Overheating
 

Today the red 'overheating' symbol came on on the DIS.

The temp gauge was at about 120 Degrees C.

Stopped and found the rad to be cold. Coolant system full of coolant and no leaks.

Headertank very hot, boiling in fact.

Car trailered away to the garage- clearly a circulation fault so either pump not pumping (belt???? Pump???) or thermostat stuck closed??

Any ideas?? What drives the w/pump on these? The timing belt?

I've a funny feeling they didn't do the water pump at the last belt swap (70,000). Miles now 130,000.

Water pump is driven by a drive belt not the timing belt. Could be a blocked radiator but if the pump wasn't changed then that is the most likely suspect.

What sort of garage changes a timing belt and not the water pump :tuttut::tuttut::tuttut:

47P2

I will advise that later, The receipt is in the car.

Clearly, a false economy. I suspect this is a failed w/p, but I suppose I might get lucky...w/p drive belt??

Doubt it though, as the elec sys is normal and I bet that same belt drives the alternator

Thermostat closed
 

I would say the thermostat is staying closed if the radiator is cold.....

Ranji

Yep. A failed therm would do it for sure.

Thing is, to get at the therm, is the same as doing the w/p, might as well do the belt too.

I tried letting it cool off, in case it was a 'one off' stuck therm- as seen on old cars which I can fix. No joy.

Bucks!

Changing thermostat
 

Probably is worthwhile doing the lot as it probably due.....but have a look on Quattro world I m sure there was a thread where someone managed to change the thermostat without removing the belt....,

Car problem yesterday at about 3 pm.

Car ready for collection today at about 3pm.

'A for Audi' up here in Glasgow changed the wp, therm and fitted a new timing belt kit. Was a stuck therm btw.

Hats off to Andy at A for Audi!

Hot, or what? +++

Excellent work! They certainly do get some positive reports at A for Audi - glad you got it sorted so quickly +++

i find it amazing that the W12 requires non of that to change the thermostat just removal of the intake manifold thankfully

top job well spoted and not to cook the engine +++

Well, the story gets better.....

The car had clearly not been timed properly when the last belt was fitted.

It is noticably more lively now and even sounds more growly!

I looked at the invoice again for the previous timing belt change. Parts include the belt itself, oil, plugs, engine flush etc, but no mention of a water pump or therm or related gaskets.
In fact A-for Audi bought the kit of parts to do the belt which I think includes other parts like tensioners etc and costs about £300. I think the previous lot just bought a belt- for £67.80, as that's all they charged out.

Also, clearly they haven't fitted the timing belt spot-on, because the thing now runs better.

Company to avoid (if they're still trading) is Nitro Performance of Chesterfield, Derbyshire.