help - engine temperature problems!

AudiSport

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Hi guys,

I wonder if any of you can shed some light on a problem with my car?

My engine management light came on last week, and although I have done multiple journeys since then it has remained on. There seems to be no difference in the engine sound, however I have noticed a slight flat spot when the revs are very low. This only started a few weeks back and may be a separate problem.

Additionally, it would seem my car is running very cold. The temperature gauge doesn't raise much above 50c and the engine fan seems to be running most of the time?

Thermostat?
 
does the heating blow hot on high? If so then we can assume its getting warm ok, and that there is sufficient water level.

If the fan is running all the time that suggests the engine is actually over heating, yet the guage reads 50, the thermostat for water flow is mechanical, so thats easy to replace but may be one of the electrical temp sensors is fried or the dash module is faulty, strange it looks like there are 2 things wrong since low reading and full cooling fans are a contradiction eh?

If the 'stat jammed shut, the engine would quickly overheat and the fans would run constantly outside, the temp would shoot up to over 130 into the red.

If it jammed open, the car would never get hot, the fan wouldnt run and the temp would be low, so would the heating be luke-warm even at full setting.

Getting both at the same time is weird, and suggests an electrical problem or sensor instead.

You need it scanned for fault codes on vag com or similar.

The ecu will soon tell you what it thinks is wrong.
 
Thanks for the info!
The heat out of the fans is warm - however not that hot? I seem to think it is usually hotter.. I'm questioning everything now!

For example, this morning I started the car from cold and the fan under the bonnet was going crazy - so I turned the engine off and back on again and this stopped the fan!

My mate works in a local garage (not audi specialist) and he ran some basic tests on a hand held unit. This is the results;

EOBD:
P1296

Fault location:
Engine cooling system - malfunction

Probable cause:
ECT sensor, coolant thermostat

Temperature sender:
48880

01826 ECP


However, as you state above my mate thinks all the signs are conflicting?
I have it booked in with Audi friday but I would rather find the fault myself than Audi change as sensor and till me they have changed the engine!

Thanks guys!
 
yup ect sensor sounds right, causing the coolant fan to be on constantly and overcool the engine. Its the green one you want, plugged into the rear of the head if im not mistaken.

It has a circlip to hold it in, and you need an o ring with it to make a seal again.