A4 (almost) overheating but does not seem to be losing any coolant

[vict0ar]

99 A4 2.8 30v with 187k.

Timing belt and water pump done about 50k ago. I think thermostat was done too at that time. Did my coolant temperature sensor (the one by the firewall on the passenger side) about 25k ago.

So I hop in my car for my 16 mile commute to work and as soon as I leave my driveway the dash tells me that my coolant level is low. I pop the hood and its a bit under the low mark in the reservoir. So, its really not that low, and I am surprised it triggered a warning. Anyway, I drive to work bc I can get free coolant near work.

As I am driving, I pay close attention to the temperature and sure enough it rises higher than normal. My temp level has always stayed at exactly the middle of the dial, but now it rises to about 3/4 way to the max, a bit past the first mark after the halfway mark.

So, I fill the reservoir to the max after work and drive home. Since then I have made the drive 2 more times and temperature level has risen to the same spot, and the coolant level in the reservoir has remained at the maximum.

Any ideas on what to check?

Also, am I risking damage driving at such temperatures?

[GOODBYNAAIR]

right off the bat It says tstat to me even if it was replace that can last for 150k or 25k theirs not much to them. idk what temp 3/4 is like 230°F or 250°F? whats you oil temp get to?

[vict0ar]

the oil temp stays pretty low, about 180.

I also forgot to mention, I have been driving with the heat on full blast and most of my miles are on the highway. When I turn the heat off, the temp rises.

also, I checked my radiator hoses after driving it, and the hose at the top is hot, while the hose at the bottom is cool.

[audinutt]

Your last post indicates a bad thermostat is most likely.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[vict0ar]

OK thanks guys. Guess I will get a timing kit and do the whole shebang with water pump, belt and whatever else.

Any way to test to make sure?

[vict0ar]

Oh also, to clarify the heat has been working, I've been running it full blast to ease the engine.

[vict0ar]

ok, so I just listened to it again after driving for like a half hour and this time I heard a very audible kind of zinging sound coming from the front. Not sure which pulley it was coming from.

[vict0ar]

so I called the shop and they confirmed that they did not do the thermostat when doing the tbelt and water pump. thanks a lot guys. it really pisses me off that they didnt do that.

Also, it seems they jacked the impact up to 11 or so and i just broke 2 torx bits despite letting it soak in pb for about 2 hrs.



my disdain for mechanics is immense right now.

[vict0ar]

so, thermostat is still good. at least when i drop it in boiling water it opens.

ok, any way to test the water pump?

[Bordom]

Water pump must be defective OR you have a clog in the radiator. Go and flush the system to confirm you have optimal flow

[vict0ar]

just ran garden hose through the top of the radiator and it flowed fine out the bottom. guess its the water pump with only 39k miles on it. any chance its a pulley or idler or some other part of the timing system?

i suppose i should do the whole deal even though the belt should last a few more years.

[vict0ar]

any way to get the timing belt tool quickly? autozone has a duralast water pump in stock. it surprises me that is compatible.

[vict0ar]

Update: so I think it was indeed the thermostat. I should have compared it to the new one but all I did was put it in boiling water and observe it opening. Later (after tearing the water pump out) I boiled the new one and realized it opened much more. So that would explain why it was getting hot, but not quite overheating.

So, of course, I have more problems. It won't start. No crank. Radio and lights work. Battery is only a few months old. I had the hood up, but no doors open or lights on. It is quite cold here.

But here's what I'm wondering about. To get the thermostat out without removing the timing belt, I took off the 2 alternator bolts and moved the alternator so i could remove the alternator bracket. I did not remove the connections to the alternator. Upon reinstall of the alternator, I noticed and eyelet hanging by the rear of the alternator. Looked like a ground wire. Does anyone know if there's an eyelet that is supposed to be connected to the top alternator bolt in the rear?