Help, trying to fix my sister-in-law's 2.7t.

I've now torn down the engine to the aux pump, leak isn't there. The leak is so sever that the fluid pours out almost real-time as I pour it in the reservoir. It seems to be coming from the passenger side and if I jack it up and watch it leak as I pour, it runs down through the alternator, so it's coming from near there.

Any ideas?

 

Heading home from work now to go work on this, I'll throw up some pics as I go and maybe to help explain the leak.

 

i need help my wife was driving my audi A4 quattro 2.8 and there was a big water leak under the car..I can see where it comes out from there is no water in the reservoir tank.. there is no leak inside the car just out side any help Please...Thank you

 

There's a coolant flange and ECT sensor on the back of the engine on the 2.7t near the passenger side. It's best seen while standing right by the passenger side wheel well, just past the kombi valve. Check to see if that is broken / leaking.

 

thanks nebuchadnezzar, Unfortunately I think I found the problem, and I don't think it's that simple. There is a large plastic part on the front of the engine, behind the timing belt on the passenger side that is cracked. This is where the coolant is exiting the engine, I assume this happened from too much water in the coolant over a Utah winter. Can anyone tell me what this part is and if I can replace it myself assuming I had the knowhow to get to here? Also does this kind of damage on this part point to possible other damage internally?

 

OK, found the part number on the cracked bit, 078121121k. It googles as the thermostat housing cover, so my questions are all answered. Hopefully my local import joint has one on hand.

 

Yup. Thermostat housing. You might as well put a new thermostat in there, as well as the thermostat o -ring as well since it'll be off.

Although I've never tried it, I'm willing to bet you can probably wiggle the housing out from behind the timing belt without taking it off, thus taking care of any headaches associated with a timing belt job.

Though, that brings me to the next question: Have you had the timing belt done on this engine before? If not, now would obviously be a good time to do it since you've made it this far already. If it was done recently, then I would give it a go and see if it's possible to wiggle the thermostat housing out from behind the timing belt without removing it.