Coolant issue once again NEED HELP

[OreOOO]

Just went on about a 15 minute drive to a local restaurant with my girlfriend and on our way back the car began to overheat (on the gauge) to about 3/4 before I was able to pull over and the coolant light then flashed. I pulled over let my car cool for a few minutes then filled up my coolant, luckily i just did my coolant flange about a month or so ago and had some in my trunk. Started the car everythings cool, drive about 2 miles same issues once again. Pull into this gas station that came out of nowhere and check my engine. Its no running hot or anything when i pop the hood. The coolant was down way below min and showed no signs of leaks. I had to leave the car at the gas station but hopefully you guys can help me figure out my problem.

[old guy]

Well you obviously must have a fairly large coolant leak somewhere to keep loosing coolant at that rate. I would take a real close look at the rear coolant flange since you recently worked on it. You may have blown out the "O" ring seal. An air pocket can cause the rear sensor to read an overheat condition when it is sitting in a steam instead of coolant.

[Dos::Avants]

Well you obviously must have a fairly large coolant leak somewhere to keep loosing coolant at that rate. I would take a real close look at the rear coolant flange since you recently worked on it. You may have blown out the "O" ring seal. An air pocket can cause the rear sensor to read an overheat condition when it is sitting in a steam instead of coolant.

God-forsaken air pockets!!! Damn them all to hell I say

[OreOOO]

so if its just an air pocket could that make it leak? The car has been running great since the coolant flange replacement and hasn't shown a sign of leaking. How could the o-ring have blown already?

[old guy]

so if its just an air pocket could that make it leak? The car has been running great since the coolant flange replacement and hasn't shown a sign of leaking. How could the o-ring have blown already?

An air pocket doesn't cause a leak. It forms as a result of a leak. Coolant heats up and expands. If there is a leak the thermal expansion forces coolant out through the leak. Turn the car off and the coolant cools and shrinks. Consequently air is sucked into the system. The only reason I mentioned the rear coolant flange as a potential source of the leak is because it was recently worked on. Possibly the "O" ring didn't seat properly. The leak could be anywhere. Obviously you need to find where the coolant is getting out and fix it.

Good luck!

[OreOOO]

Thanks for the help, I will be looking at the car in the next few hours I will let you guys know how it goes.

Edit: Is there any way it could be a wack coolant sensor? The engine wasnt actually hot and showed no signs other than the lack of coolant.

[old guy]

Thanks for the help, I will be looking at the car in the next few hours I will let you guys know how it goes.

Edit: Is there any way it could be a wack coolant sensor? The engine wasnt actually hot and showed no signs other than the lack of coolant.

A bad sensor could make your gauge read incorrectly but it would not cause the coolant to leak or boil out.

[OreOOO]

I went back today to the gas station, put a little coolant in my car and started it, let it warm up. Then i backed out of the spot and did a loop around the station. I let the car sit in neutral and i revved to about 2k and the temp gauge began to raise a little. Pulled it back into the spot examined the ground, there was a little coolant on the ground but I cant find out were its coming from. I checked the rear flange, it was dry and didn't show any signs of coolant on the tranny. On the driver side right below the radiator it looks like it has some drips of some sort. Could this be a problematic flange? Here are some pics of were it might be coming from?

[mrbacardi35]

Might be a defective sensor and worn out seal on the lower hose/drain point.

[mrbacardi35]

OP, did you drain the coolant from the lower hose?

[OreOOO]

OP, did you drain the coolant from the lower hose?

No, but some coolant did splash down their last night as i was pouring coolant, that is why i believe the arm under the axle is wet.

[mrbacardi35]

No, but some coolant did splash down their last night as i was pouring coolant, that is why i believe the arm under the axle is wet.

Check the reservoir itself too. Might be crack.

[OreOOO]

I did check the reservoir, and it didn't appear to have any cracks. I was looking at the engine for about 30 minutes listening and looking for drips.

[mrbacardi35]

Is your car still under warranty? Hate to say it, maybe the water pump took a shit.

[OreOOO]

No its not under any warranty, how much would a water pump cost to install at a shop usually?

[mrbacardi35]

No its not under any warranty, how much would a water pump cost to install at a shop usually?

Its pretty much cost of timing belt job. Varies from shop $600-1200.

[OreOOO]

how would I be able to identify if its the water pump?

[mrbacardi35]

how would I be able to identify if its the water pump?

I dont think you can unless you actually open it up. Have you tried driving it again to see if does overheat again? If so, bad water pump is the only thing I can think of to be the problem. This might help you a bit. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ght=water+pump

[OreOOO]

Yeah I filled it up then drove it, and it did the same thing so i parked it. Im not going to try to repair this on my own I don't think, my girlfriends mom has a local shop in mass and would be fairly cheap so I think I'm going to get it towed there. What towing service would you guys recommend. Would I be able to use my girlfriends AAA service.

[old guy]

how would I be able to identify if its the water pump?

Get the car up on ramps and remove the belly pan. Look for crusty pink/white deposits. If you see any coming from the behind the crank pulley it is probably coming from the water pump. If there are any running down the drivers side toward the front of the block it could be the t-stat or "J" plug. If you see signs of leakage on the side of the block around the location of the oil filter it is probably the oil cooler. Also check the radiator end caps. If you can't find any signs of leakage it may be worth the expense of having a shop pressure test the cooling system to find the leak.

Edit: Just read your post that came in while I was adding this info. Have your shop pressure test the system. As long as your GF is with you, you can probably use her AAA to get it towed. I have done so for my daughter's BF's car.

[EBG 18T]

Yeah I filled it up then drove it, and it did the same thing so i parked it. Im not going to try to repair this on my own I don't think, my girlfriends mom has a local shop in mass and would be fairly cheap so I think I'm going to get it towed there. What towing service would you guys recommend. Would I be able to use my girlfriends AAA service.

where in NH are you? There are a few good places around that can help you out.

[OreOOO]

Hampton, the cars in Rye about 10 miles from hampton

[EBG 18T]

Hampton, the cars in Rye about 10 miles from hampton

I would call mark & mark over at east coast european in Greenland tommarow morning and see if they can take care of it for you. they are honest and will tell you what needs to be done to get it fixed right.

East Coast European

[VMRWheels]

Would I be able to use my girlfriends AAA service.

Yup, as long as she's at the car with her AAA card when the tow truck driver comes you'll have no problems. I know because I'm officially the "buddy with the AAA card" among my friends lol.

[OreOOO]

Yeah I just got it towed, she only has up to 5 miles so i ended up paying $18 and giving the guy $2 tip. Anyway the car is in my driveway, I'm going to leave coolant in it overnight and watch and see what happens. If its real simple I will do it myself, but if not its getting towed again to a garage. Just found out too, my next door neighbor has AAA+ and gets up to 100 miles free

[OreOOO]

Put some coolant in and let it sit for a couple days now, no leaks and the fluid is staying at the same level. Leads me to think I definitely have a bad water pump, or my engine is consuming it all at a freakish rate. My oil cap shows no signs of coolant being burnt off in the engine, because there would be a white substance on the cap, correct? Ive been quoted at just under $900 at East Coast European, which seems a bit high for the timing belt job. Anyone have the job done cheaper anywere else?

[OreOOO]

Just started it up drove it around the neighborhood and it didnt show any signs of heating up. I go on a little longer of a run and it begins to overheat. I pop the hood theres no coolant anywere except for a few splashes on the rubber hose I have pictured and the wire harness on the back of the firewall. This leads me to think the reservoir has a leak but shows no cracks. Also I looked at the water pump and underneath the belts and not a splash.


This sucks

[Dos::Avants]

PRESSURE TEST man, pressure test...maybe even with some dye to get an even more accurate view.

If you think it's the reservoir itself, then you could remove it from the car and test it yourself with a compressor and submerging it under water. You couuld tape the larger supply hole on the bottom tightly with electrical tape since it's quite flexible.

If it IS the h2o pump, then make sure to do the WHOLE timing belt kit.

[mrbacardi35]

If it's the reservoir i can send you one, but its used. Just pay the shipping. You can check it out in my garage sale.

[mrbacardi35]

Run the car again and as soon as it starts to pass the middle of the temp guage then open the hood and visually check it that way.

[OreOOO]

Decided to replace the reservoir, cost $29 something at audi, installed it in 15 minutes. What do you know it worked. Hopefully I dont have any more coolant issues. Thanks to everyone who tried to help me figure out the problem

[Dos::Avants]

Awesome!

[OreOOO]

Spoke to fast, the engines temperature is still going up but the coolant isn't leaking anymore. The car runs fine but when I pull over to check it out the fans are going crazy. The reservoir now has more coolant then I just added and no leaks anywhere. Is this a bad sensor, possibly the one on the coolant flange?

[mrbacardi35]

Spoke to fast, the engines temperature is still going up but the coolant isn't leaking anymore. The car runs fine but when I pull over to check it out the fans are going crazy. The reservoir now has more coolant then I just added and no leaks anywhere. Is this a bad sensor, possibly the one on the coolant flange?

Most likely you have air in the system. Let it run and try to bleed it from the metal pipe running above the intake manifold.

[OreOOO]

also the coolant light came on and said low coolant. I ran it for about 30 minutes before at idle and it just stays the same, at half temp.

[mrbacardi35]

I really think there's air in the system. But the low coolant might just need a little tap water. This might help. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...hlight=coolant

[OreOOO]

Just tried "burping" the coolant lines and it didn't work, there was no air bubble that rose to the top of the reservoir, and the car is still overheating. You can hear the coolant going in and out of all the lines and when you take the cap off the coolant rushes to the reservoir and becomes higher in level. Could the rear flange sensor make the engine say its overheating and make the fans go full blast?

[mrbacardi35]

if the rear coolant flange sensor(green top sensor) is bad, then that would make the needle to not read right. as for the fans, i think it gets the signal from the lower radiator hose sensor.

[OreOOO]

So if that sensor is making the fans operate does this mean no coolant is being passed through this section? Could it be possible that one of my lines is clogged not allowing a good flow?

[yung turbo]

i have air in my system as well. so when i stop driving and get ready to park, i open the coolant tank and air shoots out and the collant level raises. ive been having this same problem since i got my rear flange replaced as well.