Overheating onset

[Brett Dikeman]

At 12:40 PM -0700 10/7/02, The Loves wrote:
>Thermoswitch. I just went through the exact symptoms with one of my
>Quattro's. Try bypassing the switch and drive around town with the fan on
>continuously. If the temp holds, it is the switch.


Folks- let's try not to dispense "it must be X because I just had X
happen on my car" advice :-).  Always present a possible diagnosis as
just exactly that...possible.  Try to include ways of isolating the
problem or confirming your suggestion, and it never hurts to quantify
your comments.

In this case, another possibility is one of the most common failure
items on the later type 44's with fused fan motors...the fusible link
itself(located right next to the fan motor on the side of the engine
compartment.)  It most commonly breaks from corrosion after the cover
falls/breaks off.

To test, either measure the resistance between the two terminals, or
simply turn on the ignition and set the climate control to BILEV,
AUTO, or defrost with the temperature outside above about 40 degrees.
The fan should kick in at low speed.

If it comes on, still visually inspect the fuse- intermittent
operation is often a precursor to complete failure as the fuse may be
physically broken but making just enough contact to allow fan
operation in certain situations.

The link is available from almost any dealer and should be well under
$5.  Note you may get a link of varying amperage- any of them will
work fine; the link is to protect the battery and vehicle wiring.

Brett
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