i have a 96 audi a6 quattro why would the temp warning light be coming on if the regular gauge never gets hot?

 

probably cause its not a temp warning light... its a coolant level warning light...

 

why would the car be using coolant? I have had to top it off with water 2 times in the last 15 days? i also think i noticed the coolant boiling is that normal?

 

Boiling coolant is never a good sign. Your coolant content in relation to the water content probably is too low. I would drain and refill with 50/50 coolant to water ratio.

 

I agree. 50/50 has a higher boiling point than water or coolant alone. Do you think he has a leak oris the mixture just boiling off, causing the level to get lower?

 

I have a 96 also and at one time my temperature gauge was reading low. It ended up being the connector on the temperature sensor not making a good contact. I pulled it off sprayed it with contact cleaner and the gauge returned reading a normal temp. In your case the gauge may be lying to you and the temp light is real. Another time I was slowly losingfluid and it ended up being the connection from the over flow line into the radiator reservoir. the reservoir was cracked at the connection.