Driving (ten miles after servicing) and car overheats. No coolant!
07-19-06, 01:11 AM
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Driving (ten miles after servicing) and car overheats. No coolant!
So today I took the Audi into my local German automobile mechanic and they replaced a coolant temperature sensor.
I drove about ten miles on the highway and suddenly the idiot light for cooling is flashing like a mother. I look at the temp gauge and notice it's on H.
I was two miles from where I had to be in ten minutes and I could not miss it. So I said screw it and drove the extra bit (side street). I know you shouldn't do that but as I said, I had to make it there in time.
As I was pulling in I could feel the heat from inside the car and I quickly shut it off. Heard some cooking noise under the engine and a burning smell.
Not good.
I immediately checked the coolant and it was bone dry.
They must have forgotten to put it back after replacing the sensor.
So five hours later I was done with my important task and had it towed to the repair place.
At first I thought about going to another mechanic I use for our other car, but it seems pretty ironclad that they are too blame.
Will they own up to what happened or say that a hose suddenly developed a leak? I saw no leaks, puddles, trailing liquid and I had four people view the empty container when I opened the hood. Also took pix of the emptiness for the hey of it.
I drove about ten miles on the highway and suddenly the idiot light for cooling is flashing like a mother. I look at the temp gauge and notice it's on H.
I was two miles from where I had to be in ten minutes and I could not miss it. So I said screw it and drove the extra bit (side street). I know you shouldn't do that but as I said, I had to make it there in time.
As I was pulling in I could feel the heat from inside the car and I quickly shut it off. Heard some cooking noise under the engine and a burning smell.
Not good.
I immediately checked the coolant and it was bone dry.
They must have forgotten to put it back after replacing the sensor.
So five hours later I was done with my important task and had it towed to the repair place.
At first I thought about going to another mechanic I use for our other car, but it seems pretty ironclad that they are too blame.
Will they own up to what happened or say that a hose suddenly developed a leak? I saw no leaks, puddles, trailing liquid and I had four people view the empty container when I opened the hood. Also took pix of the emptiness for the hey of it.
07-19-06, 01:15 AM
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That sucks Buford. Hopefully, if they are good people, they'll own up to forgetting to refill the coolant and offer to fix and repairs related to the mistake free of charge. Hope everything works out!
07-19-06, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Buford T Pusser
I was two miles from where I had to be in ten minutes and I could not miss it. So I said screw it and drove the extra bit (side street). I know you shouldn't do that but as I said, I had to make it there in time.
07-19-06, 01:12 PM
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Exactly. I would not admit it.
Of course they didn't admit they forgot the coolant.
They said the O ring must not have sealed properly on the sensor. They also maintain that the car was driven and left running for 30 minutes after the sensor replacement.
Somehow the O ring gave out the ten minutes I was driving the car.
They are looking at the car now and say it's looks "mint". Hmmmm.
The owner was smart and took the day off.
Of course they didn't admit they forgot the coolant.
They said the O ring must not have sealed properly on the sensor. They also maintain that the car was driven and left running for 30 minutes after the sensor replacement.
Somehow the O ring gave out the ten minutes I was driving the car.
They are looking at the car now and say it's looks "mint". Hmmmm.
The owner was smart and took the day off.
07-19-06, 11:10 PM
#6
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you know, similar thing happened to me. i had a mechanic install the coolant temp sensor (cts). drove maybe 20 minutes, and see the coolant light. well, the cts had popped off.
it could also have been that they didn't install the clip correctly. the cts is held in place by a clip. if you don't clip it correctly, the sensor will pop up when the coolant gets hot enough.
it could also have been that they didn't install the clip correctly. the cts is held in place by a clip. if you don't clip it correctly, the sensor will pop up when the coolant gets hot enough.
07-20-06, 12:04 AM
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So it's possible they had the problem and did put the coolant in?
They did the A/C and dipstick replacement for free for my troubles.
Now I need to hit the owner for the tow charge.
They did the A/C and dipstick replacement for free for my troubles.
Now I need to hit the owner for the tow charge.
07-20-06, 12:10 AM
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Erm. I dunno. If I had a nice Audi, and the idiot light went off and I felt HEAT coming from under my car, i'd be on the cell phone with whomever Im meetting and explaing the proble m, then ahving it towed immediately.
Sure they may not have put the coolant back in, but you saw not 1, but 2 warning signs (heat and idiot light). You should have pulled over.
Sure they may not have put the coolant back in, but you saw not 1, but 2 warning signs (heat and idiot light). You should have pulled over.
07-20-06, 12:18 AM
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well, here is the coolant temp sensor on my car:
i'm assuming that since our cars are built on the same platform, that the coolant temp sensor is in the same location. you don't need to drain any coolant to change the cts.
also, you wanna watch out. overheating the engine could warp the head. i'd suggest you check your coolant and oil to make sure that the two fluids haven't mixed. you could have damaged the head gasket or worst, warped the head.
i'd also ask them to do a wet compression test.
i'm assuming that since our cars are built on the same platform, that the coolant temp sensor is in the same location. you don't need to drain any coolant to change the cts.
also, you wanna watch out. overheating the engine could warp the head. i'd suggest you check your coolant and oil to make sure that the two fluids haven't mixed. you could have damaged the head gasket or worst, warped the head.
i'd also ask them to do a wet compression test.
07-20-06, 12:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Thunderball
Erm. I dunno. If I had a nice Audi, and the idiot light went off and I felt HEAT coming from under my car, i'd be on the cell phone with whomever Im meetting and explaing the proble m, then ahving it towed immediately.
Sure they may not have put the coolant back in, but you saw not 1, but 2 warning signs (heat and idiot light). You should have pulled over.
Sure they may not have put the coolant back in, but you saw not 1, but 2 warning signs (heat and idiot light). You should have pulled over.
Any other time I would have pulled over, but I could not miss my appointment. I had four models being paid $100 plus an hour, a stylist, a hair stylist and makeup person (all being paid $$) and two boats waiting for me. The sunset was not going to wait.
07-20-06, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Buford T Pusser
Well I didn't feel the heat until I was sliding into the parking lot w/the engine shut off.
Any other time I would have pulled over, but I could not miss my appointment. I had four models being paid $100 plus an hour, a stylist, a hair stylist and makeup person (all being paid $$) and two boats waiting for me. The sunset was not going to wait.
Any other time I would have pulled over, but I could not miss my appointment. I had four models being paid $100 plus an hour, a stylist, a hair stylist and makeup person (all being paid $$) and two boats waiting for me. The sunset was not going to wait.
08-28-06, 01:33 PM
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The other day I started the car and a big puff of smoke came out of the tailpipe.
I was thinking someone hear told me to watch for that but maybe it was the shop owner.
I told him about the problem and he had no idea that it happened. Of course the worker didn't tell him. I told him the excuse and he kinda said "hmmm. sounds a bit odd to me."
So he's also in agreement that it wasn't a problem of the seal not holding. He offered to do something free next time I have an issue.
I may take it in if the grey smoke continues and mention that. My ABS light occasionally blinks so I have some sort of sensor issue.
I was thinking someone hear told me to watch for that but maybe it was the shop owner.
I told him about the problem and he had no idea that it happened. Of course the worker didn't tell him. I told him the excuse and he kinda said "hmmm. sounds a bit odd to me."
So he's also in agreement that it wasn't a problem of the seal not holding. He offered to do something free next time I have an issue.
I may take it in if the grey smoke continues and mention that. My ABS light occasionally blinks so I have some sort of sensor issue.
08-28-06, 01:45 PM
#15
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I had an oil change, drove home ok (less than 5 miles). Drove it back and up towards the shop and noticed the oil light and the temp gauge and the car started to sputter. Not good. I pull over and check around. Seems like the oil filter popped off and well, all the oil ended up on the road. So I call the place, tell them the situation, made them come to me with a new oil filter and oil. Seems like the fools put the wrong filter on. Have a free oil change and car wash in the future because of it.
08-28-06, 07:48 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by Buford T Pusser
The other day I started the car and a big puff of smoke came out of the tailpipe.
I was thinking someone hear told me to watch for that but maybe it was the shop owner.
I told him about the problem and he had no idea that it happened. Of course the worker didn't tell him. I told him the excuse and he kinda said "hmmm. sounds a bit odd to me."
So he's also in agreement that it wasn't a problem of the seal not holding. He offered to do something free next time I have an issue.
I may take it in if the grey smoke continues and mention that. My ABS light occasionally blinks so I have some sort of sensor issue.
I was thinking someone hear told me to watch for that but maybe it was the shop owner.
I told him about the problem and he had no idea that it happened. Of course the worker didn't tell him. I told him the excuse and he kinda said "hmmm. sounds a bit odd to me."
So he's also in agreement that it wasn't a problem of the seal not holding. He offered to do something free next time I have an issue.
I may take it in if the grey smoke continues and mention that. My ABS light occasionally blinks so I have some sort of sensor issue.
are you braking when the abs blinks?
i'd tell ya to get a vag-com and scan the abs module, but i'm sure you don't have one of those...
08-28-06, 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by D.Pham00
i'd tell ya to get a vag-com and scan the abs module, but i'm sure you don't have one of those...
Moving to Adult Forum.
08-28-06, 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by D.Pham00
what color smoke? i guess don't worry about it so long as it doesn't come back.
are you braking when the abs blinks?
i'd tell ya to get a vag-com and scan the abs module, but i'm sure you don't have one of those...
are you braking when the abs blinks?
i'd tell ya to get a vag-com and scan the abs module, but i'm sure you don't have one of those...
The smoke was a medium gray.
On the brakes: I'll be driving and it will come on without the brakes being touched. Sometimes it stays on for ten seconds, other times five minutes.
Don't have the vaginal thing.
08-29-06, 01:42 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by devilshalo
I had an oil change, drove home ok (less than 5 miles). Drove it back and up towards the shop and noticed the oil light and the temp gauge and the car started to sputter. Not good. I pull over and check around. Seems like the oil filter popped off and well, all the oil ended up on the road. So I call the place, tell them the situation, made them come to me with a new oil filter and oil. Seems like the fools put the wrong filter on. Have a free oil change and car wash in the future because of it.
08-29-06, 02:04 AM
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Originally Posted by D.Pham00
sounds like your abs module is toast. it doesn't affect braking right?
Does not hurt the braking. I had an issue w/the module before.
