Hello chaps, I am hoping you can help me get some insight into this problem, so I have some knowledge before getting ripped off by a garage.
I recently purchased a 53 plate (2004) Audi A3 2.0 TDI 140bhp. The car drives a dream, but I noticed when I have the air conditioning on, a loud fan noise comes from the car.
Additionally the coolant warning came on today, and sure enough the engine coolant has leaked. I topped it up with water and coolant straight away. I cant seem to see the leak, but I need a better inspection, it seems a fairly slow leak.
I have checked for oil in the coolant, coolant in the oil, and white exhaust fumes etc, but everything looks to be fine.
I am hoping the problem is a small one as I bought the car privately less than a week ago.
Could anybody tell me if these two problems are linked, and if it sounds like something small to have repaired?

All responses appreciated, thank you.

 

Hello, and regarding the problems, lets take them one at a time.
First, the fan noise coming from the front of the car is normal. (I assume it isn't like a squeaking or a shrieking noise. If it is, then it might be a pulley or a belt. If it isn't then the fan is just moving a lot of air (as it should be, it is trying to cool off the coolant for the A/C and run the compressor.) (the louder a fan is, the more air it is moving...)

Secondly, the leak could be from any of the coolant tubes or seals for them. That involves a lot of looking and searching for it. In my knowledge, there is no other way for finding the leak, other than putting a type of powder on all the coolant pipes and checking for runoff on the pipes afterward (that was just an idea to help.)

Finally, i am just another Audi guy, and to really help, go to a mechanic... this is just a hypothetical diagnosis

( I am a guy who can't change the oil to save his life. Takes me about 4 hours, on a good day.)

 

Did you get this problem fixed??
I just bought a 2003 A3 TDI and my coolant went down about once a week the light came on!! so i took it back the the dealer (non audi) i got it from! he put it into the local Audi dealer and it was a porous head!! £1800 later it was fixed and thank god the dealer i got it from paid the bill!!!
Hope this helps?

Thanks
Gary

 

Hi Gazza, the problem was indeed a cracked cylinder head. It also cost me £1800 but unfortunately, I bought mine privately so had to foot the bill myself!