Coolant leak....

[FatBastrd]

Ok...my damn coolant light came on this morning on my way home from work. Warning lights and the 'bell' as I pulled in the driveway. I popped the hood and naturally, my resevoir is low. Being that I'm new to the 1.8T, could anyone tell me where the common places for leaks are on this engine? I think mine's AWP code??? I need to find it, but don't really know where to start looking except for the hoses. Help me!

[a4wdhybrid]

coolant flange on the side of the head

follow the top radiator hose

[evan@absolute]

2nd that. also if it has over 50k the h20 pump wouldn't surprise me at all.

[a4wdhybrid]

the word "leak" kept the water pump from coming to my mind

but 2nd'ing the water pump as well as a possibility :)

[sflemon]

IIRC you were a little low when you were at Hooters with us a couple weeks ago.

I'd just top off with the correct coolant and troubleshoot the true problem before tearing into stuff.

[a4wdhybrid]

IIRC you were a little low when you were at Hooters with us a couple weeks ago.

I'd just top off with the correct coolant and troubleshoot the true problem before tearing into stuff.
the cooling system is a sealed system

if the system is loosing fluid then there is an issue and it needs to be resolved

troubleshooting a coolant leak is very easy when the system uses g12

g12 creates this redish/whiteish really nasty crusty powder around where it is leaking from and is very noticeable most of the time

just take a look around the engine bay and if there is a leak you should be able to find it fairly easily

if the waterpump is leaking that is a different story considering it is behind the timing belt cover...however, water pumps dont usually leak...they most of the time become seperated from the impeller and the engine overheats

[evan@absolute]

well we are doing a TT timing belt today with 58k and the h20 pump was leaking quite a bit. The belt was running off the front of it also. I'd say it was less then 1k away from belt failure. I still think the flange mentioned first is the most likely suspect though

[Vampire Cockroach]

i second everything they said. I replaced hoses and stuff and didn't follow Ian's guidance and sure enough, $$$ later he is correct. You can also usually see some G12 sitting on top of the bellhousing as well if it is the aforementioned coolant flange. Even a tiny crack in the flange can dump out a ton of coolant so it needs to be replaced before the crack grows.


Mine dumped all its coolant within 2 hours of sitting in the parking deck downtown on prom night... now you tell me my date and friend and his date were not cursing VW up and down :laff:

Moral of the story: don't get caught off-guard (or listen to stan ;)), find and fix it before its too late!

[sciroccodriver]

My passat has an issue with this and HAD this problem before I replaced the head... I replaced that back flange when I did the head and didn't find any coolant leakage remnants anywhere. I figured that the head gasket had maybe been leaking a little. Since the problem didn't go away, I'm cornfused. I did the water pump/etc... The low level warning came on a couple days ago for the first time since I did the head. I'll check again and let you guys know if I find it but I haven't had a chance to look since yesterday.

[dekroon]

Could Be a faulty green top , or coolant level sensor itself.

[a4wdhybrid]

if the low level light is coming on it could def be a faulty level sensor

unless the coolant is low of course :p

[FatBastrd]

Coolant is low. I've added some back to the minimum mark. I checked the parking spot when I left work this morning and where the coolant is hitting the ground is almost dead center of the car....nearest the nose. Possibly lower rad hose maybe? Sucks this car sits so much lower than my 2.slow...cuz I can't get my fat ass head underneath it to look. Someone bring wheel ramps to G'boro tonight!!!!

[evan@absolute]

that sounds more like the flange on the side of the head that Ian first suggested. Look at it from the top.

[Vampire Cockroach]

Someone bring wheel ramps to G'boro tonight!!!!

I'll bring some for you Sean.

[FatBastrd]

Ok...just looked at it. There is actually fresh coolant on top of the transmission. So, I'm guessing it's that flange. How hard is that to fix and what will I need to fix it?


Oh, and thanks Eric. You da man.

[a4wdhybrid]

that is the flange leaking

its an easy change

only 2 bolts

can you post your vin # please?

[FatBastrd]

3vwse69m34m141857

[Vampire Cockroach]

its an easy change

what he said:

drain coolant (its not all gonna drain, some is left in the head so be prepared for a mess)
unbolt the top bolt and pull off all the dv relocation hoses, get those out of the way
unclamp all coolant hoses (3 are attached to the flange)
unbolt the bottom and pull that thing off
replace with new one and bolt everything back up


once again, good call ian :cool: :oddeye-hellyeah:

[a4wdhybrid]

looks like we dont stock that one :(

[FatBastrd]

How much is it and when can you get it?

[a4wdhybrid]

retail is $25.50..youll also need the oring for the temp sensor

i could have one tomorrow

i might could do better than retail btw ;)

[FatBastrd]

o-ring for the greentop? Already have a greentop with new o-ring if so. How much better can you do that retail? :D

[evan@absolute]

Is it the same as the AWD cause i have one of those in stock if someone wants to come by on the way to gboro.

[Vampire Cockroach]

i guess i dont need to bring ramps anymore?

yes, it is the same temp sensor as the AWD

[FatBastrd]

Bring em anyway. I've still got a CAI that I can put on. :D

[FatBastrd]

Is it the same as the AWD cause i have one of those in stock if someone wants to come by on the way to gboro.

That is if anyone from RDU is coming to GSO tonight. :rolleyes:

[a4wdhybrid]

Is it the same as the AWD cause i have one of those in stock if someone wants to come by on the way to gboro.
yes

06a 121 132 q

same for awd, aww, and awp

edit: this is assuming manual transmission...automatics use a different flange due to the tranny fluid cooler on top requiring a feed (or return, not sure which it is) from the flange

you would not believe the amount of misprints in etka w/ those things :mad:

[FatBastrd]

So...my car is AWP correct?

[a4wdhybrid]

yes

[FatBastrd]

o-ring for the greentop? Already have a greentop with new o-ring if so. How much better can you do that retail?

:D

[a4wdhybrid]

i will not post a discounted price on a public forum

if evan has it in stock i would go that route

[Vampire Cockroach]

Bring em anyway. I've still got a CAI that I can put on. :D

are you going to do this in the hooters parking lot?

[FatBastrd]

Well....Evan...bring yer ass to GSO tonight man. :D

[FatBastrd]

are you going to do this in the hooters parking lot?

Why not? I've done weirder things in parking lots before. :rolleyes:

[evan@absolute]

I'm not gonna make it over there but if you you can find this thing a ride I have it.

[pinky]

$7 for the flange (06a 121 132 q, assuming it is manual) and i can bring it tonight

o-ring will be another $1

[FatBastrd]

Kevin C....Jason....Mario.....Anyone?!?!?! How much $$$ will I need to send back to ya Evan?

[a4wdhybrid]

not quite sure how you can do $7 but more power to you i guess

dealer cost on it is almost double that

[pinky]

:)

[evan@absolute]

Soundsd like Pinky is the man for the job

[FatBastrd]

Kevin H. if you come through for me man, your dinner and a cold beer is on me. :D

[pinky]

so you want me to get it?
o-ring also?

o-ring b/w the housing & head, that is

[FatBastrd]

If you don't mind. Also, would it be possible to get that DV, too?

[pinky]

well... travis has the dv in his car.

there was one flange (the one you need) in our supplier's warehouse here in raleigh.. but it's gone now..

[a4wdhybrid]

o-ring b/w the housing & head, that is
oem parts come w/ the o-ring ;)

[pinky]

i figured that might be the case....

ian, can you check recall information, or is that the service dept?

[a4wdhybrid]

that is all service

if you want to give me a vin i can get it checked

[pinky]

3vwsp69m62m089891

[FatBastrd]

well... travis has the dv in his car.

there was one flange (the one you need) in our supplier's warehouse here in raleigh.. but it's gone now..

Is Travis coming tonight?

[a4wdhybrid]

3vwsp69m62m089891
no open recalls

[pinky]

travis is coming tonight.

so no brake light switch recall... cool..

[FatBastrd]

Ok....so what about the flange I need? You don't have it in stock?

[pinky]

the warehouse had one locally, but its gone now.

i bet evan has one.