Overheating

[Kiteral]

Just been to the shops...fans came on, on the way home, then the temp gauge started moving above 90c, stuck the heater on full blast and the temp came down.

Got the car booked in at audi, did a bit of googling and found that the thermostat is prone to failing.

If the thermostat has failed and apparently they fail closed would it be safe to drive the four miles to the stealers.

[adsgreen]

4 miles would be fine (assuming you are not in stop start traffic).
it takes a good 10 minutes for coolant to get up to temperature with oil about 5 mins behind that.

[Ian_C]

Aren't the early cars prone to water pump failure? The water pump was upgraded pretty soon into S4 production? And yours is a 2009 iirc?

I think there might be a workshop recall for the water pump and then a separate one for the thermostat.

Maybe check the coolant level before you set off, if its dropped then get it picked up by Audi.

[Kiteral]

Aren't the early cars prone to water pump failure? The water pump was upgraded pretty soon into S4 production? And yours is a 2009 iirc?

I think there might be a workshop recall for the water pump and then a separate one for the thermostat.

Maybe check the coolant level before you set off, if its dropped then get it picked up by Audi.

I have visually checked for the new water pump and it looks like it has been done, no coolant level drop yet but a closed thermostat would not do that.

No warranty, so how do I get it picked up by Audi ? I'll call them and see if the recalls have been recorded.

[Ian_C]

If water pump has been done and no coolant drop (ie diagnosis is just the thermostat) then you would probably be safe to drive it?

[Kiteral]

Hmmm, that's what I thought but if the thermostat has failed closed then no water will be going round the rad, it's happened to a few cars in the US.

Still got it to the garage ok, full blast heat all the way now waiting for the eventual large bill, lube at the ready.

[jaygemson]

Sorry to hear that. A few threads on Audizine about failed thermostats, typically on 2010-2011 cars having done anything from 10k to 50k miles. 4 hours labour allegedly, but apparently a TSB exists as discussed here: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthrea ... tat-Recall. Worth checking this with your dealer. If your car isn't marked for the TSB then it's worth requesting a goodwill gesture, they may be sympathetic depending on your relationship with them. If you don't ask you don't get.

Mine's in today for a leaky brake servo at 30k miles, and you can imagine how much labour that is to replace! As you say, lube at the ready...

[Kiteral]

I spoke to audi uk and weirdly enough mine isn't covered by the TSB, it's a launch spec car, so whether they used the metal water pump on them to stop it blowing up on the test drives....

[Ian_C]

I'm absolutely certain it was the earliest cars off the production line that came with the plastic cased water pumps before Audi realised their error within 12 months and changed the part being fitted on the production line. If yours is metal then it must have been changed after it left the factory

So the water pump is fine and the diagnosis is thermostat? Hope you get the car back soon without an outrageous bill!

[Kiteral]

Yep thermostat failed, £500 odd to change as have to take sc off and they are going to replace all the gaskets as well, getting water pump changed to be safe.

Mentioned the diff was leaking too....

[Ian_C]

Hopefully comes back okay!