Air lock hell

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Jamie Bishop

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Hi everyone. I've been on here loads for Information and how to guides. Excellent site.

I own a tfsi quattro on 113000 miles. Fsh.

I hope you bear with me as I'm at my wits end.

Last week I left my car with my local Indy for a cam belt water pump and full service.

I also asked for a new thermostat, genuine parts.

They spent a week with my car trying in vain to bleed the system after the thermostat was installed.

When the car went in it wasn't getting up to temp, usuall thermostat stuck open problem.

The heating how ever worked fine.

Now the heating blows cold even when the cars idling to get the temp up to 90. The heat drops to 70 on the motorway and it's driving me nuts.

I've had 3 thermostats, the water pump is working fine.

Now they are saying I need a new heater core ? Are they pulling my leg and does anyone have an idea of what the he'll is going wrong ?

I'm booked in with revo in a week and I'm afraid I'll have to cancel.

Regards Jamie
 
Yes they are pulling your leg, sounds like it's not being bled properly. Make sure they are following the below procedure to the letter. This is the method prescribed by Audi themselves.

The system should be vacuumed and then filled with coolant and then bled with the heaters on. You also need to pull back a pipe that connects to the heater matrix to expose a bleed hole and let air out, as this is the highest point in the system and where air will generally get trapped. Full procedure in the link below....

http://workshop-manuals.com/audi/a4...g_system/draining_and_filling_cooling_system/
 
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Mario said:
Yes they are pulling your leg, sounds like it's not being bled properly. Make sure they are following the below procedure to the letter. This is the method prescribed by Audi themselves.

The system should be vacuumed and then filled with coolant and then bled with the heaters on. You also need to pull back a pipe that connects to the heater matrix to expose a bleed hole and let air out, as this is the highest point in the system and where air will generally get trapped. Full procedure in the link below....

http://workshop-manuals.com/audi/a4...g_system/draining_and_filling_cooling_system/
Click to expand...


Excellent. Thank you. Do you recommend it's done by Audi then as I don't have means to vacuum the system.

I knew it's due to incompetence but how can I argue with them. Thanks again I'll see if this fixes it.

Jamie
 
I had a similar issue but found the heater matrix to be clogged up. Try bleeding first which is easy to do, if that’s doesn’t sort it then maybe a matrix. Absolute mare to change but the parts cheap at around £45-65 obviously not genuine part.


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I had a nightmare with mine 3 months ago ended up lifting headed tank as high as I could jam throttle at 2k revs and use vcds to check temp took me 2 hrs to bleed off struggled to get air out of top hose good luck


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Jamie Bishop said:
Excellent. Thank you. Do you recommend it's done by Audi then as I don't have means to vacuum the system.

I knew it's due to incompetence but how can I argue with them. Thanks again I'll see if this fixes it.

Jamie
Click to expand...

The garage should have the ability to vacuum the coolant system and fill. If not take it somewhere that does. Doesn't need to be Audi, but any good garage and get them to follow the official procedure to the letter. Should remove all the air in the system and get your heater working.

Creating a vacuum in the system will also allow you to identify any issues. If the system can hold a vacuum it's good, but if it can't hold then you have a leak somewhere.
 
I've tried bleeding from the top hose just now and all that's coming out is coolant. I'll try parking on a kurb and see if it's easier.

Thanks for your help so far I'll keep the thread updated.
 
Ok so engine up to temp. Open the bleed screw on the top metal pipe. Loads of air bubbles followed by a jet of coolant.

Followed by literally shooting bursts of air filled coolant.

I've been at it for an hour and the only time it stops shooting foamy coolant is when it's run so low I need to top it off.

I noticed blobs of rad weld in the expansion tank. Maybe the garage is right and the matrix has been clogged up ?

Nightmare
 
Drain out the coolant and flush out any crap then replace the matrix. The fins in the matrix are tiny and clog easy. It’s also a common fault.


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Thanks Jamie. It's a long diy but I'll be doing it tomorrow. Fingers crossed. The is for all advice glad I signed up.
 
The matrix is a little awkward to get out but it will come out without removing anything, just give a wriggle as you pull it. Take care of the aluminium pipes, don’t damage them. Put a bag behind the pipes and drape it onto a bowel that way you won’t get coolant all over your carpets. It will take you a few goes to get the pipe clips back on as there is little room for error. It’s tricky but doable. Mine works a treat now, worth it.


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Mate I'll hold my hands up I got home earlier and thought about it then dropped it off at the garage! Lol let's see how many hours labour they charge me and how wet my carpets become!
 
286 quid with a new matrix from ecp. Running better than ever now.

Thanks for all the advise. Jamie
 
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