QuestionQUESTION: I've got a 96 A6 Quattro 170k miles, keeps overheating and leaking coolant, coolant levels are fine and there are no leaks when off/idle. Friend suggested the thermostat was stuck, but I'm unable to find it. Thanks for the help.
ANSWER: If it's leaking coolant, where is it coming from? A leak will cause the pressure to drop, and this will cause overheating. The thermostat is tough to get to, but it can be done. Follow the top radiator hose down to the engine, where the hose meets the engine typically is the thermostat housing. 170k miles, you might flush the whole coolant system with a special engine flush, this may improve matters but if there is a leak you have to fix that first. let me know, Jan
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QUESTION: It leaks coolant out of the top of the res tank, from a poorly fitted overflow hose (fixed now)
Finding someone in my area to work on european cars is difficult so i was hoping to resolve the issue if it was simple enough, but it's not looking so.
When the vehicle overheats, the fans on the radiator do not click on, and the radiator remains dead cold. I'm told water pumps dont usually just up and die without warning, and that on top of the fans not coming on usually means a stuck/dead thermostat, again, thanks for your time and help.
AnswerIf there are no more leaks, the water pump is probably OK. Check the top hose going to the radiator by pressing it, is it full of water? If not you have to bleed the air out of the system. If there is water in the hose (gurgling as you pinch the hose), then the problem is indeed more than likely a stuck thermostat. Don't be tempted to just take it out, because then the car will never warm up properly. Replace it with a new correct one.
