[kmistry]

Hey guys, im new to the site.

Im hoping someone will be able to help me.

For about 2 weeks the car has been cooling down whilst i do town driving (20-40mph). Yesterday it went down to 75 degrees in a matter of minutes of casual driving. It usually only goes down to about 80 degrees and it takes about 5 mins to get back to 90 degrees. The car never overheats. Took it to Audi yesterday and said it could be the water pump. However he mentioned that the pump gave a "good return." No faults on the diagnostics were found. On idle, the temperature was fine, approx 90-95 degrees on the computer.

He recommended to change the water pump along with the cambelt. (at a cost of £700!!!)

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[A3 KID]

mine does this can not see a problem with it may just be the cold outside air

 

[kmistry]

I thought it was that too but there has been no problems like this in the 2 years i have owned the car. Reading a few posts on several sites is pointing me to the thermostsat. Today i took it on the motorway and the temp was fluctuating between 80-90 degrees and only went to 90 once i was stuck in town traffic.

Car is 6 years old now (1999) and i am going to get cambelt changed so will probably get the water pump and thermostat changed too. I really want to keep the car for a good few years. Hope this works!!

Let me know if you find a solution. I will also let you know how i get on.

Cheers

 

[shaun]

*I had a overheating problem with my a3, which turned out to be the water pump. a couple of the impellors had broken off the pump so it wasnt getting coolant thru the system too well, leaving me without a heater and an overheated engine! Wouldnt have thort it'd have been a dodgy water pump in your case tho... :huh:
*As a3 kid said, might just be something in the air!
*If the temp is below norm with the rad fan blowing when stationary, might be worth changing the fan switch.
*Have heard that a common fault with a3's is faulty temperature senders, so again might be worth checking out.
*One way of checking the stat is to take it out completely. it'll take a little longer to warm up, but if the problem persists, you know its not that and you wouldnt have wasted any dollar on a new one.

 

[shaun]

P.S, £700 sounds alittle steep for that, i had cambelt and pump replaced for just under £200... (not at audi!)

 

[kmistry]

Thank you Shaun. I was a bit confused when they mentioned water pump too, as this helps cool the car. If anything its cooling too well! Will try your suggerstions. The last few days of lovely spring weather, she hasn't been playing up as much. I contacted a garage who quoted me £230 to get cam and water pump changed!! Will get then to test the thermostat too. Not going to Audi again!

A friend of mine had the same problem as you with the impellers on fan breaking and the car overheating. He drives a BMW and was able to replace it with a metal version which will never break.

Any ideas if audi produce a similar fan??

 

[A31.8Turbo]

Well it could just be the gold out side temperature. I know with my big front mounted intercooler the water temp drops to about 75 and when I come to a stand still it climes up to 90 again.

But your theory of the thermostat might be right. It could be opening to soon and that is why the car does not come up to temperature but then it should stay there and not go back up to 90

 

[henriv]

Hi
My A3 1.8 STD started doing the same thing (floating between 75 and 90 degrees) a couple of months ago, after 6 years. It used to be rock solid on 90.
This started happening in summer here in South Africa. This tells me it cannot be the air temperature.


* Or maybe global warming/cooling is starting to show it's face on my dashboard *

I will update you guys once I've had the car for a service to see what they say.

 

[chris blackburn]

I have had this problem with my A3 1.9 TDI and a recharge of the aircon sytem cured the problem. What happened was because the sytem was low in refridgerant, the cooling fan came on to cool it but also cooled the engine radiator. Also happened on my A4 1.9 TDI and a the engine temperature sensor was faulty (after I had the aircon recharged!!)

 

[dannyboy29]

could also be a failing thermostat?

 

[Kurtz]

Hi all. I've been lurking for a while.

My 2000 A3 1.8T is also playing up w.r.t cooling.
I've had the car from new. It used to heat up to 90 within a couple of miles, then stay there regardless, winter or summer, driven hard or not.
Now the thing takes ages to get to 90, if ever. Driven hard the thing drops to 70 degrees or so, then takes a while to heat up again.

Last year I had the timing belts changed (but not the water pump). Audi also changed the temp sender as it would flip 0 to 90 to 0 and back again.

I've changed the temp sender this time. Simple job really. I'm not paying Audi £100 to balls it up like they did last time. But the problem persists.

Anyone know how many temp senders or thermostats there are in the system and where they might be?

I guess I'm saying I'd be interested to know if you find a solution.

 

[Andreas76]

Mine was doing it too, and you can imagine my surprise, as the temperatures in Greece this time of year are 40 degrees! The heat sensor in the A3 radiator is placed inside the plastic ball where you add coolant from. Because it is located at the top, if a small amount of water is missing from the ball ie a half inch below the minimum line, then the indicator will give a wrong reading. check your system for minor leaks

 

[RickT]

Sounds like the thermostat to me... as longs as its not going over 90'c it will be ok...

the thermostat controls when the fan comes on also... so if the thermostat is playing up the fan may be coming on early which it turn is still running while you are driving so the air from outside and the fan blasting it will make it drop.... (you can always hear the fan from inside)
so the fan could be working overtime and actually keeping it cool..... however the ideal running temp is 90'c -

Which all components are set to be… it wont damage anything.. However could reduce fuel mpg slightly as not running efficiently??

Cheers