Coolant Temp sender. Easy fix?

[Shoppinit]

Hello.

My friend's temperature guage is playing up on his B6 S4. Vagcom says:

Friday,11,December,2009,16:43:15:19387
VCDS Version: Release 908.1

Address 01: Engine Labels: 079-910-560-BBK.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 8E0 910 560 HW: 8E0 907 560
Component and/or Version: 4.2L V8/5V G 0040
Software Coding: 0011711
Work Shop Code:
1 Fault Found:

19497 - Powertrain Databus: Implausible Engine Temp. Message from Inst. Panel
P3041 - 004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent

Readiness: 0000 0000

Friday,11,December,2009,16:44:13:19387
VCDS Version: Release 908.1

Address 17: Instruments Labels: 8E0-920-9xx-8E2.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 8E0 920 931 AX
Component and/or Version: KOMBI+WEGFAHRS. RB8 D42
Software Coding: 01000
Work Shop Code: Additional Info: 1 Fault Found:

01039 - Coolant Temperature Sensor (G2)
30-10 - Open or Short to Plus - Intermittent

Since he'd struggle to change a wheel, I'll probably end up fixing this.

Has anyone done this and can give me some pointers?

CheeRS!

[nidfix]

If you have to change it, you will have fun. Not that it is complicated to remove but there is not much place to work (it is located close to the top but on the cabin facing side of the engine).
In addition if the car did not cool down, it is really tricky not to get burned.

[Shoppinit]

I could not for the life of me find the temperature sender. Can anyone give me a idea of where it is? I had a good look all round the back of the engine, and couldn't see anything remotely like it.

[neckarsulm]

HTH

[Shoppinit]

Cool. Thanks. I saw that metal pipe, but didn't see any sensors going into it. I'm going to have to have another look At least I know I was looking in the right area now!

[neckarsulm]

Do let me know, maybe it's different on your build.

[Shoppinit]

Right, that was a bastard job. The sender is almost completely hidden, so it you don't know exactly where to look, you'll have real difficulty finding it. Anyway, job done, with slightly more than the usual amount of skin lost. Here's a pic to help others locate the sender. In this picture, the electrical connector is off, and you can see the green sender. As you can see, the sendor is almost horizontal, as opposed to the exploded diagram above. I put a little cross on the sendor so I didn't confuse it with the new one.

[neckarsulm]

Thanks for the update and insight

[Bincenzo]

What were the symptoms? Mine has just started indicating fluctuating temps, from about 70 to the normal 90 deg C. Normally sits bang on 90 regardless of workload. I was sat at motorway speeds when it happened. Seems to have fixed itself but don't like having a suspect T guage.

[Shoppinit]

Those are exactly the symptoms. Very common failure apparently. The Audi parts guy knew the part number by heart.

[Bincenzo]

Brilliant, thanks.