Help needed quick- coolant loss

[LHD]

I need some ideas ASAP before my local Audi stealer tell me I need to renew everything at the cost of an arm and a leg- they have a habit of lying about what needs replacing! Wish there was someone else nearby. They seem to view RS2 owners as one of their cash cows.

Anyway here's the problem, I have a slight coolant leak which looks to be coming from the bottom of the expansion tank where the large hose clips on. Obviously my hope is that the just the pipe or clip needs replacing rather than the tank. I wondered whether the fact the filler cap doesn't rattle when shaken (meaning the valve is fubard-thanks S2 forum search) might result in the system overpressurising and that is causing the leak. Could a leak elsewhere in the system be caused by the filler cap?

Your thoughts on this would be realy useful.

[jameswkr]

Have you tried tightening the clip? If it appears tight try loosening it to see if it is rusted in position ( try not to put sideways pressure on the tube from the tank or you will likely increase the size of the split ( if there is one ). If you have some antifreeze, why not remove the hose to check it ( and the expansion tank ) for damage - do this with cold coolant. Drain off the contents for re use. There should be enough hose to cut off the existing end and restart with "new" hose. Are you sure coolant is leaking there ? If the tank is damaged, fit a new one yourself...

[GT500]

I need some ideas ASAP before my local Audi stealer tell me I need to renew everything at the cost of an arm and a leg- they have a habit of lying about what needs replacing! Wish there was someone else nearby. They seem to view RS2 owners as one of their cash cows.

Anyway here's the problem, I have a slight coolant leak which looks to be coming from the bottom of the expansion tank where the large hose clips on. Obviously my hope is that the just the pipe or clip needs replacing rather than the tank. I wondered whether the fact the filler cap doesn't rattle when shaken (meaning the valve is fubard-thanks S2 forum search) might result in the system overpressurising and that is causing the leak. Could a leak elsewhere in the system be caused by the filler cap?

Your thoughts on this would be realy useful.

Why would anyone take their car to such a set of useless idiots, they only know bread and butter stuff! They are not mechanics just fitters.
You will be dry bumed, have fun!

If its original rad it could have cracked an end tank. Plastic goes brittle in the end , expansion, contraction X35000 times its gone from cold to hot and back......

Rob

[newsh]

Best thing is to remove the expansion tank and have a look, its not a terribly expensive part, mine cracked in the same place where the hose attaches to the bottom. Better safe etc.. I just had to have a new head because of water leaks.

[LHD]

Thanks for the replies all useful stuff. As for taking it to the stealers I don't have much choice as I don't have anywhere to do the work. Ever tried doing stuff like this in Halford's car park? It isn't much fun. At home isn't an option as I live on a very busy road with nowhere to work on the car.

Sounds like the problem will be the hose or tank and like you say it isn't worth the consequences if it suddenly lost all the coolant. I'm going to get them to fit a new tank and hose. I don't think it will be the radiator as it had a new one in 2003 and the leak is clearly coming from the expansion tank or hose.

Cheers

Sam

[rs2315]

Most guy's on here look after their own cars, and if that's not possible they take it to a specialist, who hopefully doesn't give you a load of bull and doesn't ripp you off.
Just out of interest what are Audi dealers charging an hour these day's???????
See what I mean, robbing fitters.
rs2315.

[T2Andy]

Where abouts are you in the uk you could take it to a forum member it might
be worth the drive ,we had a guy from newcastle come to sheffield to do a few hours work in my garage .If your not to far away its open to everyone.

[LHD]

Absolutely fantastic offer there and one of the reasons I rate 'S2forum' as one of the best around.

Unfortunately I'm in Holland so the main dealer looks to be my only option although I'm hoping a local 'one man band' garage will be able to do it as it's such a simple job.

The Audi dealer's mechanic concluded that it was the expansion tank for reasons I couldn't quite fathom as he didn't speak any English and my Dutch is poor. Labour rate here probably as extortionate as the UK- €70 per hour+19.5 VAT. They reckon 2 hours labour to do it which I'll be timing as it seems like a long time to me with all the kit they have in there.

[T2Andy]

No problem i will flat pack the garage and take it to Holland and i dont charge any VAT.

[Fat Audi 80]

B U L L S H I T.

I recently changed the expansion tank in 20 minutes.

A new tanks £25 and all you have to do is syphon off the fluid remove tank, fit new one and pour fluid back in.

You could do it yourself with a length of hose a bucket and a screwdriver!

Cheers,

Steve.

[S2Ian]

i concur with fat audi as... i bought an expansion tank from audi stealer and they charged me 31 squids, my top pipe is fubar'd it has a tiny crack dribbles coolent if you hammer it. its 2 pipes, it cant take that long, 2 pipes and about 4 screws.....

[jsmith14]

i know I'm a bit late but for further knowledge on this thread. if your expansion tanks are leaking just replace it immediately to prevent some damage on the engine and on the car itself. here are more guidelines about maintainable on how to replace an expansion tank.