4kq overheat problem

[ben swann]

Bernie,

The heater works fine.  Shuts off when needed and blows heat if
needed.  I have used the heat when approaching/impending overheat to
get me home.  Does now work to well lately cause the car gets, well a
little hot.

Ben

----- Original Message -----
From: Bernard Littau <bernardl at acumenassociates.com>
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2003 3:15 pm
Subject: RE: RE: 4kq overheat problem

> Hi Ben,
>
> Before you go looking for a known good radiator, check both hoses
> and make
> sure they are OK and not clogged or collapsing.  Also, what is
> your in-car
> heater doing when the car is overheating?
>
> I've not had an Audi be problematic in refilling coolant.  Some
> engines are
> much worse, and even have a bleed screw at the top most point of
> the cooling
> system to help remove the trapped air.
>
> Best,
>
> Bernard
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [quattro-admin at audifans.com] On
> > Behalf Of ben swann
> > Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2003 6:46 PM
> > To: Bernard Littau
> > Cc: quattro at audifans.com
> > Subject: Re: RE: 4kq overheat problem
> >
> > Agreed, nothing I said rules out the radiators - in fact I mention
> > because I wonder is this a common problem with the clogging.
> >
> > I also had compound problems with the switch(replaced) and one
> radiator> blowing out coolant at the top when the switch
> malfunctioned, or for
> > some reason when the car overheated as it did/does.
> >
> > I did notice that after the last install, it began to over heat
> and I
> > shut it down.  when I came back, the coolant reservior which was
> > overflowing when hot, was not completely empty.  Are these systems
> > trouble some to "burp". Perhaps I have not been refilling proberly
> > after a "change".
> >
> >
> > Guess I ned tohunt down a "known good" radiator and try again.
> Never> had this problem before in any of the 4kq's.
> >
> > Ben
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Bernard Littau <bernardl at acumenassociates.com>
> > Date: Saturday, May 24, 2003 1:57 pm
> > Subject: RE: 4kq overheat problem
> >
> > Hi Ben,
> >
> > Nothing you mentioned rules out the radiator being massively
> plugged up.
> > Flow through a couple of passages would make the "hose" test
> look good,
> > but
> > a couple of passages are not enough to shed the heat.  You seem
> to have
> > flow
> > through the radiator, but not enough heat shedding.  Granted, it
> seems> that
> > two radiators should not exhibit the same plugged up behavior.
> >
> > Another possibility is that the return from the radiator is plugged
> > (severely constricted).  Just a little bit of flow occurring
> through the
> > radiator, and the radiator is shedding the small amount of heat
> easily,> could yield the temperature gradient you describe.  Check
> the hoses and
> > the
> > ports they attach to.
> >
> > Finally, perhaps everything is fine and you have a massive air
> bubble> in the
> > system that makes your water pump ineffective.
> >
> > What is the heater in the car doing during all of this?  If you are
> > getting
> > massive amounts of heat from the in-car heater, then I would
> think the
> > pump
> > and flow are OK (think blockage).  If the in car heater is
> putting out
> > cold
> > air, then no flow.
> >
[snip]
> > Best,
> >
> > Bernard Littau
> > Woodinville, WA
> > '88 5ktq
> > '86 4kq
> >
> > > Patient is '85 4000 quattro experiencing strange overheating
> problem.> >
> > > I noticed earlier around January that the radiator seemed to
> stay cool
> > > at the bottom and never kick on the fan even when head temps
> approach> > overheating.
> > >
> > > I have replaced - Radiator fan switch, thermostat, radiator,
> and now
> > > water pump which was good afterall.  After spending way more
> time on
> > > this than I ought, I'm  confused and frustrated at what is
> going on.
> > >
> > > It seems that the coolant is not flowing at all even though it
> should> > be being pumped by the water pump.  I even removed the
> thermostat and
> > > the problem took longer to happen, but still results in
> overheating> > with the fan not kicking on - radiator stays cool
> at the bottom, but
> > at
> > > top boiling hot and developing high pressure.  The hose coming
> off the
> > > thermostat housing gets hot coming out of the block, but is cooler
> > down
> > > toward the radiator intake, and radiator nice and cool at the
> bottom.> >
> > > I ran water from hose in both directios through the different
> > > radiators - they don't seem blocked.  I ran hose water through
> both> > directions in the engine, there seems to be no blockage.  The
> > radiators
> > > supposedly are good used radiators and they seem to have good flow
> > > through with a hose and no noticable scaling inside.
> > >
>
>
>