Re: Water temp warning !

[todd candey <tcandey@wwa.com>]

Gregory Deschodt wrote:
> 
> 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.

I've seen this a couple of times and both times it turned out to be low 
coolant. Not out of coolant mind you, but down just enough to trip the 
sesnor. If you look at the overflow tank, the coolant needs to be just a 
hair above the full line in order to keep the light off.

Todd