2001 Audi A4 V6 -- P0118 code

I was driving home yesterday and the check engine light came on. Went
to AutoZone and the code was P0118 -- Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT)
Sensor - High Circuit

So, I went to the dealer this AM, got the $8 part and got my Audi
manual out. I have both the factory and Haynes manual. I looked
through, thought I figured it out where it was and started to goto
work. One website on the audi forum says it takes about 5 minutes to
replace -- guess I busted that timeframe.

For the life of me, I cannot find the ECT sensor to replace it.

I removed the "black ribbed piece" between the MAF sensor and the hard
plastic piece, but for the life of me -- no joy.

Taking it to a Audi specialist in Denver on Tuesday, just curious if
anyone knows if I am in the right area for the sensor.


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On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 14:50:54 -0700, Curtis Newton
> wrote:

>I was driving home yesterday and the check engine light came on. Went
>to AutoZone and the code was P0118 -- Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT)
>Sensor - High Circuit
>
>So, I went to the dealer this AM, got the $8 part and got my Audi
>manual out. I have both the factory and Haynes manual. I looked
>through, thought I figured it out where it was and started to goto
>work. One website on the audi forum says it takes about 5 minutes to
>replace -- guess I busted that timeframe.
>
>For the life of me, I cannot find the ECT sensor to replace it.
>
>I removed the "black ribbed piece" between the MAF sensor and the hard
>plastic piece, but for the life of me -- no joy.
>
>Taking it to a Audi specialist in Denver on Tuesday, just curious if
>anyone knows if I am in the right area for the sensor.
>
>
>-

I took a few photos of where I thought it was....posted below.

http://users.adelphia.net/~cnewton/audi.htm
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On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 18:18:01 -0700, Curtis Newton
> wrote:

> On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 14:50:54 -0700, Curtis Newton
> > wrote:
>
>> I was driving home yesterday and the check engine light came on. Went
>> to AutoZone and the code was P0118 -- Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT)
>> Sensor - High Circuit
>>
>> So, I went to the dealer this AM, got the $8 part and got my Audi
>> manual out. I have both the factory and Haynes manual. I looked
>> through, thought I figured it out where it was and started to goto
>> work. One website on the audi forum says it takes about 5 minutes to
>> replace -- guess I busted that timeframe.
>>
>> For the life of me, I cannot find the ECT sensor to replace it.
>>
>> I removed the "black ribbed piece" between the MAF sensor and the hard
>> plastic piece, but for the life of me -- no joy.
>>
>> Taking it to a Audi specialist in Denver on Tuesday, just curious if
>> anyone knows if I am in the right area for the sensor.
>>
>>
>> -
>
> I took a few photos of where I thought it was....posted below.
>
> http://users.adelphia.net/~cnewton/audi.htm
> -
> --
>
> Anti-Spam filter in place--
> <delete .remove-this to respond to email>

acc to my 1998 family album the ECT should be located on top of cooling
water manifold outlet from right cylinder bank (left side when standing
in front of car). So if this isn't changed on the 2001 model you should be
looking in the correct area.

but acc. to the article
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng54.shtml
at
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/

it's not easy to spot, and change either
hope this is of any help...

regards
ottar t

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>
>acc to my 1998 family album the ECT should be located on top of cooling
>water manifold outlet from right cylinder bank (left side when standing
>in front of car). So if this isn't changed on the 2001 model you should be
>looking in the correct area.
>
>but acc. to the article
>http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng54.shtml
>at
>http://www.audiworld.com/tech/
>
>it's not easy to spot, and change either
>hope this is of any help...
>


Thanks. I know when to give up...:-) I had looked at the link you
provided already and found the one sensor, but was unable to find the
blue one...Audi had to have moved it from the link you provided,
because I was looking immediately underneath the hard plastic piece
and there wasn't anything there.

I called a small independent shop in Denver and they are going to look
at it on Tuesday....he said when that code comes up, it could also be
the thermostat...so, rather than me changing parts that might not need
to be changed, I will just take it in.


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cnewton at akaMail.com
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"Curtis Newton" > wrote in message
...

>
> I called a small independent shop in Denver and they are going to look
> at it on Tuesday....he said when that code comes up, it could also be
> the thermostat...so, rather than me changing parts that might not need
> to be changed, I will just take it in.

If it is the thermostat, then you may want to consider splurging - and I do
mean splurging - for the T.B., water pump, tensioners, etc if it has been
more than 50-60,000 miles since that service was done.

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 12:19:16 -0700, "Ian S" >
wrote:

>"Curtis Newton" > wrote in message
.. .
>
>>
>> I called a small independent shop in Denver and they are going to look
>> at it on Tuesday....he said when that code comes up, it could also be
>> the thermostat...so, rather than me changing parts that might not need
>> to be changed, I will just take it in.
>
>If it is the thermostat, then you may want to consider splurging - and I do
>mean splurging - for the T.B., water pump, tensioners, etc if it has been
>more than 50-60,000 miles since that service was done.
>

I am new to Audi's (been driving Japanese cars for the longest
time)......there must be a TON of labor involved in replacing the
thermostat??? When I replaced the thermostat on the Japanese cars, it
was usually pretty easy, I am guessing the Audi's aren't.

I can already $ee the cost ....... thanks for the tip...... the car
has 55,000 miles on it and I planned to keep it to 75,000 miles. At
that time, I plan to trade it on the 2.0L A4 coming out this
Spring...I want to give Audi a chance to work out the bugs before I
buy that one.
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"Curtis Newton" > wrote in message
news
> On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 12:19:16 -0700, "Ian S" >
> wrote:
>
> >"Curtis Newton" > wrote in message
> .. .
> >
> >>
> >> I called a small independent shop in Denver and they are going to look
> >> at it on Tuesday....he said when that code comes up, it could also be
> >> the thermostat...so, rather than me changing parts that might not need
> >> to be changed, I will just take it in.
> >
> >If it is the thermostat, then you may want to consider splurging - and I
do
> >mean splurging - for the T.B., water pump, tensioners, etc if it has been
> >more than 50-60,000 miles since that service was done.
> >
>
> I am new to Audi's (been driving Japanese cars for the longest
> time)......there must be a TON of labor involved in replacing the
> thermostat??? When I replaced the thermostat on the Japanese cars, it
> was usually pretty easy, I am guessing the Audi's aren't.
>
> I can already $ee the cost ....... thanks for the tip...... the car
> has 55,000 miles on it and I planned to keep it to 75,000 miles. At
> that time, I plan to trade it on the 2.0L A4 coming out this
> Spring...I want to give Audi a chance to work out the bugs before I
> buy that one.

I let my T.B. go until 73,000 miles. My '98 A4 V6 2.8 has a 90,000 mile
interval in the maintenance manual but I believe Audi has reduced that
interval since. When I had it done I also had the water pump, thermostat,
tensioners and serpentine belt replaced and oil leaks fixed to the tune of
$1200 total at a good independent. I think the oil leak portion of that was
about 1/3. I believe the labor for the thermostat is almost as much as that
for the T.B. because you have to do much the same work to get at the dang
thing. I suspect you'll find that problem is the sensor since it seems to be
a common replacement item. Ironic you should be coming to Audi from
Japanese, I expect to be going in the opposite direction in a year or two.
I've had Audis for nearly twenty years so time for a change. If you haven't
done so already, you should check out Audiworld.com. There's a wealth of
info in the searchable forum archives.

>
>I let my T.B. go until 73,000 miles. My '98 A4 V6 2.8 has a 90,000 mile
>interval in the maintenance manual but I believe Audi has reduced that
>interval since. When I had it done I also had the water pump, thermostat,
>tensioners and serpentine belt replaced and oil leaks fixed to the tune of
>$1200 total at a good independent. I think the oil leak portion of that was
>about 1/3. I believe the labor for the thermostat is almost as much as that
>for the T.B. because you have to do much the same work to get at the dang
>thing. I suspect you'll find that problem is the sensor since it seems to be
>a common replacement item.


That is why I had planned to trade my A4 at 75,000 miles.

BTW, the interval from the dealer and the manual say timing belt
replacement on 2.8L 30V V6 is 105,000 miles. Of course, I would never
take it that far.

And, I hope you are right about the problem being the sensor.


> Ironic you should be coming to Audi from Japanese, I expect to be going in
>the opposite direction in a year or two. I've had Audis for nearly twenty years
>so time for a change. If you haven't done so already, you should check out
>Audiworld.com. There's a wealth of info in the searchable forum archives.
>

I live in Colorado and the quattro is just so sweet. The front wheel
drive cars I have had (Accord, Integra, ES300) just didn't get around
well in the winter. I feel like I can go anywhere in my A4. I
actually have been looking at the Infinity G35X, but I don't like the
interior at all--bottom line, I really like the Audi A4.

As for the Audi forums, been there, actually had a post there also.

Off to the dealer on Tuesday to (hopefully) replace the ECT sensor and
nothing else...:-)

Thanks again for the help. L8R.

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In message >
Curtis Newton > wrote:

> BTW, the interval from the dealer and the manual say timing belt
> replacement on 2.8L 30V V6 is 105,000 miles. Of course, I would never
> take it that far.

Whan I bought my A4 2.6 towards the end of 1996, I remember the dealer
telling me that the introduction of the 2.8 30v was delayed because of
the significant number of belt failures in testing, before 60k!

--
Peter Bell (Note Spamtrap - To reply, replace 'invalid' with 'bellfamily')

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 09:42:14 GMT, Peter Bell >
wrote:

>In message >
> Curtis Newton > wrote:
>
>> BTW, the interval from the dealer and the manual say timing belt
>> replacement on 2.8L 30V V6 is 105,000 miles. Of course, I would never
>> take it that far.
>
>Whan I bought my A4 2.6 towards the end of 1996, I remember the dealer
>telling me that the introduction of the 2.8 30v was delayed because of
>the significant number of belt failures in testing, before 60k!



Perhaps by 2001 (my model year), they addressed that issue??

Like I said, if I were to keep the car, I would replace the belt at
75,000 miles...but, I plan to get the new A4 with the 2.0L turbo in
about a year.



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