03 a4 overheating

[acidraine0]

Alright so my audi started overheating last night and the low coolant light came on. I pulled over and popped the hood and started to take off the reservoir cap and bam, coolant and steam started shooting out like crazy. I checked the coolant and it was right where it should be minus what just came out.. I went back in the car with the cap off and the water temp was back to normal... I drove it back home and by the time I got there (about a mile) it was overheating again.. same thing.. pulled the reservoir cap off and the temp went back down.. I thought maybe the cap was bad but had no way to test it.. I know the system is pressured but if it isnt released would that cause a low coolant light and overheating? I took the black pressure seal out of the cap and tried driving with just the blue part on but it just shot all the coolant out of the weep hole.. sooo is this a sign of something else or is it just a clogged cap? I had to order one since the auto stores around here didnt carry any.

[Revo Staged]

Sorry to hear your troubles, I know the feeling. I just had an overheating issue except I had a coolant leaking that ended up being a bad water pump.
When you have added coolant are you using the pink g12 coolant? if you have used anything else you may need to have your system flushed since the coolant may be gelling with the mix of two different coolants.
Also are your fans coming on?

[acidraine0]

Fans are on, flushed the coolant last year when I replaced my turbo. Cant figure it out.. my other car is a 350z and it finally snowed here in Iowa and I have nothing to drive

[acidraine0]

ok so is it possible for the audi thermostat to be stuck closed? Seems like thats the issue, I looked at some pics of it and it has an electrical plug, if that gets corroded or loose would that cause it to be stuck? My fans run when the engine is cold and I have way too much pressure build up. The top hose is hot and has coolant but no heat in the car whatsoever. Also this all happened like 5 minutes after I washed my car... went to the car wash and the gas station then right after I got down the street it overheated.

[Revo Staged]

Thats a good possiblity, I did change my thermostat also because my heat had been blowing cold for a while even before my coolant trouble. If the fan run even if the engine is cold I would also replace the coolant sensor on the back of the block:  http://www.a4mods.com/index.php?page=webcontent/pages/ECTsensor.html

[orestes]

Unfortunately this sounds like a bad water pump, I had the same symptoms in my TT and it ended up being the water pump.  The car is cooling down when it is off because when the car is switched off, the auxiliary water pump activates, and pushes the coolant back through the engine and cools it.  Although, I guess it is still possible that it's the thermostat, sure sounds like a bad water pump.

[acidraine0]

Well I bought a new thermostat, wont be here until next week but pulled the old one out tonight.. only took me about an hour so hopefully thats the prob. The blue plug pulled out of its socket and the two wires were just hanging there.. I barely pulled it and it popped off so I am crossing my fingers that was the problem. I really don't want to change my pump. The car doesnt cool when its off, the pressure is still built up until I open the cap. I dunno such a headache, no codes or anything. Also I replaced my temp sensor a year or so ago

[Revo Staged]

Those two wires are suspect... good luck

[acidraine0]

Well, looks like the water pump.. but now I have a blown head gasket.. nice

[Revo Staged]

Wow, how do you know your head gasket is blown?

[acidraine0]

After I put the new thermostat in the car was running like crap, I checked the oil and went to add some and there was coolant all inside the block and built up on the cap. Still overheating so I am assuming the pump is also bad.

[Revo Staged]

Sorry to hear that, Ive heard head gasket jobs are a pain. Its possible the head gasket is whats causing your car to overheat but very well could be in addition to the water pump. Keep us posted on the out come. 

[acidraine0]

well been taking it slow waiting on parts, finally pulled everything out today and the water pump was exploded inside the block. none of the plastic was left on it, took me a few min to dig it all out. I have the top of the engine off to the head so just waiting for the gasket to take the torque screws out. Forgot how man little things I am going to have to replace, all the clamps for my intercooler piping are rusted out.. had to cut a few off, some of the couplings are tearing. All the fluids, brake, coolant, oil, oil filter, gaskets. Its a fun job.. lol

[Revo Staged]

Nice! I wish could have replaced my water pump with the one from ecs tuning with the metal impeller (http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-Quattro-1.8T/Search/Water_Pump/ES252347/) but I couldn't have the down time waiting for delivery.
Nice do it yourself work not to mention all the cash your saving. Dont forget to grab a few pictures.
Are you also changing your timing belt?

[acidraine0]

I took a few pictures to remember where things sat, The timing belt looks ok from what I can see, no cracks or peeling. I might go ahead and get a new one but I dont want to buy a whole kit. Parts should be here in a few days so should have her all back together after that. I'll snap a few pics of the head and gasket once I get it off.

[acidraine0]

Got the head off today, coolant flange is destroyed.. the heat cracked it and it fell apart when I took it off today.. But here are the pics of everything so far.

[acidraine0]

anyone have a set of intake valves laying around?

[acidraine0]

All done, have one small problem.. the car takes forever to start, if I jump it it starts right up, but without a jump i have to pump the gas for a good 2-3 min to get it to start. Not sure what that would be. It has a little surge in the idle too and its running in limp mode. Havent scanned the codes cause I dont have a vag com and dont want to be sitting in the parking lot at the auto store for 10 minutes trying to get it to start again. Any suggestions?