Well my son did it again, he went on a trip got home next morning I notice rad fluid under the front pass side. I look under see a glob of rabbit fur and rad fluid. SO I'm assuming no one would recommend stop leak so I'll just ask how hard it is to pull a radiator to get it repaired? A quick look doesn't seem that hard.

OBTW 1998 A-4 Quattro Base 2.8L V-6 appears to have a trans cooler in front of radiator. I'm assuming this will complicate things

 

That's the power steering fluid cooler in front of the rad. Tranny cooler lines connect on the back of the rad. They're kind of a pain, but no big deal.

If you know how to pull the front bumper and put the front in service position, you're about half way to getting it out.

Oh, and go easy on your kid. Do you want him swerving all over next time he sees a rabbit?

 

Thanks, No I'd rather have him hit 50 rabbits than one ditch. I can pull the bumper and put it in service mode, I looked at a couple instructional sites and it seems pretty straight forward, that said they all show the 1.8 version is it much different?

I have the Haynes manual for it so that should help as well, just wanted to get an idea of complexity and any tips/tricks before I decided to tackle it.

Is this going to require draining the transmission?

 

No. I buy those soft little ear plugs they sell at Walgreens. You can jam them right into the tranny cooler lines to plug 'em up. I'd be surprised if you lose a pint of ATF in the whole thing.

 

Cool that sounds like a great idea, thanks!

 

I'm not 100% on this but I believe the a/c condensor is in front of the rad, even on a 2.8

 

Yes, but you can just un-bolt it and fold it out of the way w/o disconnecting the hoses.