Whats up everyone new to the site. I just bought my 1999 audi a4q 5 speed I love it =) . This is my dream car and i plan on doing many mods to it. My main problem of manys with this car is the coolant temp gauge. It takes about 10 minutes of the engine running before it goes up at all. Then when it goes up it only goes up about 2 bars. So after that it slowly drops back down. Im thinking its a bad ect. Any help will be greatly apreciated!!!!!

 

It's probably your thermostat. How many miles are on it? When was the timing belt/waterpump changed last?

Welcome to the audi world

 

whats an ect?

try checking your coolant level and/or flush it down.

 

Maybe the coolant temp sensor...those things are well known for taking a dump on our cars. A quick way to know if you have the updated/less faulty one is by looking at the color. Let us know the color and we can move from there -

Also...if you are low on coolant - make sure you put the right stuff in there. You will most likely have to go to a european car shop or the dealer to get some G12 (I think thats what it is called). If you can't get some for a while - distilled water from the grocery store is fine.

Congrats on the purchase btw.

 

I actually do wrench and i never heard of the wrong coolant messing with the gauge i know they put the wrong coolant in because its the cheap green crap.It has 170000 miles on it.The car had a bad owner before me.I will have to check the color of the wire tomorrow because its dark outside. Do know where the sensor is located on the car? Another question how could astucked thermostat caused the gauge to be wrong is it mounted on the raditor?

 

The car is meant to have G12 - I guess it's not super bad if it is noly the green stuff in there, but don't mix the two. You wil end up needing a new radiator and more if that is the case. that is what I meant. G12 will be pink.
The CTS is located at the back of the motor - near the wall before the battery and directly behind the engine really. Do a search on Coolant Temperature sensor and you will find a pic. Also - look at the color of the sensor - not the wire itself. If its black - get it replaced. If it is blue or green, that would mean it has been replaced before.

 

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng76.shtml

In the picture - his is blue

 

I'm gonna go with this one, because my car's thermostat is also going (1996 A4) and I have the same symptoms you do.



Go to Autozone and get it scanned (For Free) and then post any codes here and we can help you even better.

 

heh, what do you know. that link answered my question

ect = engine coolant temperature sensor

you live and learn.

 

That was one of the first things i did was check for codes and there weren't relating to the coolant system. What i dont understand is that if your thermostat is stuck open the coolant is still going to get warm so why wouldn't the temp gauge go up slowly and stay around a certain temp? Instead it drops down and stays there like the engine is not running.