saabSean

Looks like I dodged a bullet here.

Just got the call from Shine Racing Service: the cooling system was pressure tested and it held, no leaks, but they suspect the cap was leaking.

The cooling system pressure test is performed through the coolant tank at the cap. When the pressure held, they turned their attention to the tank cap itself. The coolant tank has a sort of failover channel at the bottom that will release coolant if a leak at the cap is detected (or perhaps if the pressure gets too high) and that's where they found a dried coolant trail. I'm told that they've replaced a fair number of coolant tank caps, to the point where the caps are kept in stock.

HOWEVER... my tank is covered in thin cracks; I knew this. So they're trying to get a new tank from the local dealer (Clair) to replace it. Follow that up with a full flush and we're all set. Phew.

BTW, parts price on the coolant tank... roughly $35! When does THAT ever happen? A cheap parts price??!

kjb99

normally repairs end up costing much more than expected!

Richard Solomon

my '00 2.7T was pressure tested umpteen times and never "leaked", yet coolant continued to belch from the thing intermittently even as I saw the taillights receding

saabSean

So what was the problem? Aux water pump?

Richard Solomon

Never found, bought back

saabSean

Seeing as how I'm walking the high wire of Audi ownership without an aftermaket warranty net, I'm going to have to assume that the cap was the culprit.

I've learned over the past few weeks that the 2.7t has a separate auxiliary water pump that has been known to fail. The 2.8 does not have the aux WP and so I'm feeling pretty confident that things are ok.

I was just really concerned that there was going to be a gasket issue, but that doesn't seem to the problem. Knock on wood.

Richard Solomon

Here's hoping all's well!