Hi there,

I recently just bought a 01 Aviator Gray TT with Black leather and 51K miles. I know, couldn't pass it up.

So here's the deal. I noticed that it tends to run hot. I've done some reading and I really don't know where to turn next.

When I start the car from a cold start the coolant gauge instantly jumps up one slash. Once it reaches running temps, it stays at one slash above middle. Since it does stay there for most of the time I wrote this off as the bad cluster.

After sitting in traffic for longer than 2 minutes the temp goes up to the next slash, and unless I turn on the A/C or start moving it continues to go higher.

I replaced the thermostat, which was a huge PITA as well as replaced the coolant temp sensor with the green top version. The old coolant was pretty brown so I figured at least there was new g12 in there once I was done. Unfortunately these measures changed nothing.

I beginning to think this is going to be like my old slc Corrado. I mean what's the deal? Does this thing just run hot? People say replace the water pump, but I'm sure it works. It seems if that were broken I would be having major issues, not just "running hot."

The fans don't turn on until 104 C? I assume the car is supposed to run at operating temps without fans? So the needle basically has to be on H for the fans to turn on? I just want the damn needle to stay still from normal everyday driving, which includes traffic.

What can I do to make this thing stay cool?

thanks

allen

 

I was running cool for a long time. Had my timing belt done and a new t-stat was put in at that time... still ran cool. What are the chances of a new one being bad as well? after 3k of running cool, I bought a Behr thermostat off ecstuning.com and now I'm back to perfect.

 

more than likely it is your cluster failing.....Check your actual temps through the HVAC control...more than likely you are fine mechanically, and can join a lot of us with a failing cluster....

 

the temp gauge always creeps up when stopped without the A/C running... air flowing across the radiator cools things down. when you stop, no more air, i.e. the coolant heats up....UNTIL the fan switched is tripped. the aux fan turns on and pulls air across the radiator, cooling things down until the temp hits the lower limit of the fan switch, and the cycle repeats.

when you turn on the A/C, the fan is forced to on, thus the stable temps (the t-stat regulates flow of coolant to prevent it from running too cold)

 

and assuming you start at one tick up, and finish at one above middle, you should be OK... sitting at traffic lights makes mine climb up one more tick, which is also normal. it's just your fans kicking in... they sell a switch that kicks them on at 94 instead of 104... but then your car sounds like an aircraft

 

Audi would make a car where the temp gauge goes above middle quite a bit until the fans turn on. Other 1.8ts like my buddies 337 sit right in the middle. I guess I'm just whining now.

Well I did notice though that it happens to heat up faster now with the Wahler Thermostat in there. I might have to switch to Behr or OEM. Can't wait to do that again!

 

and yes, the wahler thermostat IS part of your problem (altho you probably didn't have a problem to begin with). The Wahler has been documented to open less and later than the OEM thermometer.

 

where they should be, the TT while idling will get hot because the water pressure is quite low with low engine speeds. Do an experiment and hold the gas pedal about 1500 - 2000 RPM when stopped. You'll see the coolant temps drop slowly because the water can now circulate around and through the radiator.