Still stuck on the lower thermostat bolt.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 1
Still stuck on the lower thermostat bolt.
See my post down the page. I got the top one out but I still cannot for the life of me get that lower bolt off. I even went out to Sears and picked up one of those flexible extension things. I got the socket seated on the head of the bolt, and when I torqued down hard on the ratchet, the coiled part started turning inside the end of the extension, rather than turning the socket.
RafaTT made this seem like a simple procedure. (I think he said 15-30 minutes in his post..?) Well I've been working at it for the past three hours and am not even halfway there. I guess tomorrow morning I'll try taking off the manifold--wanted to avoid doing that. I am also afraid of rounding off the corners of that bolt. Then I'd be really screwed.
RafaTT made this seem like a simple procedure. (I think he said 15-30 minutes in his post..?) Well I've been working at it for the past three hours and am not even halfway there. I guess tomorrow morning I'll try taking off the manifold--wanted to avoid doing that. I am also afraid of rounding off the corners of that bolt. Then I'd be really screwed.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 1
Yeah, I loosened up the top bolt, it didn't move, so I guess there are a few more I can't see?
It's dark and I got tired of trying to position a light so I gave up for the night. How many bolts hold the alternator on?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,474
Likes: 3
From: Noblesville, Indiana
A "few" bolts (see link) - sorry I don't really know.
<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/1400998.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/tt/msgs/1400998.phtml</a</li></ul>
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 13
From: N. Va
Here's what I had to do....
I had exactly the same problem. I had the manifold loose, though, to do the Evo phenolic gasket. I have beaucoups tools, and tried about every combination of u=joints, etc, and still could not get a good angle to where a socket was straight on the bottom bolt.
I ended up using a 1/4 ratchet, a 1/4-to-3/8 adapter, and a short 3/8 drive socket (10mm, IIRC?) The adapter got the handle of the ratchet out away from the thermostat housing. In the space between the manifold and the head, I was able to drop a length of pipe to go over the handle of the ratchet to break the bolt loose. Once it was loose, no prob. I tightened it back down the same way on reinstallation. Getting the bottom bolt back in is tricky, too, but just be patient and careful you don't drop it.
Also plan to break your oil dipstick holder when you try to take it off. (I anticipated that and had a new one ready to go back on.)
Good luck!
Fig
I ended up using a 1/4 ratchet, a 1/4-to-3/8 adapter, and a short 3/8 drive socket (10mm, IIRC?) The adapter got the handle of the ratchet out away from the thermostat housing. In the space between the manifold and the head, I was able to drop a length of pipe to go over the handle of the ratchet to break the bolt loose. Once it was loose, no prob. I tightened it back down the same way on reinstallation. Getting the bottom bolt back in is tricky, too, but just be patient and careful you don't drop it.
Also plan to break your oil dipstick holder when you try to take it off. (I anticipated that and had a new one ready to go back on.)
Good luck!
Fig
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rggpa2
Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet
6
Jan 13, 2008 12:22 PM
Catamount90
12v V6 Discussion
3
May 7, 2007 06:44 AM
picnicbob
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
26
Aug 8, 2006 06:37 PM
fignewton
TT (Mk1) Discussion
4
Nov 7, 2005 06:13 AM
