Hey everyone! First time on an Audi forum. I've owned a few vw's in my day and have broken into the Audi area now. I have a 2011 A4 that I purchased with the dreaded P0016 code. luckily timing had not skipped and was able to install new timing components and the car runs and drives great. The biggest issue not is that when I start the car, the cooling fans come on to high and stay on until the car is shut off. My thought was the coolant temp sensor may be bad so I bought a replacement. when I went to replace the sensor, I can not for the life of me find it... the firewall side location is blanked off where it should be. (see picture) The other location I have heard it can be is on the bottom of the radiator, which has only a drain nipple and no sensor.

So my question is how are my fans controlled without a coolant temp sensor or where would it be? I have been searching forums, youtube, google but have not come up with an answer so far. Any help is appreciated.

 

Quick update, We replaced the coolant temp sensor (located on the water pump housing under the intake manifold) last night. We started the car and the fans came on high and stayed on until the car was shut off. No change in the situation.

 

Another update. Today we replaced the temperature control display which was fried when we bought the car. Once we installed it, the lights came on and we thought we were in business. we started the car and the fans did not come on as before. The only problem now is that the displays off button is flashing and wont turn on. I heard that this is a safety feature of some sort. Does anyone know if this can be fixed with VAG COM?