Audi spewing green goo, fan is out to lunch

[Brett Dikeman]

At 6:48 PM -0400 5/10/02, Zoot531 at aol.com wrote:
>Listers,
>
>     It seems that i should have knocked on the laminated zebrano when last i
>said the car was running in tip top shape.  Just yesterday i had it at the
>carwash idleing and next thing i know, steam is billowing from under the hood
>and the car is leaking coolant at an alarming rate.  Upon checking, i find
>that the coolant is gushing out of the filler cap which is still secured to
>the overfill tank.  Here's the caveat...i check the temperature gauge and
>it's two ticks past halfway and the fan has not clicked on.  The fan usually
>starts up about 1 or 2 ticks before halfway.  Further testing concludes the
>fan will not click on in any circumstance....anyone have similar issues?
>What should i be checking?  Thermostat?  Fuses? Relays? I dunno!

This is most likely a failure of the fusible link; it is on the strut
tower right behind the fan.  Usually, the cover breaks off, the
terminals corrode, and the link eventually just snaps.

The break should be evident; if so, replace...any dealer should have
it for practically a dollar or two.  You can replace it with a
fusible link wire(instead of a blade) of the same rating, in a
pinch...which lots of places have.  A 60A wire should work too, I
think I remember people saying 80A was pretty high.

Part number is N 017 125 3, and I believe it is rated 80A.

To be safe, disconnect the battery before changing the fuse(just have
the security code for the radio handy.)  Technically if the after-run
circuit came on, you could cause some pretty fireworks with your
screwdriver.

HTH,
Brett
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"They that give up essential liberty to obtain temporary
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