hey guys i need some good help on this one.
I just completed a long trip, nothing big, about 300 miles, i do it all the time. car was fine all afternoon and all morning on the trip. then this evening as i started the car the coolant temp gauge started to rise pretty steadily, which it has never done before. tried to cool it off for a while, worked at first, now it will rise even when the car is idling for alittle bit. after looking under the hood and helplessly diagnosing for about 2 hours heres what i do kno: the electrical cooling fan will not kick on, the anti freeze is a little low, but nothing serious, the interior heater does not get very hot anymore, the temp gauge will stay steady while idle for about 15 minutes, then will almost double to full temp in 5 minutes, causing the coolant light to switch on. car has 110,000 miles on it, and has never had any problems like this before. i have been informed it could be a faulty water pump, a relay switch, or a bad thermostat. i have also checked all fuses. any information would be awesome, i wanna get this car rolling again as soon as possible. thanks

1998 audi a4 1.8 quattro, 110,000k

 

sounds like pump, but i would check thermostat first, remove the thermostat and place in a pot of boiling water, if it opens up you know that it is good.

 

See above for thermostat problem.

However, if your car has 110K on it, when was the timing belt changed? If it hasn't been, now would be a good time to change the timing belt, associated hardware, water pump and thermostat.

Although not the MAIN problem, check the electric fan, if you turn on the AC and your car is that warm the electric fan should kick in. If not, check the fuse for the fan which is located inder the drivers side lower dash (held in by about 4 screws).

The motor tends to short out and blow the fuse. If the fuse is blown, replace it, If it blows again, replace the electric fan.

 

ye definatly termostat stuck or there is a clog wich is less posible.
just check if thermostat is at least opening check the lowest rad hose if hot, if it is it actually can be some wires and the switches.
Its easy, just cant write it down, long.

 

Could be the temperature sensor. Mine indicated cold when it broke.

 

I would suggest the coolant temp sensor.
Also check your coolant - is it muddy lookin (oil in it)? Maybe a head gasket leak.

 

Doesn't sound like its a sensor issue. The sensor is really a thermal diode that chagnes its impedence, if the sensor is bad, the temp needle would just shoot off the roof regardless of when and what the car is doing.

This definitely sounds like a problem with the pump or the thermostat. I never have thisproblem on the Audi, but on my MR2 and Celica they both have the mention symptomns, which was fixed by replacing the thermostat.

Just my 2 cents

 

i had a prob with this on my jetta .... it was my water pump that went ...