Well i tackled the timing belt job on saturday. It was actualy much easier than i thought it would be.Took me and a friend 6 hours to get it done which i dont think is too bad for the first time. We also changed the water pump and the thermostat while it was all apart. After filling the car back up with coolant i took it for a drive and within ten minutes it started over heating. I figured air was still in the cooling system causing it to overheart so I spent all day sunday tring to get it out and still no luck. Seems to still have air in it and still overheats. I was also thinking it could be the thermostat but it seems to be working probably and I have heat. Has anyone else experienced anything like this or has any incite on how to get the air out of the system? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Also the cars a 98.5 1.8T manual quattro.

 

are you certain your timing is right? any leaks?

 

Yeah timings right, marks all lined up and car runs good, just overheats. And no no leaks.

 

How much coolant did you drain when you did the TB? How much did you put back in? Did you re-sue the old coolant or add new?

I just finished up a TB and head change on a 99 A4 1.8 and had the same problem.... just needed to add more coolant. I had totally drained the system, engine and radiator and it took nearly 2 gallons to refill it.

Is your electric fan on your radiator working? Heat sensors hooked back up?

Good Luck

 

Not sure how much i put back in because of it bubbling out because of airbut its showing full right now. I drained it all out and put in new coolant. I havent seem my electric fan come on yet. When is that supposed to come on? Im pretty sure i have all the sensores hooked back up but id have to check on that for certain tonight.

 

when my belt was done it still overheated slightly. my mechaninc found three inches of sludge in the bottom of my radiator causing me to get a new one. never know maybe yours too

 

You probably have bubbles in your system.

Josh

 

make shore you did not put the thermostat in upside down.

 

Problem solved. Drained all the fluid out and refilled it using the bleeder hole this time, got all the air out the first time. Not overheating anymore. Thanx for the advice!

 

Glad to hear it - it did sound like you had some stubborn bubbles in the system that just didn't want to come out. Glad it's fixed.