Overheating

Tiny
REPO
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 AUDI A6
  • 101,000 MILES
Ok so the alternator went out on my car, I got underneath the car and unplugged the one wire going to the alternator for the voltage regualator becacuse it was chaffed. I also had to unplug the wires going to the oil pan because there was no slack. After it was all plugged back in, the temp gague automatically went to 3/4-7/8 of the way to hot when the car was started from cold. I got the car to a shop where the alternator was replaced and troubleshooting for the over heating started. They swore up and down the water pump was bad. When the car was plugged in to a doagnostic tool, the temp gague was high yet the car only registered at approx 150-170. The shop did the timing belt, water pump, thermostat and flushed the cooling system. The coolant came out rusty colored. The heater stopped working unless at high idle or engined reved. The shop said that the heater core went bad, but it worked when I dropped the car off with them. The shop also suggested that the temp sending unit went bad. After a phone call from my wife, the shop decliined to do any more service on the car and had failed to fix the overheating. I drove the car home and after about 3-4 miles and less than 5 minutes, the temp pegged hot and the temp warning light on the information display came on. Before I throw any more money at the problem, can you give me suggestions as to what could still be causing the problem? I have the car prepped to pull the heater core if necessary, and the temp sending unit is cheap. I would just like further guidance before I get any further.
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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 5:05 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the thermostat if okay try bleeding the cooling system if it continues have it block and pressure tested-
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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 5:22 PM
Tiny
REPO
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The thermostat was replaced when waterpump and timing belt was replaced. It would involve me removing the front of the car to troubleshoot it. It's not necessarlily an easy check. Unless you know of any shortcuts.
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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 5:26 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
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Block and pressure test it-this will tell you something if its not the Stat, Wp, and Radiator
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Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 AT 6:01 PM
Tiny
REPO
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  • 8 POSTS
I haven't got as far pressure testing yet, but if my car is overheating, the coolant reservoir fluid is cold, and so is my upper radiator hose, would it be safe to assume I've got blockage?
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Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 AT 3:33 AM
Tiny
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Recheck the water pump and the radiator if is clogged-if all okay-bleed the system
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Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
REPO
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So 100% wrong. It was the temp sensor.
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Monday, February 27th, 2012 AT 1:47 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
I've answered thousands and thousands of Overheating Questions Now you telling me I don't know what am doing as an expert in here for 6 yrs

Wow! So wrong huh! Didn' you say it was overheating-the CTS fooled-you didn't it-

CTS will not caused the engine to overheat unless the cooling fans are not coming
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Monday, February 27th, 2012 AT 3:01 AM
Tiny
REPO
  • MEMBER
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Oh I wasn't inferring you were wrong. I didn't elaborate. The shop that I first went to misdiagnosed the car. The problem was that temp sensor went bad causing the temp gauge to register as hot. Car never overheated or got to the point of overheating. When I mentioned the sensor possibility to the shop they dismissed my suggestion rather quick. So they did a timing job and replaced the water pump and thermostat and all that and due to their incompetence and gross negligence, I got that job done for free as they did not correct the issue. The part cost me $18.27 and took all of a few minutes to fix.

Thanks for the advice though. I'm sure I'll need it in the future. I hear those are common issues.
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Monday, February 27th, 2012 AT 3:08 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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Happy to be able to help. Glad to hear it's back up and running properly again.

Closing thread.
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Friday, March 2nd, 2012 AT 5:24 AM

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