Re: Water temp warning !

["Keleigh Hardie" <hobbesian@worldnet.att.net>]

This is just an educated guess, but this sounds like a plugged radiator.
They will frequently run cooler stopped than moving, and this can often
prevent the fan from ever coming on. The gauge is probably just a bad
sender.
Check the connector to the fan as well, though. These are notorious for
frying on 5cyl 90's>
	Keleigh!

80 80Q (soon!)
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 14:30:24 -0700
> From: Gregory Deschodt <GXD@synon.com>
> Subject: Water temp warning ! 
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I need some help here... 
> My fiancee's Audi 90  (91model) started flashing the water temperature
> digital icon (the one with the little waves!) about a month ago. I
> checked it out, it still had coolant, the fan was fine.... We took it in
> and they replaced a $400 electronic unit that was sending false alarms.
> Argh, expensive false alarms ! 
> 
> This time, a month later, here we go again !  The thing beeps and
> flashes the temps LCD. Once again, there is coolant, but unfortunately
> the water temps gauge has died in the meantime so I really don't know if
> it's a false alarm or not. I know, it might be a good idea to get it
> fixed, but I am afraid to ask them given the cost of the last repair...
> Anyway, I think the fan did not kick in this time, so the fan may be
> dead/disconnected. 
> 
> Strange thing , though... the temps light flashed when I exceeded 70
> mph/3000rpm or when stuck in traffic, and stopped when I parked the car
> and subsequently drove under 50 mph.... Smack me if I'm stupid, but I
> assumed that if you go faster you cool the engine more, so I didn't
> really understand this "stop the car 10 seconds and the light goes off"
> business... Anyway, the friendly audi mechanic only caught the " I
> didn't hear the fan" part of my explanation and called my girlfriend
> quoting a new fan + wiring for $500..Seems too easy to me. 
> 
> Ahem... Ouch.. Question : I cannot believe the fan is toast, is the any
> test/hotwiring I can do to see if it's just a bad wire ? If so, could
> you please explain this to me in dummy terms ? 
> Also,  is that quote reasonable ?  Any other idea, suggestion, good
> garage address in the bay area ? 
> 
> Many thanks ! 
> 
> Greg.  
>