Attacked by a cat?

[KJack]

Nope. I just changed my own coolant flange. I spent at least two hours simply trying to screw the coolant flange into place. I was super paranoid about not wanting to strip the threads in the engine and the fact that I couldn't get the screws to grab the threads made it even more frustrating, especially with slippery fingers in an awkward position. I decided to use the Dremel to rough-up the heads of the flange screws and that made a huge difference. Now I was able to get enough grip to use my fingers to screw them in and then tighten with a mini ratchet. This task was no picnic but I'm glad I did it myself rather than paying the dealer to do it. I celebrated afterward with a New Belgium IPA.

[Denio24]

Dang, I would have just removed the head.

[Low and Behold]

Atta boy, but damn 8 hours is a long time. Congrats on getting it done! I bet if you did it again it would take half the time


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[rongeur]

My hands / arms look like that every major work I do on this car. Germans must have small hands/arms....

[KJack]

Atta boy, but damn 8 hours is a long time. Congrats on getting it done! I bet if you did it again it would take half the time


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True, if I did it again (which I hope doesn't happen) it would be much quicker.

[pezgoon]

My hands / arms look like that every major work I do on this car. Germans must have small hands/arms....

Nah, they just like pain


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[Seerlah]

You can always undo the motor mount brackets, leave engine on jack with prop, and lower block to gain more clearance. Don't own a B7, but just take precaution for things that will get snagged up. But you only need to drop it by not much for that extra couple inches of rear cylinder head clearance.

[B72011]

Wow, I like that idea---drop for more clearance. But what I like even better is dropping this job off to get done and driving away when its completed--without the loss of epithelial tissue/blood/sweat/tears. I think I could tackle a lot--but the difficulty of access would frustrate me to insanity I think--unless your drop method would make it easier.
Pondering..........

[pezgoon]

Using an engine support might be possible as well, not sure if it would be in the way though


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[Theiceman]

no way any of that is . necessary.. so now I gotta ask .. what part of the job were you trying to do when this damage occurred. did you not just pull it up while it was connected to the rubber hose that connects to the cooling pipe and replace it once it was out up above with the rubber hose bent ? you didn't try this with the vacuum pump still on did you ?

[KJack]

no way any of that is . necessary.. so now I gotta ask .. what part of the job were you trying to do when this damage occurred. did you not just pull it up while it was connected to the rubber hose that connects to the cooling pipe and replace it once it was out up above with the rubber hose bent ? you didn't try this with the vacuum pump still on did you ?

Pulling it up and getting it back in place was fairly easy. Most of those scratches happened as I was trying to screw the flange back in. I struggled for a long time trying to get the screws in and my arms kept brushing up against various sharp hose clips etc in the process. I was so focused on the task that I didn't realize I was getting scratched up until after all was said and done. I removed the plastic line to the vacuum pump but didn't have any need to remove the pump itself as it wasn't in the way; my left hand had full access to the coolant flange. My right arm, which was on the driver's side took the brunt of the damage.

[yeoj112689]

I will never understand why people have so many issues with this job. Either there are more than one variant of coolant flanges that people have or you're making it way harder on yourself then it really is. I am lost it literally took me a few mins with taking my time and beer brakes. Is there something I am missing?

[KJack]

I will never understand why people have so many issues with this job. Either there are more than one variant of coolant flanges that people have or you're making it way harder on yourself then it really is. I am lost it literally took me a few mins with taking my time and beer brakes. Is there something I am missing?

I'm sure I made it way harder than necessary. I double checked everything as I went along and worked slowly and methodically. Also took a lunch break and a trip to the hardware store in between. This was my first time but doing it and I was paranoid about messing it up, hence my snail's pace. That's cool that you can do this job in just a few minutes!

[Theiceman]

ok now I understand .. I took the vacuum pump off and all the brackets and wiring harnesses so gave me lots of room for my forarms .. made the job a breeze. Glad you got her done though . its very satisfying feeling.

[yeoj112689]

I'm sure I made it way harder than necessary. I double checked everything as I went along and worked slowly and methodically. Also took a lunch break and a trip to the hardware store in between. This was my first time but doing it and I was paranoid about messing it up, hence my snail's pace. That's cool that you can do this job in just a few minutes!

It just makes me paranoid because I don't want to have done something wrong haha, I didn't mean to sound like an ass. I do wonder if there are different variations or maybe the modifications to my car give me more room? Idk either way it got hit by a semi so I guess it doesn't matter.

[Seerlah]

I will never understand why people have so many issues with this job. Either there are more than one variant of coolant flanges that people have or you're making it way harder on yourself then it really is. I am lost it literally took me a few mins with taking my time and beer brakes. Is there something I am missing?

No. But not everybody has the same level of craftiness.

[reno808]

damn dude

[Low and Behold]

I will never understand why people have so many issues with this job. Either there are more than one variant of coolant flanges that people have or you're making it way harder on yourself then it really is. I am lost it literally took me a few mins with taking my time and beer brakes. Is there something I am missing?

A few mins huh.. maybe you really are missing something. I've done a few of these now and don't see how "a few mins" is possible.


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[yeoj112689]

A few mins huh.. maybe you really are missing something. I've done a few of these now and don't see how "a few mins" is possible.


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Okay a few mins meaning around 20-30. It is only a few bolts and really isn't that hard to do is my point. I don't understand how it is any different from anything else. With people taking longer than 1-2 hours on it seems way to long. I get if you don't want to rush it and if you've never done it before but I don't see how it takes 8 hours. I didn't mean to be a dick about it or anything bad about it because everyone has different levels of experience and tools. I just feel like it is not too hard of a job.

I noticed a leak in mine after my 1.8T oil pump conversion and it was all put back together and on the road. So I decided to tackle it and it took a very short time. I was expecting hours the way everyone was talking but I was back out within 30 mins.

[hemantpd1]

I also changed the flange few month back. I removed the vacuum pump and that made the job little easier. The worst part was that the rubber hose was melted on the metal coolant pipe. I had to cut it, then sanded away the rubber remains from the metal pipe. I Wore a thick full t-shirt to save the hands from scratches...

[yeoj112689]

I also changed the flange few month back. I removed the vacuum pump and that made the job little easier. The worst part was that the rubber hose was melted on the metal coolant pipe. I had to cut it, then sanded away the rubber remains from the metal pipe. I Wore a thick full t-shirt to save the hands from scratches...

I suppose it also depends on ones skin and the roughness of their body if that makes sense. Someone that works in an office all day will get a bit more beat up than someone who works on cars all day. I had to take off the hose prior due to pulling my engine and I got lucky as it came off pretty easy. I also wasn't very gentle as I was replacing that coolant hose with a custom one for the 1.8t filter housing and such because of clearance issues. I guess I just don't want people to scare away from replacing it and causing more issues down the road because they read horror stories about it. Its not too scary and if anyone needs help or has questions feel free to message me on it.

[Theiceman]

I agree with the above . it was my first time and took me 90 minutes to complete the job , don't be intimidated by it . im not sure why you would even take the rubber hose off the coolant pipe . I left it on pulled the flange up with rubber pipe still attached to both ( the rubber hose bends , popped off the old flange popped on the new one clocked the same and when I put the rubber hose back it holds the flange in perfect position to start tightening again .

[KJack]

I get if you don't want to rush it and if you've never done it before but I don't see how it takes 8 hours. I didn't mean to be a dick about it or anything bad about it because everyone has different levels of experience and tools. I just feel like it is not too hard of a job.

This is absolutely correct. I didn't take the comment as being dickish at all. I'm embarrassed that I struggled with it and I should have had it done without incident. Truth be told, my actual time under the hood was probably 4 hours (I know it's still a long time but I couldn't get the damn screws in) the rest of the time was doing other things on the side. I initially said 8 hours because I drove the car into the garage at 10am and drove it back out at 6pm. I wasn't wrenching the entire time though. I'm proud of myself for getting it done but I regret starting this thread. The last thing I wanted was for any disagreements to break out among Audizine folks. I value all you guys and the input that you provide!

[yeoj112689]

This is absolutely correct. I didn't take the comment as being dickish at all. I'm embarrassed that I struggled with it and I should have had it done without incident. Truth be told, my actual time under the hood was probably 4 hours (I know it's still a long time but I couldn't get the damn screws in) the rest of the time was doing other things on the side. I initially said 8 hours because I drove the car into the garage at 10am and drove it back out at 6pm. I wasn't wrenching the entire time though. I'm proud of myself for getting it done but I regret starting this thread. The last thing I wanted was for any disagreements to break out among Audizine folks. I value all you guys and the input that you provide!

Glad to see it because I sometimes come off as harsh unknowingly. One thing I would recommend next time if you have to do it again is to remove the bits around it to make room if you had hard time getting your arms back there. Which by the marks on your arm I'm going to say yes haha.

It seems like more work but in the long run once you're experienced in removing any parts around it, it goes pretty fast and leaves you with less stress. I suppose that fact that I torn down the components on my engine several times over it makes it faster. Either way glad you got it done.

[Low and Behold]

I don't mean to come off like a dick either, but I've been wrenching for a decade now and simply don't see how this is a 30 min job, thats all. Maybe if you have freakishly small hands? I don't know. After doing a few of these with my skill level I think by the time I do a fourth one I MIGHT get it done in under 3 hours. There are always variables - melted coolant hoses come to mind.

I feel like the most time is usually spent getting the hose clamps off and hoses free... The flange itself is quite easy compared to everything else IMO.

Rock on

[yeoj112689]

I don't mean to come off like a dick either, but I've been wrenching for a decade now and simply don't see how this is a 30 min job, thats all. Maybe if you have freakishly small hands? I don't know. After doing a few of these with my skill level I think by the time I do a fourth one I MIGHT get it done in under 3 hours. There are always variables - melted coolant hoses come to mind.

I feel like the most time is usually spent getting the hose clamps off and hoses free... The flange itself is quite easy compared to everything else IMO.

Rock on

I have to agree the getting the hoses off the metal was the hardest but I had recently taken mine off (a month prior) so they came out pretty easy. I am not sure why it was so easy for me compared to others as I have larger hands. Either way I am glad the OP got it done. Removing parts prior to getting in there seems to be the key difference between what I did and what others have done so maybe that helped. I also do not have the same setup as others so that would be a factor as well.

PS. I like your avatar lol.

[Low and Behold]

Ha thanks


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