Car Tech forum: Audi A3 Overheating/ Coolant problems

This may have already been looked at by the dealer, but I had almost an exact experience with my A6 2.7T early this summer. Coolant mysteriously dissapearing, spikes in temp at high speed, etc. I took my Audi to the dealer a total of 4 times to complain, and on my fourth visit they discovered that my secondary water pump was fouled and would need to be replaced. Audi Assured took care of the cost of replacement for both pumps...
Maybe the A3 has a similar setup? Good luck.

I have the exact same problem described in the original post on an Audi A2. I lose coolant at motorway speeds and the temperature guage shoots up to 90 for brief period of time and back down again. I have taken it to the garage twice and they have replaced the water pump and another part, but still the problem persists so it would be good to know if anyone has found a solution to this as its a big problem for me.

Thanks

Mark

your comment made very interesting reading and i can relate to it so much.

I brought an approved audi A3from a dealership in August '05. It is two years old and has only done 16,000 miles.
So not too much wear and tear.

Within weeks the car started losing all it's coolant.

The car has been in for "tests" at least five times now. and each time they tell me there is nothing wrong with it and send we on my way.

coolant topped up of course!

They have done pressure tests, head gasket tests and even changed the water tank. No leaks!!!

Yet the problem persists. I had to fill it up twice over the weekend when doing a round trip from Birmingham to Sheffield.

I have started getting serious now by threating futher action. I shouldn't have to keep topping up my coolant levels daily when it is such a prestigious car.

If anyone else has this problem or any clues what causes it then please please let me know.

Hi (this is a long message but very interesting towards to end)

I have an Audi A3 2003 petrol. Last year I had this strange problem where the coolant needed topping up every 2 or three 3 days. My mechanic fixed this at a charge of 100 - it was a problem with the washer and the water was leaking from there. This year I have another problem with oil in the coolant system. However my car was not heating up so the mechanic said it may not be the head gasket but a problem with the water pump. I had this fixed but the problem reappeared within a week. I then contacted Audi to complain that a car which has only done 45000 miles should have such a problem. The cost to repair the head gasket would be 800. Audi then called and told me that they would not compensate a problem like this. They also told me that the problem I had with the water leaking from the car was a known problem and that all Audi A3's had been recalled for this. I told them that paid 100 last year to get this fixed and whether they could reiimburse me - answer was no. I then asked them wy they did not contact me to tell about the problem - they replied we did not have your contact details, funny that as they do not have problems sending me mail about new promotions and sales! I then took my car to be looked at for ANOTHER manufacturing fault which they said they would look at for free. Once my car was looked at they then cheekily said that I owe them 70 - I refused to pay this. If you have a problem with your Audi check with them to see if it is a general problem in which case it would be a free service. All in all im not buying an Audi again - going to go with Toyota, a personal preference from now on.

here it's difficult to say, what might be peason for that... i believe you should find another Audi dealer.
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max@digitalhardcore.us

Yesterday, I took my 1998 Audi A3 to my local mechanic.
He said it had a blown head gasket, because it had muddy water in the resevoir. The car has been losing coolant since I bought the car second hand last year, but has never gone over 90 degrees on the temp gauge. Car was not running rough, and I was shocked when he said it was a head gasket problem. I called him to tell him to stop pulling the engine apart, and to check the water pumps, as per a previous forum response. Will let you know what I find. I'm going to ring Audi Australia now, to talk about reimbursement for costs.

I have an Audi A4 quattro 1998, witch is better green or the pink coolant, i know the green are mostly for sale in auto parts stores and the pink for boats and RV's....

The cooling system of your Audi is composed of many high quality parts. One is the Audi radiator, which is the primary component responsible for dispensing the heat that the coolant absorbed from the engine. Another is the heater core which serves as a secondary, albeit smaller, radiator. Then there are the radiator hoses and the pressure cap, all functioning to aid cool the engine in one way or another. And lastly, there's the Audi coolant tank.

Hi
I also have a 1998 Audi A3 and Im losing coolant did you get it sorted and if si what was the problem, im filling mine up everyday and I have taken it to two mechanics and they cant find the problem
Many thanks

hi,
im sure not if anyone here has fixed the problem etc.
but i had the same problem with my 1994 audi 80 b4.
overheating, lght flashing, but no probs with hed gasket or leaks etc etc.

we found the problem ourselves.

we put the car on ramps, and suddenly realised that the floor inside my car had filled with coolant/water!!! there was a massive leaking coming from behind the dash behnd where the heaters and a/c is. we could see coolant coming out very fast from a part where the heating is turned from cold to hot on the controls.
although i still havent got it fixed, as i dont know what that part is called??!! if anyone could tell me what the part is tha would be great!

hope this helps!

your heater core needs to be replaced. good luck

hello i have a audi a3 i have a bad oil leak it looks like it is coming from the head gaskit but when i take it too a audi dealer ship thay say its somthing too do with the gear box .. ? so i have a look at the clutch plate there is nothing like a lead so i clean all of the engine out and everything else and after all it was the coolant . Do u have under your audi on the bottom sort of a oil tipe of lead its not a oil or radiator lead its coolant i drive about 20 miles a day too work and back and it just drinks it i get home and there is none in the bottle just a tat left in the pipes so if i was you do what i did jack it up drain all of your coolant and but new pipes in see if that helps !!! hope i was a help please reply !