85 4kq - overheating ...

[Bill Phelps]

Is the water pump ok? I recall a situation (not sure if it was a SAAB or an
Audi) where the impeller had become detached from the shaft, so the pulley
would spin, but the pump would not move any water. Normal convection would
cause the top of the radiator to get hot, but not the bottom. I'd pull the
top hose (with the car cold), add an extension to the hose and see if she'll
pump (into a bucket or such)....

Just a thought.

Bill

87 4KQ


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Message: 5
From: Ben Swann <bswann at worldnet.att.net>
Reply-To: "bswann at worldnet.att.net" <bswann at worldnet.att.net>
To: "'quattro at audifans.com'" <quattro at audifans.com>
Subject: '85 4kq - overheating - clogged radiator?
Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:24:27 -0400
Organization: Swann Family


I have been troubleshooting an overheating problem in the '85 4kq - formerly
rally car now being pressed into service as my daily driver/beater.  The fan
switch circuitry works OK as tested from the switch at the bottom of the
radiator.  I replaced the thermostat, thinking that it was not opening - the
one I removed was definately not opening all the way.
  I still had the problem.  Car heats up at idle to the point where
pressure forces coolant out the overflow cap.  Replaced cap.    I just
installed a new thermo-switch.  It seems that the top half of the radiator
is getting very hot, but the bottom half is only warm - not enough to heat
the fan switch(also cool).

Is it possible the radiator is so clogged that there is no circulation
getting to the bottom?  What else can be wrong.

BTW I also flushed the system when I replaced the thermostat.  As a side
note, if I run the heater and vent fan on high, I can keep the car from
overheating (that was after I cleaned the mouse nest out of the squirrel
cage - another saga).

Ben