Temp Sensor Short

["richard c" <ricardo@teleport.com>]

Hi all, I'm a newbie on this list, and Audi's in general.

I bought a 85 4KSQ a few weeks ago and last weekend in an
act of over zealousness, I washed the engine bay with a
pressure washer and created a neat new problem which has
left my car in the driveway for the last week.  I apparently
got way too much stuff way too wet!!!  It took me 45 minutes
to get the car started again after 30+ attempts of coughing,
sputtering, and dying.

I've cleaned the engine bay this way on other cars I've owned
and figured that it would take a few minutes for things to settle
down again and get the car started again. Whoops!!!  I like to keep
a clean engine compartment so that I can tell if something is
leaking, so I thought I'd do the same thing with the new Quattro.

Here's the resulting problem.  When I turn the key to the
accessory position, my engine temperature gauge goes straight
to the top of the dial and the engine temp. idiot light starts
flashing.  This continues when I start the car and will not come
back down.  I haven't run the car long enough to be able to hear
the fan come on.  I don't want to heat the engine up that much until
I can figure out if it's a simple short.  I assume that some temp
sensor/sender has shorted because of the excessive water from the
"cleaning".  Am I on the right track??  I've checked the fuse box
and everything still appears to be okay.

I've found previous discussions in the archive for this list about the
two sensors on the radiator.  What are they called again, and which one
is which?  I'm still waiting to get the Bently Manual I ordered from
Barnes and Noble's web site ($66.95, much cheaper than Amazon.com), so can
someone tell me if this is where I should be looking for "wet" connections?
What else might I look at that would cause the Temp Gauge and Engine Temp
Light to go ballistic, keeping in mind that I apparently watered things down
a little too throughly?

The car does start and idle poorly, but it did that before I washed the
engine.  It may be time for a third Idle Stabilizer.  I've got all the
receipts!

Thanks!
Richard Crucchiola
Portland, OR
e-mail: ricardo@teleport.com
85 4KSQ 137,000 miles & wet engine compartment :(

PS.  I'm sure most people on this list that live in or near Portland know
about Halsey Import Parts on the eastside of Portland.  I just found another
decent shop on the westside of town.  Discount Import Parts.  THIS ISN'T
A PLUG FOR THEM, their located at 8622B SW Hall Blvd., Beaverton, OR.
They even have a web page http://www.discountimportparts.com/  Their prices
are similar to Halsey but if your too lazy to drive across town, here's
another place to go.  They are an authorized BOSCH parts distributor!!
For you Non-Oregonians,  WE DON'T HAVE A SALES TAX, and they ship!  ;-)