RE: afterrun thermoswitch BTDT

[Henry Harper <hah@srv.net>]

Phil R. sed:
> When I replaced the multifunction switch on my '89 100, I was able to get
> the new one in before more than 1/4 liter (or so) of coolant had escaped.
> However access to the after-run switch on the '91 200q is _so_ limited that
> I'd expect to lose a _lot_ of coolant.
>
> Let us know if you manage the job without serioiusly skinning at least 3 or
> 4 knuckles. I got some painful abrasions just getting the connections off
> to do the test. :(
>

Contortions definitely required. I let it cool off *almost* enough to not burn 
myself on the various warm things around there, and the 
oil-level-checking-device tube is very much in the way.

> BTW, on my "new" '91 200q, the after-run came on for the first time about
> 10 days ago when there was a spate of unseasonably warm weather (close to
> 70 F, wow!). I idled the engine in the driveway until the cooling fan came
> on and then shut the engine down immediately (temp gauge at 12 o'clock.)
> Then I checked the mail, went inside the garage, started around into the
> house, and after what _must_ have been at least 4 or 5 minutes, the
> after-run came on. This was a very similar experience to what I encountered
> with my previous car--although it was during the Fall season then.
>
> So, although it may still indicate a faulty component, it's possible that
> the after-run sensor might not trigger without warm outside temps plus
> having several minutes to activate--when we're likely to be long gone.
>

That's more like a BTDT that I asked the list for earlier, but was probably 
buried in an unrelated note.

Here's what I did yesterday coming home from work. Well, I drove home, about 15 
minutes, temp gauge is at first bold hash as usual. Ambient about 70F, but 
becoming partly cloudy and cooler. Let it sit idling in the driveway, (hood up) 
trying to get fan to come on. With AC, stage one fan is always on, at idle for 
this temperature not enough heat generated to get stage two. Turn AC off, get 
stage two (from stage zero) every five minutes for about a minute. Get bored, 
leaving hood up, turn off engine and begin to play with my favorite driver's 
door innards while things cool off so I can pull off the afterrun switch 
connectors to test the pump. I mess with the door for 20 minutes or so before 
connecting a particular way to reassemble the inner handle with that silly 
clicking noise when lock/unlocking, don't ever hear the fan/pump come on. Hood 
is still up, of course, so I do the short-connectors-together test to verify 
pump can run. It does, I put them back on, ponder a bit, then go fire off note 
to q-list.

Perhaps the system is still functioning as intended, and I just haven't got the 
car hot enough and watched it afterwards. The cooling system does seem to have 
significant ability, so the funny thing is that running the car hard and then 
shutting it down to check afterrun workings seems to border on vehicular abuse 
(if the afterrun doesn't in fact work after all).

No luck on any such test today though, it's now under 50F and raining to beat 
the band. Good quattro weather, anyway.

Hmmm,
Henry Harper
http://www.srv.net/~hah
1991 200 quattro, 87k, does or does not the afterrun subsystem work properly, 
that is a question for another day
1988 GTI 16v, 177k, only rarely do I hear the afterrun fan come on in this car 
(and pretty much never hear the turbo pump :)