JoeNobody Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 I've noticed in the last couple of days that my car has been a bit lumpy when starting from cold, although it has been getting smoother as it warms up. Yesterday the car wouldn't start, although there were no warning lights on - a bit of throttle seemed to sort this. Anyway, today the car started straight away but lumpy, and almost immediately, the coolant level warning light came on. I check the resevoir, and it was empty. Luckily I had some coolant top-up of the right spec in the garage. Looking under the car, there does seem to be something leaking, very slowly, from somewhere near the front of the engine, on the passenger side. Any ideas what might be up (apart from a coolant leak )? Is there anything around that part of the engine that the coolant would pass by/through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 isn't that the aircon outlet, seem to remember seeing liquid from that area, normally on a hot day tho after a bit of a blat G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] isn't that the aircon outlet [/ QUOTE ] Most likely going to be the aircon outlet. Just wandering regarding the coolent level warning light.. I get the warning most mornings when I start the car.. I normally let it run idle for about 30secs and the warning goes away.. Just wandering if this is normal on cold starts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harminder Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 So does the coolant warning light normally come-on on cold starts? It's been doing it on my car since I have brought it so just assummed it was normal?? Checked the water level and that was fine.....perhaps more coolant is required?? Getting slightly worried.. MingBlueMagic - I reckon that if the resevoir was empty then its a good chance you have a leak...(well this is what the manual suggests).. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted August 1, 2005 Report Share Posted August 1, 2005 No you shouldn't have any errors on your DIS upon startup. Could just be a sensor, have been known to be faulty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3Bangs Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Hmmm...Lumpy idle on cold mornings, loss of coolant!! Seems exactly the same symptoms my car is at the dealers for as I type right now. First time it went in, they said the head gasket had gone.. came to bout £700 (sorted by aftermarket warranty). Two days after getting it back, had to fill up the coolant again, so took it back...same diagnosis. They're doing it again (Under their own warranty this time) so can only hope they get it right this time! If it isn't this, it could be the aircon leak as suggested but who am I to know. If you have VAG com, have a look, I did with mine and the error it came with was 'system running to lean in bank 1' IIRC. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 How quickly did you lose the coolant? Did you notice if it was leaking from anywhere? If so, where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3Bangs Posted August 4, 2005 Report Share Posted August 4, 2005 [ QUOTE ] How quickly did you lose the coolant? Did you notice if it was leaking from anywhere? If so, where? [/ QUOTE ] I'd say after filling it up, the warning light came on after about 2 weeks and there were no visible leaks. I did notice water under the car once, but attributed it to the aircon as it was one of those hot days when I had been using the climate control at its lowest temp on full blast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2005 Hmm, sounds rather like what I'm seeing. I've been checking under the car for leaks every time I get in it - yesterday there were no obvious leaks, but the warning light came on shortly after I pulled away. Were there any other symptoms? How was the car to drive? Mine's running a bit rough, but not too bad. When my gasket went on the GF's Punto, it was constantly overheating, had trouble starting and often struggled when moving, causing quite big kangaroo hops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3Bangs Posted August 5, 2005 Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 Your leak might be worse than mine if you're losing coolant that quick and I'd like to believe it would evaporate from the heat of the engine block making you unable to trace it, if its the head gasket, since it'd be leaking from the top of the engine block. [ QUOTE ] Were there any other symptoms? How was the car to drive? [/ QUOTE ] My car was running slightly rough I'd say but not to the extent that someone else would know. By this I mean, if someone who'd never driven an S3 got in it to drive it, they'd think the drive was okay but being experienced with driving the car makes you know something is not exactly right if you get my drift. As for comparing it with the symptoms of the Punto, I couldn't give you an exact answer on why the symptoms differ but would like to believe the problem has not got bad yet on the S3 and would probably end up being like the punto if its not done in time. Saying this, you could also have a completely different diagnosis to mine though they sound so alike. Find someone with VAG com to check it out for you. That would be the easiest diagnosis tool you could have right now and if its indicating that your system is running lean in one of the banks, I cant see it being any different from mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2005 I know exactly what you mean about someone else not knowing it was running rough Got it booked in for Tuesday next week at a local VAG specialist. Will be getting it home tonight and leaving on the drive until I have to drop it off. Hopefully the GF will let me drive the Punto for a couple of days, yippee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 I've just had word from the garage. Apparently they've been pressure testing it and have found no signs of a leak. Interesting that, considering I've had to put 2 litres of coolant in it over the last week So, any ideas what to do next? I'm tempted to book in with Audi, perhaps they'd have more luck finding the problem. I could try AmD, but it's a hassle having to take a day off work, and if they have to keep it for longer than a day, then I'm stuck up there with no car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tainted_love Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 i too have the same prob on my 2004 a3 2lt tdi, losing coolant every 2000miles (volume lost is from max on bottle to below min) Audi have it at the moment. its already been in three times since new year, so far the EGR coolant has been changed but prob still continuing, Audi state that there are no visible sign of leaks?? i was also told that after all kinds of tests nothing has come up. am f-ing lost with this one too , i told them that if the gasket is gone they can take the car & stick it up Audi's CEOs a$$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 I thought I ought to check the oil filler cap and found this: Now, I suspect this means that there is water getting in there but can anyone confirm it? It certainly doesn't look normal, particularly as the last service was only about a month ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2005 The car went back to the garage today for another check over. It hasn't been driven since last week, after I found the emulsion on the filler cap. The engine management light came straight on and stayed on, and I could still detect the misfires under accleration, although the power still seemed to be there. Anyway, had a call from the garage a little while ago to tell me that the head gasket is indeed fecked - cylinder 1 is leaking. It's booked in for the week after next to get sorted. Looks like it will cost a max of £600, so while not cheap, I was preparing for the cost to be higher. I'll be glad to get it back - not because I miss the power (although I do), but because I miss the aircon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoban50 Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 I had a similar problem that persisted even after a cylinder head gasket was fitted and it was the oil cooler between the block and filter that was leaking coolant into the oil. £80 and it went away. Stupid design anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 Thanks for that, will keep it in mind. Dropped the car off this morning, and should hopefully get it back by the end of the week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trick97 Posted August 30, 2005 Report Share Posted August 30, 2005 i have noticed this coolant leaking problem on my A3 TDI Sport (51). Needs filling every 3/4 weeks (approx. 2500 miles) I dont think is the HG on mine as there is no mayo in filler, no scum in the coolant tank, and no overheating. Everything works fine. guess to be safe, i should get the VAG check Only once have i noticed a small patch on water on the front just under rad on passenger side, so i was going to have a good look round. Def. not the A.C condensing as thats further back and ive seen that a few times. Sounds like its a common problem with Audis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted August 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 A guy on A-S.net said that he'd had a similar problem that turned out to be a radiator leak. Also might be worth dropping tainted_love a PM (see above) as he's been expreiencing the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeNobody Posted September 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I had a similar problem that persisted even after a cylinder head gasket was fitted and it was the oil cooler between the block and filter that was leaking coolant into the oil. £80 and it went away. Stupid design anyway. [/ QUOTE ] Do you know if this would be something I could investigate myself? I got the car back on Friday afternoon, and had to refill the coolant on Saturday afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumstory Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 Exactly the same thing happening to mine. The garage say it is a known fault with the EGR valve. The spokesman said that they are awaiting an official announcement although stock across Europe is null. I've been told to just top it up until the new valves arrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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