MOT: Forum LCBL Star '05 Audi A8 D3 3.0TDi

[Jenson Velcro]

Yes, walk away for a bit, take a few deep breaths and come back with a clear head. I’m sure it’s just something simple and will be fine. We all have moments like this when we feel like throwing something heavy at a problem, but a fresh view usually sorts it.

[Supernaut]

The emotions being expressed here all feel very familiar with how I felt about my E36 in early March.

The thermostat housing kept leaking, so it would never bleed up. Until I replaced it with a surprisingly reasonably priced aluminium thermostat housing plus a shitload of RTV.

It's worth it in the end!

 

Also, 45mpg from that is incredible. My poverty spec Megane only does 5mpg more...

[dome]

1 hour ago, Split_Pin said:

I think it might be the top hose. I did notice some emulsified coolant there when I was taking it off. These are a hard plastic push fitting with a rubber O ring inside and a metal clasp to hold it on.

Took it out for a short run and it stank of coolant when I stepped outside the car anyway.

BMWs of this era are similar, I bought a kit of coolant orings from eBay for my (BMW engined) Rangey for £not a lot. 

🤞 it's just a dodgy oring that's not liked being disturbed after all these years 

[Split_Pin]

Had a look after a run, the radiator is definitely wet from around that area. 

I haven't sent back the new radiator I got from Autodoc yet either and after opening it, it's the correct item.

It's just taking it all back apart again that I can't face again right now. Might just drive it about for a bit as is to get my spannering mojo back again.

[SiC]

Most of us have been there. Fitted an awkward part, put it all back together and ... still broken. 

I also remember putting my Clio 172 all back together after a cambelt change, filled it up with coolant for the first time after the water pump change and it pissing everywhere from the gasket. Anyone who knows those cars knows that the cambelt is not only a major PIA job but that water pump requires it taking off to change...

Oh how I laughed* at the time. Tools down, left it for a few days and decided the fucker wasn't going to get the better of me. 

[DirtyDaily]

Had a look after a run, the radiator is definitely wet from around that area. 
I haven't sent back the new radiator I got from Autodoc yet either and after opening it, it's the correct item.
It's just taking it all back apart again that I can't face again right now. Might just drive it about for a bit as is to get my spannering mojo back again.

Makes sense. The hoses are 18 years old and been through a good amount of heat cycles. These things happen especially when disturbed, don't lose spirit.

[Sigmund Fraud]

3 hours ago, dome said:

it's just a dodgy oring that's not liked being disturbed after all these years 

+1, I've learnt the hard way to ALWAYS replace the o-rings whenever I remove VAG quick release coolant hose connectors.

[dome]

39 minutes ago, SiC said:

Most of us have been there. Fitted an awkward part, put it all back together and ... still broken. 

I also remember putting my Clio 172 all back together after a cambelt change, filled it up with coolant for the first time after the water pump change and it pissing everywhere from the gasket. Anyone who knows those cars knows that the cambelt is not only a major PIA job but that water pump requires it taking off to change...

Oh how I laughed* at the time. Tools down, left it for a few days and decided the fucker wasn't going to get the better of me. 

My Clio 182 rivalled this very Audi for the amount of times I had to take the fucking bumper off 

About 2 weeks after doing the timing belt the alternator went, guess what step 1 is in changing that 🙈

[SiC]

1 hour ago, dome said:

guess what step 1 is in changing that

Setting fire to it!

[Split_Pin]

The bumper is now held on by 3 10mm nuts and a random Allen hex screw, for easy* access.

[dome]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Setting fire to it!

Sell the fucker and buy a Kangoo!

[Split_Pin]

I have still been using this while I wait for a coolant pipe o ring butntje leak seems to be getting a wee bit worse so I'll need to watch. . I have had a lot of trouble finding one with no luck yet. Thankfully I have a spare which I took out of the bottom hose that I had to replace due to my hamfistedness so I can check for a size. I am even swithering re-using it as it looks and feels in perfect condition.  If all else fails I might just do that as it will cost me just a little coolant in the process.

Still, a caliper and a coolant leak is nothing in light of the issues a car like this could have so I count myself lucky there.

And what a car to drive, it is simply a wonderful way to travel. When I say its 'next-level', I really mean it!

 

[Kiltox]

Have you tried ringing Audi? When I bought the weird little filter seal things for the washer bottle they were really not very much money 

 

[Split_Pin]

25 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

Have you tried ringing Audi? When I bought the weird little filter seal things for the washer bottle they were really not very much money 

 

Not yet but I'm going to have to I think.

[Matty]

54 minutes ago, Split_Pin said:

Not yet but I'm going to have to I think.

TPS? They are usually pretty good and not massively dear

[Dave_Q]

19 minutes ago, Matty said:

TPS? They are usually pretty good and not massively dear

Super miserable about selling things to non-trade, at least my local one is.

[SiC]

My local TPS told me "look outside and tell me what the sign says" ... "Trade Part Specialists" 

[Matty]

27 minutes ago, Matty said:

TPS? They are usually pretty good and not massively dear

TPS? They are usually pretty shit and massively awkward

😆

[DirtyDaily]

My local TPS told me "look outside and tell me what the sign says" ... "Trade Part Specialists" 

Love it when people are unnecessarily dickish

[Split_Pin]

Aye fuck them.

I'll get something sorted eventually!

[Split_Pin]

Another day, another incorrect o-ring 😂, too thick this time.

I'm have the day off today so after investigating the misfire on the E61 I'm going up to Stirling Audi to order the correct part.

I'll need to have a shower first before entering their showroom though!

[Split_Pin]

2 o-rings acquired from a very helpful parts guy at Stirling Audi.

£19.63 though, tbf I had predicted £25 😂.

Anyway I took a long weekend to get this done but other cars got in the way and I could not do the job properly with the wrong o rings. I'll find another evening this month when it's dry.

[Split_Pin]

On 19/05/2024 at 09:39, Split_Pin said:

Not going through all that again

Well looks like I will have to as I tried to book this into my local garage this morning as they weren't keen on working on it as they'd never worked on an A8 before. I did say I had literally done the job by myself on my drive 4 weeks ago. I found it quite easy but very time consuming hence booking it into have someone else do it.

I had taken Thursday off to do it PM but it's now to pish rain.

Hopefully they will be able to replace the suspension arm it needs at the MOT.

[Split_Pin]

Here we go again:

Radiator out in about 1/2 hour this time.

2nd hand one completely soaking and fucked.

Lots of emulsified coolant at the bottom of the fan housing.

2 new coolant o rings on top and bottom hoses

New rad in

As per before, wont take it's coolant. I had the presence of mind not to start it this time though.

However, filling it up through the bleeder worked very well and you could hear it glugging in.

Midges stopped play but back tomorrow to fill it up, fit the bumper properly and hopefully thats it.

 

[Split_Pin]

Filling up the entire cooling system via the bleed hole was painstaking but patience paid off as the car bled itself a few minutes after starting up.

A quick drive with my code reader attached showing live coolant temperature data showed a steady 86-88c depending on load.

I checked this morning and so far, we are dry underneath the car.

MOT is on 17th July which gives me time to find another garage that will touch this car and don't charge £100 per hour.

[Split_Pin]

After the radiator replacement, time for a more pleasant job.

Surprisingly, Halfords had a Nordlichblau touch up pen for a fiver.

Looks a good match.

Unfortunately the rain has started so it will need to wait until tomorrow.

There are a few scratches on the bumper that I'd like to touch in and the paint has peeled from the roof trims.

[Cheezey]

I think I spotted you earlier from a distance on Etna Road. 

[Split_Pin]

15 minutes ago, Cheezey said:

I think I spotted you earlier from a distance on Etna Road. 

Yeah that was me, I was coming back from the retail park 😀

[Cheezey]

I clocked the wheels and colour then wondered where I knew the car from. I think car people have an in built ANPR / car details and database in their head. 

[Split_Pin]

21 minutes ago, Cheezey said:

I clocked the wheels and colour then wondered where I knew the car from. I think car people have an in built ANPR / car details and database in their head. 

Same 😂