I've just joined the 8V water pump club

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Had the dreaded "stop engine and check coolant level" message in the DIS this morning. Managed to get home after a brief check to ensure there was still some water in the expansion tank, and drove to the dealer at lunchtime. Thankfully they agreed to look at it this afternoon, and have just called to say it needs a new pump, but as this won't be with them until tomorrow they need to keep the car over night. The car has done just shy of 17000 miles.

There have been one or two mentions of water pump replacements on here - it looks like this could turn into a common fault.
 
Is it a particular engine, or does it affect all of them? I've not heard about this problem before.
 
I might be jumping the gun a little in predicting a common fault, but TreborA4 reported a problem with his 2.0 TDI 3 weeks ago in the thread "Water pump leaking!", and I've seen one or two items in Google. I thought I'd seen others here too, but I couldn't find them with a very quick attempt at a search. As I've got a 1.8 TFSI I don't see a common factor.

Example: 2012 Audi A3 1.6tdi coolant loss (1.6 TDI and 1.8 TFSI)
 
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I had low coolant warning a while ago. I've got the 1.8tfsi. Not sure if anything was changed, Audi reading were sketchy on the details, but they had it in for 3 days
 
I had water pump issues with my previous 8P A3 and Mk6 GTI. Seems to be a weak point of VAG cars.
 
My car is drinking G13 coolant.....

Y9YrE3V.jpg




My S3 has just done around 4k miles, and the coolant expansion bottle has gone from MAX to MIN in that time.

Crewe Audi have booked it in for next week, and given me FOC a bottle of G13 to tide me over till then!

Previous water pump thread:
http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/water-pump-leaking.213270/

Will report back.
 
audi upgrades
Same issue 2 weeks ago, suddenly the coolant was under the MIN when the alert turns on. Went to Audi and changed the Water Pump applying warranty. They said it was preventive because the water pump was ok. At least they have the piece in stock and it was ready the next day.
Forgot: my S3 just have 2,400 Kms
 
That's interesting. Never heard of a dealer changing a water pump, if it wasn't leaking !!

Wonder if there is a TSB bout it being a known issue ?
 
Car is back, with no fault found.
No visible signs of leaks, undertray is clean.
Pressure tested, left pressurised overnight, no loss of pressure.
Car returned to me, asking me to monitor the situation.

I'm at a loss as to where this coolant has gone.
 
I was like you, even they took out the plastic shield under in front of me, there was not sign of leaking on it. I still thinking they don´t fill right the coolant when it was new.
 
Mine is going in this Saturday for investigation, max to min twice in 5.5k miles.
 
One of the tests Audi UK Technical got my dealer to do was:

Ensure coolant at correct level
Pressure test - run car
Pressure test - leave overnight
Observe for pressure loss in the morning
Start car - listen for misfire/s

Mine had a slight loss of pressure overnight, but didn't misfire in the morning. So they returned the car to me, asking me to monitor for any further coolant loss.
 
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Mine is currently in, gone below minimum and only touched 4000miles.
 
Arcam said:
Mine is going in this Saturday for investigation, max to min twice in 5.5k miles.
Click to expand...

My leak was caused by the metal pipe that runs across the top of the radiator approx 18 to 24 inches long, it was on back order but has now been replaced.
 
Anyone having continuing S3 coolant problems?
My first service after 12 months, 8 thousand miles, trouble free months last week, mentioned I'd had to top the coolant reservoir up.
Call to inform it needed new coolant pump, on back order so 6 days cold turkey.
Car back couple of days ago - yesterday morning coolant stop warning, checked and got it back to audi who checked it immediately. Told it was caused by an air lock that had then blown a hose clip off ??
Checked again this morning below minimum coolant - awaiting call back from dealer.
Was there a recall the affected all S3's? I'll let you know if continuing issue is part or poor service issue.
 
Reading back through the various threads on this matter, am I right in saying everyone has experienced slow coolant loss? I think the level in my car is very slowly dropping. At the moment I'm just monitoring it and keeping a bottle in the boot in case of problems, and will ask Audi to look at it during the next service. I'm just curious if the problem tends to escalate?
 
None that I've noticed, only just completed 6k miles in 16 months though...
 
Sorry, having read my post again it is not worded particularly well. I wasn't trying to suggest every A3 was affected by this problem; what I was trying to ask was with those that do is it always slow coolant loss or does it escalate?
 
Ok no problem, I rather think this only applies to certain 8v models anyway...
 
Just happened to me :( waiting for Audi assist as I have some way to go before I get home.) a quick look and the coolant level is below min, so don't want to continue as it currently is.
 
Nimbus265 said:
Just happened to me :( waiting for Audi assist as I have some way to go before I get home.) a quick look and the coolant level is below min, so don't want to continue as it currently is.
Click to expand...

This happened to me as well. If you wait till it cools down and open the cap the fluid level will rise again. Not sure why this happens.
 
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Happened to me a couple of times aswell. No need to panic, just stop engine, open the cap and the level will rise instantaneously. Restart engine and off you go.

Gives you enough time to get to Halfords/Audi for a bottle of coolant. (Fill up next morning when cold)

No need to call for assistance
 
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Well all sorted now, a quick top up and back on the road.
 
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Mine suddenly lost a heap coolant (at around 18,500 miles) and the dreaded dash warning lights all came on. I carried on driving it more 15 miles or so, then topped it back up at the first petrol station I could find. I then took it to Stansted Audi and they told me there's nothing wrong. Hasn't lost any fluid since, so what happened and why did I lose so much coolant?! No idea, was pretty much the response I got from the service guy and was asked to keep an eye on it, then bring it in again if it happens again. No **** Sherlock... I wasn't impressed. So, I'm fully expecting something to go bang sooner or later. Just in case I have some spare coolant in the car and would advise anyone who owns an 8v S3 to do the same!
 
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I noticed the same on my A3 Sedan 1.8 tfsi... Didn't get the light on this or anything, just noticed it was at min. level. Toped the coolant, and will check now that I get home (been away for a month).
 
My water pump failed just as it went in for is first service!
Dealer said they have been replacing a lot.
Had to wait a couple of days to get one from Germany.
 
"It's a characteristic of the car, Sir"


:lmfao: :lmfao: :lmfao:
 
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Hi all, just had the warning today and pulled over immediately. Checked the level and it was below minimum. The car is a S3 with 12,000 kms.

The car got towed today to a holding yard and will be dropped off at the dealership in the morning.

Wait and see what happens.
 
I just got that message today. But unlike you guys I'm over 11,000 miles on my car.

The coolant tank on my A3 was about a little over a half-inch below the minimum fill line.

I phoned the service center, they said it was okay to top the tank back off to the max line with water, so I gave my baby a nice swallow of the ice cold Nestle Purelife water I was carrying.

I will be monitoring this closer now, and probably check it each time I refuel so it becomes routine.
 
This thread should be merged with the other one on "coolant issues".
I've had a new water pump and mine is still losing coolant.

I had my car in over the weekend to drain, flush and refill the coolant system as when it last drained my tank was full of brown/orange sludge/rust.
Picked it up yesterday and went for lunch with my buddy (manager) from the dealership.
Got in it after lunch and drove a mile then warning light came on.....we looked at each other "WTF!!!!!
He rang the dealership and spoke to head of maintenance and chief mechanic....both independently side its normal after refilling for the levels to drop as the air in the system is replaced by the coolant....by which I replied; a) why didn't you guys drive it then top it up before giving it back to me???, and/or b) tell me this was going to happen before I drove off with it!
 
I've got the "check coolant" red light of death tonight, it's about 1cm below minimum, car is 18 months old done 24k. Will have to see if I get to join the water pump club when I speak to Audi tomorrow!
 
Hi guys!! new in the forum... I am Spanish and I have an S3 8V s-tronic since November 2014, got aprox 11.000miles.

Had to refill coolant already 3 times, never had the warning as I always discovered next to the minimum, drove the car to the AUDI dealer last week, they checked the coolant system with pressure, but couldn't find any leak. At the moment have a pen mark on the coolant level and they said if changes come to us again... WTF???

Those who had the same problem, was always the water pump?
 
juliantdi said:
Hi guys!! new in the forum... I am Spanish and I have an S3 8V s-tronic since November 2014, got aprox 11.000miles.

Had to refill coolant already 3 times, never had the warning as I always discovered next to the minimum, drove the car to the AUDI dealer last week, they checked the coolant system with pressure, but couldn't find any leak. At the moment have a pen mark on the coolant level and they said if changes come to us again... WTF???

Those who had the same problem, was always the water pump?
Click to expand...

No, its not always the water pump...could be a hose somewhere with a leak, air in the system (per Audi TPI) or various other reasons discussed at length in this forum...but as yet it doesn't seem to have been properly diagnosed/found....at least in my car.
Keep coolant and distilled water handy at all times. If you are stopped by the engine warning light you will find that opening up the tank releases pressure and raises the coolant level sufficient to turn off the light but good to put some mixture in then and go straight to the dealer.
Good luck!
 
PanamaS3 said:
No, its not always the water pump...could be a hose somewhere with a leak, air in the system (per Audi TPI) or various other reasons discussed at length in this forum...but as yet it doesn't seem to have been properly diagnosed/found....at least in my car.
Keep coolant and distilled water handy at all times. If you are stopped by the engine warning light you will find that opening up the tank releases pressure and raises the coolant level sufficient to turn off the light but good to put some mixture in then and go straight to the dealer.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply!
I have notice what you say, if the engine is warm and you open the the tank raises the level.
at the dealer they mentioned first the water pump, then the coolant tank tap

I bought it with 4 years warranty I hope whatever it is, will be discovered in this time.
Thanks again!
 
Looks like I'm in the club, light back on coolant leaking from right about where the water pump lives, currently sat in Audi whilst I wait for a courtesy car!
 
With all the talk of water pumps being replaced but not solving the the issue and the big unknown of coolant maybe leaking into the cylinders, I was wondering if the new integrated exhaust manifold bathed in coolant to help initial warmup had been ruled out as a possible source?

No evidence that this is the case, just curious......
 
You mean: the more times i start up my car, the quicker the coolant is gone?
 
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