Heads-Up and Warning-Failed Thermostat
#1
Heads-Up and Warning-Failed Thermostat
Hi Gang:
I've got a 2011 6-speed S4 that, last Saturday, decided to eat it's thermostat.
Driving down the highway, A/C starts blowing warm air, then seconds later I get a RED dash warning to stop engine and check coolant level. I immediately pulled off at the first exit, shut her down, and checked the coolant level. Reserve tank is full, no coolant leaks anywhere to be seen, and both engine fans are running (engine shut off). Call the dealership, car is towed to service department, and received the call on Monday that the thermostat failed. SA advised that the water pump and thermostat are integrated, supercharger has to be pulled to access the pump/thermostat. Parts cost was $422, roughly 6-7 hours labor, total cost estimated at $1,300!!! Yikes! And, yes, I'm pretty sure that my car did NOT have the plastic water pump that caused so many issues on the 2010s and early '11s. I recall checking the housing and verifying that it was metal after receiving the car.
The car has 62,000 miles, has been maintained meticulously, and all service work has been performed at the dealership via AudiCare. Car has not been tracked, abused, or beaten at all. Of course, I'm 12,000 miles out of warranty and didn't purchase an extended warranty.....why would I on a three-year lease?
The bitch of it is that I am turning the car in later this month at lease-end for a 2014 SQ5! The good news is that my SA worked diligently with AOA and we were able to come to a mutually acceptable agreement on the total repair bill.
Just wanted my fellow B8ers to be aware. I follow AW and AZ religiously and have NOT come across this issue being suffered by any other forum members. Of course, this engine is in many other Audi applications, including my incoming SQ5. Seems to me that a thermostat going south on a less than 3 year-old car at 60K is unacceptable. YMMV.
Be careful out there!
I've got a 2011 6-speed S4 that, last Saturday, decided to eat it's thermostat.
Driving down the highway, A/C starts blowing warm air, then seconds later I get a RED dash warning to stop engine and check coolant level. I immediately pulled off at the first exit, shut her down, and checked the coolant level. Reserve tank is full, no coolant leaks anywhere to be seen, and both engine fans are running (engine shut off). Call the dealership, car is towed to service department, and received the call on Monday that the thermostat failed. SA advised that the water pump and thermostat are integrated, supercharger has to be pulled to access the pump/thermostat. Parts cost was $422, roughly 6-7 hours labor, total cost estimated at $1,300!!! Yikes! And, yes, I'm pretty sure that my car did NOT have the plastic water pump that caused so many issues on the 2010s and early '11s. I recall checking the housing and verifying that it was metal after receiving the car.
The car has 62,000 miles, has been maintained meticulously, and all service work has been performed at the dealership via AudiCare. Car has not been tracked, abused, or beaten at all. Of course, I'm 12,000 miles out of warranty and didn't purchase an extended warranty.....why would I on a three-year lease?
The bitch of it is that I am turning the car in later this month at lease-end for a 2014 SQ5! The good news is that my SA worked diligently with AOA and we were able to come to a mutually acceptable agreement on the total repair bill.
Just wanted my fellow B8ers to be aware. I follow AW and AZ religiously and have NOT come across this issue being suffered by any other forum members. Of course, this engine is in many other Audi applications, including my incoming SQ5. Seems to me that a thermostat going south on a less than 3 year-old car at 60K is unacceptable. YMMV.
Be careful out there!
#2
AudiWorld Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Nassau County, NY
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There were TSBs issued with respect to certain VINs and bad thermostats. I hope you or the dealer ran your VIN and made sure the car did not have the faulty water pump that could have caused the thermostat to fail.
These are the vehicles effected re: the thermostat:
U.S.A.
2010-2011 A6
WAU_ G_FB_AN001608 - WAU_G_FB_BN030581
Production date: May 28, 2009 – October 01, 2010
2011 Q7
WA1_G_FE_BD000447 – WA1_G_FE_BD003507
Production date: August 13, 2010 – September 30, 2010
2010-2011 S5 Cabrio
WAU_GAFH_AN005249 – WAU_GAFH_BN006387
Production date: June 10, 2009 – September 29, 2010
2010-2011 S4
WAU_G_FL_AA007653 – WAU_G_FL_BA055169
Production date: June 05, 2009 – October 04, 2010
CANADA
2010-2011 A6
WAU_ G_FB_AN002163 - WAU_G_FB_BN030081
Production date: May 27, 2009 – September 30, 2010
2011 Q7
WA1_G_FE_BD001023 – WA1_G_FE_BD003508
Production date: July 13, 2010 – September 30, 2010
2010-2011 S5 Cabrio
WAU_GAFH_AN005314 – WAU_GAFH_BN006375
Production date: June 12, 2009 – September 30, 2010
2010-2011 S4
WAU_G_FL_AA007954 – WAU_G_FL_BA052350
Production date: June 03, 2009 – September 28, 2010
These are the vehicles effected re: the thermostat:
U.S.A.
2010-2011 A6
WAU_ G_FB_AN001608 - WAU_G_FB_BN030581
Production date: May 28, 2009 – October 01, 2010
2011 Q7
WA1_G_FE_BD000447 – WA1_G_FE_BD003507
Production date: August 13, 2010 – September 30, 2010
2010-2011 S5 Cabrio
WAU_GAFH_AN005249 – WAU_GAFH_BN006387
Production date: June 10, 2009 – September 29, 2010
2010-2011 S4
WAU_G_FL_AA007653 – WAU_G_FL_BA055169
Production date: June 05, 2009 – October 04, 2010
CANADA
2010-2011 A6
WAU_ G_FB_AN002163 - WAU_G_FB_BN030081
Production date: May 27, 2009 – September 30, 2010
2011 Q7
WA1_G_FE_BD001023 – WA1_G_FE_BD003508
Production date: July 13, 2010 – September 30, 2010
2010-2011 S5 Cabrio
WAU_GAFH_AN005314 – WAU_GAFH_BN006375
Production date: June 12, 2009 – September 30, 2010
2010-2011 S4
WAU_G_FL_AA007954 – WAU_G_FL_BA052350
Production date: June 03, 2009 – September 28, 2010
Last edited by isles1; 09-10-2013 at 12:11 PM.
#3
isles:
Hmmm, interesting. No, I didn't run it and I don't know that I trust the dealer to do that for me. My VIN looks like it MIGHT fall in that range. Any suggestion on how/if I can run the VIN myself and find out for sure? Or can only the dealer do that?
Thanks!
Hmmm, interesting. No, I didn't run it and I don't know that I trust the dealer to do that for me. My VIN looks like it MIGHT fall in that range. Any suggestion on how/if I can run the VIN myself and find out for sure? Or can only the dealer do that?
Thanks!
#4
AudiWorld Super User
It has happened to other people, even though the thermostat was already changed once on the recall. Some people were not on the recall list, but it still failed later.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8767248
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8714832
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8990787
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8757701
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8767248
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8714832
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8990787
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8757701
#5
It has happened to other people, even though the thermostat was already changed once on the recall. Some people were not on the recall list, but it still failed later.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8767248
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8714832
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8990787
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8757701
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8767248
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8714832
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8990787
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8757701
#6
yea this one was mine:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...king-time-bomb!
The water pump is not attached to the thermostat, so not sure why they are telling you that, you can get the thermostat out without touching the water pump, as you can see in my thread. I wouldnt let them take advantage of you on having them replace both if only the tstat failed. Proof is in my pictures that they are not one unit.
I was out of warranty also, have extended coverage, but it says thermostat not covered! So I had to do it myself to save $
Wish aoa would do something about this issue, would love to get reimbursed for the failed part.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...king-time-bomb!
The water pump is not attached to the thermostat, so not sure why they are telling you that, you can get the thermostat out without touching the water pump, as you can see in my thread. I wouldnt let them take advantage of you on having them replace both if only the tstat failed. Proof is in my pictures that they are not one unit.
I was out of warranty also, have extended coverage, but it says thermostat not covered! So I had to do it myself to save $
Wish aoa would do something about this issue, would love to get reimbursed for the failed part.
Last edited by iNfiNkC; 09-10-2013 at 05:17 PM.
#7
Audiworld Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Catonsville, MD
Posts: 19
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It has happened to other people, even though the thermostat was already changed once on the recall. Some people were not on the recall list, but it still failed later.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8767248
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8714832
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8990787
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8757701
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8767248
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8714832
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8990787
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post8757701
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/s4-b8-platform-discussion-134/
Before I post an update I'm still waiting on AoA. You are not alone. fwiw - I did not have the plastic water pump.
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#9
AudiWorld Uber User
#10
An indy shop would not have offered me that assistance.