I have a 97 A6 Quatro and it started overheating. Now it overheats after just a few minutes after the car is started. The ac doesn't work and I have never seen either fan come on. I don't think the heat works either but I could be wrong. The oil tempeture also gets very hot. When it does overheat the car steams out of the resevior cap. What could be the problem and how hard could it be to fix it myself? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Stuck thermostat. I friend of mine replaces it every year with timing belt on.. ‘97 is OBD2: any DTC?

(I would not test the engine resistance to overheating...)

 

Ok.... sounds like a lot of bad things.

1.) Try replacing the thermostat, it might not be opening or allowing any coolant into the engine which would cause over heating.
2.) Check to see that your fans are capable of coming on at all! Check fuses, wiring, and if need, replace the fans.
3.) Check the integrity of your radiotor itself. It could be busted.
4.) Change your oil filter and your oil.
5.) Pray to God cause your car is dying fast and you need to resurrect it.

 

There is no check engine light but can Advance Auto check for diagnostics? Also, I forgot to mention the resevior looks like it is stained brown and the water looks brown. Could that be a rusted radiator or what? Thanks

 

Why is their water in your coolant reservoir? You need to mix 50/50 or 70/30 G12 coolan/distilled water. My advice to you is to start paying more attention to your car and to read the forum and educate yourself on EXACTLY what your car needs to run smoothly.

Not knowing these things will have your car sidelined QUICK.

 

first make sure your cooling fans are working. With your AC on, your auxilary cooling fan(the one on the right if you are sitting in the car or on the left if you are looking under the hood) should run constantly as long as the AC is on, if it doesnt that is a sign that is bad. It is normal to see those burn up around 150k miles or so on the earlier A6s. I doubt you would get any DTCs. It also sounds like you need a nice coolant flush but make sure you use the coolant that is for your car. Regardless, the first thing you need to do is make sure your cooling fans are kicking on. If both of them are working, then start thinking things like thermostat, colgged radiator, etc......

 

Brown Coolant? Red Pentosin (Lifetime antifreeze) mixed with blue Pentosin (Longtime antifreeze) makes a nice muddy brown. Change thermostat and the timing belt! - sign it is over due. also water pump may have died - shaft can break causing a no pump situation. You'll do these all anyway with t-belt.

 

Fan Clutch on the list,too