porschetins

So I got a 99 a4 2.8 gifted to me in really bad shape. It sat for three years because it was leaking oil from just about everywhere it could be and wouldn't pass smog because of a bad abs unit. i just went ahead and did a full timing belt job along with all seals, water pump, thermostat ect as well as valve cover seals and everything else.

I got it back together and it fires up/ runs good but it smells like burning coolant and the red engine temp light comes on after about 30 seconds.

Also I screwed up a little bit. After reasembly I added coolant but I did not burp the coolant system. i then started the car and let it run for about a minute before shutting it off when the light came on. i then burped the system but the light still comes on and it still smells like burning coolant


My only thought is a bad thermostat? or that I messed something up with the initial start.....


Thoughts?

eatlas

maybe bad thermostat, bad sensor?

porschetins

bump

clancy

If the light comes on before it could possibly be hot then I would verify the sensor. I would likely just replace the coolant temp sensor that is located below the MAF plenum. This one is cheap, easy to swap and causes many issues related to feeding incorrect engine temp. Search this forum for CTS issues.

porschetins

EATLAS and CLANCY- Thank you for the reply! I've swapped out the temp sensor but I'm still getting the same issue....

eatlas

Hm, idk much about 2.8's... but on the back of my 1.8t engine is where the sensor is. a square sensor if I remember right. Is this the one you replaced?

porschetins

Yea that's the one. I also just put in another new thermostat/ did a really good flush of the whole coolant system and still no luck... The smoke has gone away for the most part and the car seems to run fine but the CTS light still comes on after about 30 seconds...