Hi, I just got a '98 A4 Avant quattro with a 5 spd. It has the winter pack, sport pack, leather, bose, etc... The PO put Eibachs on it, and has 17"Borbet alloys for the summer. Amazing car, considering I am coming out of a LR Discovery... First question, the water temperature guage upon driving, does not go past cold, I get heat without a problem. However tonight, I was idling for about 10-15 minutes and the guage went up to almost mid-point. Also, my headlight washers do not work. I noticed that when I was filling the washer tank, the fluid was dripping out in front of the LF tire. What do you all think?

 

A hose is leaking most likely, the headlight must be on to activate the headlight washers and the coolant temp needle at midpoint sounds normal unless you are saying it intermittantly works.

 

Shouldn't the temp guage go to midpoint upon driving? I was driving at highway speeds for about 40 minutes.

 

Yes it should that why I said imtermittantly. I would say check for codes, it could be a bad coolant temp. sensor, or possibly a faulty gauge. Autozone should pull codes for free.

 

there are two pumps in the windshield washer resevoir. One for the windshield and one for the headlights. The pumps are in plastic cylinder cases and slide into the resevoir. One of the pumps casingsovertme usually ends up cracking and causes the leak. Youve got to jack up the drivers side front, take the wheel off, belly pan, wheel liner and unbolt/disconnect the resevoir to get it out along with the pumps still attatched. Pull the pumps out, appoxy them or replace and put it back together. There is a DIY article somewhere w/ pics, but i gaurantee thats your problem.. its very common.

 

Fix the leakof the washer fluid, and be happy that your headlight washers don't work! I go through so much washer fluid because of those damn things.... i wish mine diddn't work. its almost every week i get the damn volcano thing on my dash display