Coolant leak leads to new rear bumper cover - read how I managed this feat!
08-26-2005, 11:25 PM
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Coolant leak leads to new rear bumper cover - read how I managed this feat!
Mid July - I was experiencing the "vanishing coolant" syndrome. I bought a bottle of G12 and topped off the coolant expansion tank. The tank looked ugly and cracked and had a bit of G12 frothing on the front return pipe and from various cracks. This was the first time I had noticed it was low. I decided to monitor it at each fillup.
August 12th - The morning after a late night drive to the Bay Area, the buzzer and DIS indicator fired with a low coolant alarm. Wow, the coolant expansion tank was empty! Engine compartment smelled like burnt cotton candy. I bought a new coolant expansion tank at Carlsen in Palo Alto for $40.19 and another bottle of G12.
August 12-18th - Parked car at SFO for a week while on a business trip. After the trip, the tank was down again and I could see a stain on the parking lot. Topped off with G12 and drove home to Auburn with fingers crossed.
August 19th - I had the coolant expansion tank replaced at a local VW dealer since I was too busy and the nearest Audi dealer is 30 miles away.
August 20th - Drove from Auburn (1300 ft.) to 6700 ft. (Robinsons Flat) over 45 miles for the re-opening of the ranger station - what a great drive. But, about 10 minutes into the descent, the low coolant warning fires again. Pulled over, topped off with G12 and continued home with fingers and toes crossed. Car leaked a bit on driveway when we returned home.
August 21st - Pretty much determined that the car was only leaking after shutdown, consulted Audiworld (yes I used "Search"!) and figured out it was probably the insidious <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/533317.phtml">after-run coolant pump</a>. Car leaked after a short trip to Kragen to pick up a wrench.
August 22nd - Drove to Neillo Audi in Sacramento first thing in the morning... wow the after-run coolant pump leaked massively after shutdown and emptied the whole top end coolant onto the service queue area - no problem getting car in this day :-).
August 23rd - While fixing the coolant-pump and prompted by my mentioning an oil leak - they found a leaking prop shaft seal and a leaky engine mount (good for them).
August 26th - Finally the Audi parts system gets parts in and car is back together with two new engine mounts, and after-run coolant pump and an alignment.
When I picked up the car, <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/porterAccident.jpg">the porter backs my car (at speed) straight into a concrete pole</a>. Poor kid, he looked like he was going to puke he was so upset. It was witnessed by the Service Director, my service advisor my wife and I. I was mad for about a second then I said - <b>it looks like I will be getting a new 2002 rear-bumper cover with exhaust cut-outs!</b>
Also, Niello returned the car to me with a <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/IAT-DTC.jpg">check engine light</a> - it was even noted in the tech. notes. They either forgot to connect the <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/IAT-SensorLocation.png">IAT sensor</a> or it is bust since it <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/IAT-MeasureBlock-4.jpg">sure isn't -44Cº</a> in Auburn, CA <a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA0054?from=search_city">right now</a>.
/dan
August 12th - The morning after a late night drive to the Bay Area, the buzzer and DIS indicator fired with a low coolant alarm. Wow, the coolant expansion tank was empty! Engine compartment smelled like burnt cotton candy. I bought a new coolant expansion tank at Carlsen in Palo Alto for $40.19 and another bottle of G12.
August 12-18th - Parked car at SFO for a week while on a business trip. After the trip, the tank was down again and I could see a stain on the parking lot. Topped off with G12 and drove home to Auburn with fingers crossed.
August 19th - I had the coolant expansion tank replaced at a local VW dealer since I was too busy and the nearest Audi dealer is 30 miles away.
August 20th - Drove from Auburn (1300 ft.) to 6700 ft. (Robinsons Flat) over 45 miles for the re-opening of the ranger station - what a great drive. But, about 10 minutes into the descent, the low coolant warning fires again. Pulled over, topped off with G12 and continued home with fingers and toes crossed. Car leaked a bit on driveway when we returned home.
August 21st - Pretty much determined that the car was only leaking after shutdown, consulted Audiworld (yes I used "Search"!) and figured out it was probably the insidious <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/533317.phtml">after-run coolant pump</a>. Car leaked after a short trip to Kragen to pick up a wrench.
August 22nd - Drove to Neillo Audi in Sacramento first thing in the morning... wow the after-run coolant pump leaked massively after shutdown and emptied the whole top end coolant onto the service queue area - no problem getting car in this day :-).
August 23rd - While fixing the coolant-pump and prompted by my mentioning an oil leak - they found a leaking prop shaft seal and a leaky engine mount (good for them).
August 26th - Finally the Audi parts system gets parts in and car is back together with two new engine mounts, and after-run coolant pump and an alignment.
When I picked up the car, <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/porterAccident.jpg">the porter backs my car (at speed) straight into a concrete pole</a>. Poor kid, he looked like he was going to puke he was so upset. It was witnessed by the Service Director, my service advisor my wife and I. I was mad for about a second then I said - <b>it looks like I will be getting a new 2002 rear-bumper cover with exhaust cut-outs!</b>
Also, Niello returned the car to me with a <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/IAT-DTC.jpg">check engine light</a> - it was even noted in the tech. notes. They either forgot to connect the <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/IAT-SensorLocation.png">IAT sensor</a> or it is bust since it <a href="http://www.hallerfamily.net/audiworldstuff/IAT-MeasureBlock-4.jpg">sure isn't -44Cº</a> in Auburn, CA <a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA0054?from=search_city">right now</a>.
/dan
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