Leaking coolant out the front of the engine.

[tsk]

I've got an 02 A4 3.0 Quattro that has started leaking coolant in the last day or two I think. It's leaking quite a bit of coolant out the front of the engine. Underneath the car, it was dripping off the front of the oil pan. I pulled the bumper trying to find where it was coming from and I can't really tell where it's coming from. Right under the crankshaft is fairly wet but it's not like I can pinpoint it any further farther up the engine. I'm assuming it's probably the water pump, but curious if anyone has a better idea.

[87supraman]

I would bet the water pump as well. Unless the thermostat seal has gone bad, but I think if that was the case the coolant would fill the area under the intake manifold and drain out the back.

Sent from my SCH-I645

[tsk]

From my understanding of the car (I've only had it 2 months so I'm not totally fluent), either the thermostat or water pump are almost the same job (so I might as well replace both of them). And I should maybe just think about doing a timing belt change while I'm doing that?

[gmudan]

From my understanding of the car (I've only had it 2 months so I'm not totally fluent), either the thermostat or water pump are almost the same job (so I might as well replace both of them). And I should maybe just think about doing a timing belt change while I'm doing that?

Exactly what I'm doing. Ordered the ECS kit. 1 thermostat kit for 80$. Timing belt kit without the gates belt. 300$ total.

[imnuts]

From my understanding of the car (I've only had it 2 months so I'm not totally fluent), either the thermostat or water pump are almost the same job (so I might as well replace both of them). And I should maybe just think about doing a timing belt change while I'm doing that?

If you're replacing the water pump, you're most of the way through the timing belt service, so you might as well just get all the parts to have the entire service done. The thermostat you may be able to just replace on its own, not sure how much (or little) needs removed for it on a 3.0

[Scottzirra]

This blows, I am having this exact same problem and am losing coolant pretty fast. The timing belt/water pump job looks to be a bear.

[DJMurphy]

It's not as bad as you think. There are a lot of write-ups and youtube videos for the job. I went through this all because of a lousy water pump o-ring seal.

[diagnosticator]

The 3.0l needs special tools for the cam alignment to do the timing belt replacement correctly. Unless you can barrow the tool, it is $$$.

[DJMurphy]

There is a website that sells TB kits, wish I could remember the name, that will rent all those specialty tools required. Hopefully someone else can recall who.

[Tongpo]

I believe Blau parts (blauparts.com) rents the tools.

[87supraman]

http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalo...-v6-p-978.html

Both rent the tools if you buy the kit from them. Seems like JHM has had better results with the kit they offer.

I believe a member on here has the cam locks they "rent" out.

Sent from my SCH-I645

[tsk]

Blauparts rents the tools. I bought a kit off them and rented the tool. I'll post back how it goes. Getting to the cam lock part doesn't seem horrible (removing the bumper/radiator seems like most of the work).

There is also a decent looking kit on ebay for cheaper than the rental (http://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-Audi-Cams...p2054897.l4275). I thought about getting it but Blauparts is local to me so I'll get it quicker that way, and I'm 30% worried that the ebay kit may be crap.

[tsk]

Here's my first update: Got the parts in today. I had the engine half apart and had to get the valve covers off. Went ok, then found my timing was off about a tooth or two on one of the cams which made things a bit more complicated. I did get the cams locked in place. Everything was going ok (not great but ok) till I snapped a bolt off from the idler pulley bracket. Damn aluminum/steel corrosion was the culprit. I was very careful but apparently not careful enough.

I did get my water pump out and the thermostat out. I am pretty certain the water pump was my culprit. It was wobbling and rubbing against the engine in a spot. I think that also caused the timing belt to bind and jump those teeth (I had a timing error a day before the water pump started leaking noticably) so if your water pump is leaking, I'd be careful about waiting too long to do it. If it has the same problem as mine, it could do bad things.

[jpmorais]

hope you got it off, if not try some penetrating oil

[tsk]

Not yet. The bolt has laughed at the penetrating oil/heat thus far. Worst case is I drill it out and re-tap it next size up. I've got a few more tricks to try before that.

[SlickFix]

Just an FYI for those of you with the 3.0...the thermostat can be changed without putting the car into service position, and thus can be done separately from the timing belt job. It lives under the intake manifold, so once you take that off, you have access to the thermostat.

I just wanted to clarify that you don't need to do this entire job if it's only the thermostat that is the problem.