I just got a replacement radiator that I bought (-my old one was leaking-) from ecstuning.com. The only thing is that it has a few very minor dents/twists in its combs and an additional insert at the end of the column beneath the upper radiator hose connecter. However, I checked the site again and did get the right part for my car and both have this insert anyways. I don't quite recall it from my current leaking radiator. Anyone know what its for? or, if it needs to be plugged somehow in order to prevent a leak? I'm hoping to slap this in there a.s.a.p. Here are a couple of pics...The first are of the dents (are they enough to cause functional issues??) and the very last one is a close-up on the mysterious insert.

 

doesn't look like my 12v's radiator, but then again the two could be completely different. someone with a 30v will chime in...

 

can you get a general pic of the front and then one of the back?

 

yeah... i will post new pics early tomorrow...I'm on my way to work. I was thinking that there might be a sensor (-possibily a coolant sensor) in the radiator that might be removable; like a little one that screws in there, that you probably have to buy seperately. I have only taken the car apart once, so I don't remember that well, but I think there were the two hoses and a plug connected to the radiator....but that sensor was near the lower radiator hose and i think it connected to a mating part through a hole in the radiator. This is a pic of the sensor I'm talking about, from the DIY write up.

 

the lower rad hose only has a fan switch on it. it looks just like the coolant temp sensor

 

Sorry for the delay...here are pics of the front and then the back.



I'm not quite sure how the radiator works; like if the hoses feed coolant right into it(?)...because if it does, I checked and that upper hose will leak right out of that mysterious insert. Also, I double-checked on ecs and this IS what they are advertising as the b5 a4 manual trans-specific OEM radiator. Anyone else buy from them? I noticed the drain plug had a different design too..but thought that it would be inconsequential. Anyways here is a pic of it in case it may help to identify which radiator this is, if not the same.

 

Anyone have an idea on this...Is that hole gonna be a problem and cause a guaranteed leak? I'm trying to install it this Tuesday. Also, I'm hoping I can just bend the dented/bent combs back straight...anything wrong with that?

 

okay so now I am confused. I talked to someone in service at ecs and he did a little 'research" about the radiator...what he came up with is that I must currently have a 12V radiator installed in my car, although I have a newer 30 V model. He explained that some of the newer models may have had some of the left over parts, and in the case of the radiators they are identical, except that in the 30 V, what he says is the ECT sensor, screws into that insert. However, I was under the impression that the ECT sensor was located at the top of the engine somewhere and not in the radiator (for a 30V that is). I recently bought the BLUE ECT sensor for my 30 V and it cannot screw into that insert. Alternatively, I was thinkning it might be a radiator fan switch (like the one shown in the pic below) that screws in there.
So then My questions are...
1) Does your 30V or 98 and up radiator look like that with the hole/insert in it?
2) Does your 12V 96 radiator look like that with the hole or insert in it?
3) Where is the radiator fan switch located in your car?
ECS is now gonna send me the "ECT sensor" they claim screws in there, but I already have the blue one for my car. I don't want them to send me that same sensor and I end up still screwed not being able to install my radiator and having to wait weeks. I suggested the fan switch but he doesn't hink thats thats it. I am a little annoyed because this is my second order from them and BOTH were screwed up. if you are familiar with your radiator, please comment...This install was supposed to be done tomorrow on my day off.

 

i have a 30v and it doesn't have the fan switch as screw in type. mine was just like the ECT wherethere's a pin setup. the fan switch for mine is on the lower hose which is on the passenger side. upstatenya4 has a 98 or 99 i forget but he knows someone that has a 12v so pm him and he might be able to help ya. also pm auditech79.

 

Okay, so this was a false alarm. I crossed my fingers and started the work today. I noticed that this is the correct OEM radiator for my car. It is virtually identical. The hole/insert is for some sensor which plugs in beneath the upper radiator hose. There is nothing that plugs in above the lower hose. Needless to say, it was an easy install- I simply unscrewed the sensor from the old one and put it in the new one and voila. So for future reference, in case anyone else is unsure of their radiator design, you may have one with that sensor in it, on the DRIVERS SIDE. I am not to sure what model this may belong to (12v or 30v). Also, it is not the same as the blue ect sensor, because I also replaced that today and it is located near the top and rear of the engine. Anyhow, thank you all for your help. For those who are curious, this is what the old radiator with plug/sensor looked like.