MFTS and thermostat Q: Gauge not reading temp but HEAT

[Phil Rose]

At 5:42 AM -0500 1/11/05, Kneale Brownson wrote:
>
>What about wanting heat on your feet?  You only get that from Bi or Auto,
>according to my owner manual.

I don't think so. AFAIK, the normal output for heat in ECON setting 
is directed at the floor vents (maybe a little at the defrost vents). 
The normal ECON mode  of "heat-to-feet and fresh-to-face" has 
generated longstanding gripes from (American) Audi drivers who tend 
to dislike the cool (cold?) fresh air coming into the face from the 
dash vents when they're calling call for heat--it's something the 
Germans evidently believe is useful for keeping you alert, I guess. 
Achtung!

The low temperature (gauge) readings Scott described are pretty 
common for this car and nothing to get concerned about, IMHO. But 
Scott states his need to have the heater setting in "mid 70s" and 
that sounds quite excessive to me (knowing where Scott lives) and 
suggests that he might be getting insufficient heat because of 
malfunctioning heater (control-flap) feedback potentiometer. Has that 
been replaced recently? Common problem area.

Scott, does your comment about "low coolant level" possibly refer to 
the fact that you've been getting the coolant warning signal????? If 
so, then there's surely a problem with the MFTS--considering the 
other symptom (low boost) you mentioned. Are you certain the contacts 
are good? Was the replacement MFTS you installed recently a *new* 
one, or did you waste your time following the philosophy that "old 
cars don't deserve new parts"?

Phil

-- 

Phil Rose
Rochester, NY
mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net