenance, and part to my own stupidity. Life goes on.
After I figured out the vehicle still had the second timing belt change on at 135k miles, I decided to do it myself. I bought a timing belt kit from the oh so great ecstuning and did everything myself. I fabricated my own crank holder tool, removed the front lock carrier, front bumper, completed a vacuum p/s flush, cleaned the front of the block, installed a new water pump, and other regular maintenance. Everything was torqued to spec, yet I still managed to forget one thing that would send me down an endless pit.
One bright sunny morning I took my car out for a cruise. Luckily I wasn't too far away from home. [:p][:p] I remember distinctly listening to radiohead and enjoying myself cruising around 35 mph, when, low and behold, my coolant sensor indicator light comes on the lcd. I almost shit my pants considering the fact that I didn't realize that the beeping two minutes ago was all my coolant coming out from the lower radiator hose by the coolant temp sensor. I instantly pulled over and shut my engine off. By that time, the reservoir was long empty and the engine was lightly smoking. Wish I had taken pictures to show the community. I took a break to clear my mind over what had just happened.
If there would be one thing I could ask this community to do for me in exchange for this story is to tell me how to get the coolant temp sensor retaining clip on between the slits and over the temperature sensor. I have broken 5 clips trying to get it on. This is the same clip holding in the sensor by the coolant flange. Yes, I have: made sure that there is only one o-ring in the plastic hose, made sure that the sensor is in all the way until the clip is able to slide over the metal part of sensor, and for the hell of it i even lubed up the sensor to make it slide a little easier. With all this that damn retainer still won't go in. If you don't feel like helping, please ignore my rant. If you do, I will thank you very much [>_<]
Back to my story:
I probably should not have done this. I was about 1.5 miles out from my residence when I decided to run the engine to get home WITHOUT COOLANT. Yes, you can say I was fucking stupid. But, I kept the engine at 1,000-1500 rpm (luckily I have a manual so i can cruise in fourth at around this rpm). I made continuous stops to make sure nothing overheated - it probably still did. [headbang][headbang]. When there was a straightaway I pushed the car with the engine off. Eventually got home very mad at myself. So, I replaced the o-ring for the coolant temp sensor and rigged my own retainer with a cotter pin (since i cant get the oem retainer in - please help! there must be a method to it). Filled the engine up with coolant, bled it, and let it run. Sure enough, there was a coolant leak coming down on the driver side near the middle of the engine block and down the middle of the oil pan. It was fairly substantial. So that, and alot of research and determination, led me to this:
http://imageshack.us/a/img832/6126/gopr0016copy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/gopr0016copy.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Turns out the head gasket, j-plug, coolant flange, oil filter housing, thermostat o-ring were all leaking. Looks like you'll be telling all your best buds what happened to "this guy right here". I basically have to take the head off.
Now the wiring harness is completely removed, and will be rewiring it because of the cracked outer cable sleeving (pics coming up within the next few days). I will be replacing it with silicon rubber tape resistant to many things..... I am taking the head off. Any suggestions and tips to installing a head gasket? Any other tips and suggestions while I have the head off will be appreciated. i.e. machine the block, clean the block, etc. I have a minimal budget.