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Temp. gauge hits 260 after driving for 2 blocks??

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Old 08-29-2009, 09:33 AM
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Angry Temp. gauge hits 260 after driving for 2 blocks??

So thursday afternoon I'm in traffic and I just so happen to knotice that my car (2002 A4 Z28) is moving past 210* to the next marker (not sure the temp). Traffic picks up and the temp goes back to normal. The next day I do an oil change (Mobil 1 10-30 extended performance and M1-107 filter), the old oil looked perfectly find....besides being old. So i finins the change and i start the car and let it idle, Everything seemed fine, drove it around the block and the tempature began to slip past 210 again, I then figured it was the weather because its been pretty hot here in L.A. So i wait for the sun to go down, then i decide that me and my GF should go to dennys, and we get in the car and go. I get to the next major light and I'm daym near hitting 260*!!!! So i turn around and park....The fans are working just fine, and I see no leaks from the heads, exhaust manifolds, radiator, thermostat, or water pump ands i double checked my oil for water...so where do i look next?
Old 08-29-2009, 09:39 AM
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Often times if the system has air in it, it will cause false readings like that. It does it to me everytime I pull the radiator hoses loose and break the system open. You have to spend time bleeding it to get all the air out. Have you worked on anything on the car lately?
Old 08-29-2009, 09:42 AM
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Check for debris in the upper front part of the radiator like leaves, dirt, etc. you want to make sure the rad fins are clear. Front air dam still there?
Old 08-29-2009, 09:44 AM
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^^^He says he is at 260 after only going 2 blocks. Sorry buddy, leaves aint gonna cause that. But checking the front of your CONDENSER is a good idea for anyone as a general maintenance item.
Old 08-29-2009, 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by 01ssreda4
Often times if the system has air in it, it will cause false readings like that. It does it to me everytime I pull the radiator hoses loose and break the system open. You have to spend time bleeding it to get all the air out. Have you worked on anything on the car lately?
no, bone stock, how does the bleeding work?

Originally Posted by eamador11
Check for debris in the upper front part of the radiator like leaves, dirt, etc. you want to make sure the rad fins are clear. Front air dam still there?
no air dam, but i do feel that the AC condenser is causing trouble.......could my thermostat possibly not be opening??? The temp fluxuates...
Old 08-29-2009, 09:52 AM
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Change your thermostat but you do know the whole purpose of that black little air dam that scrapes **** all the time is to DIRECT AIR THROUGH THE RADIATOR SO IT DOES NOT RUN HOT. Put one on there!!!

Having said that if it hits 260* after just a couple minutes I would lean T-stat.

But go to a junkyard please and drop $20 for that air dam. Your car will love you for it

Last edited by SOMbitch; 08-29-2009 at 10:02 AM.
Old 08-29-2009, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by SOMbitch
$5 says it's a thermostat dudes.
i sure hope so....so regular autozone thermo? or a 160*??? does the 160* require a tune?
Old 08-29-2009, 09:55 AM
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Are your fans turning on? Sounds like airflow if it is normal while driving. When you stop there is no airflow. Also check the thermostat.
Old 08-29-2009, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by MUSTANGBRKR02
Are your fans turning on? Sounds like airflow if it is normal while driving. When you stop there is no airflow. Also check the thermostat.
I know for a fact that the driver side fan is working just the, but the passanger side fan i can tell until i move the air filter...
Old 08-29-2009, 10:05 AM
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put a thermostat in & if that doesn't work do a radiator flush & bleed the air out. might have a air pocket in it. I just had a van with the same prob so I changed the therm. & it still did it so I did a flush & when I pulled the drain plug nothing came out (it was pluged with crap). well it still over heats cuz I think there's just so much built up inside the rad. that I think I might have 2 put a differnt rad. to see if that works. good luck
Old 08-29-2009, 10:11 AM
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I edited my "$5" post after I read your air dam was missing.

If you get a 160* stat you should have your pcm programed to tur the fans on sooner or it really doesn't do anything but keep your car from warming up sooner. If your car ran normal before just run a 185* stat in it.

You can check your fans by turning your A/C on. The pcm commands both fans on with the a/c running.

If you do decide to get a 160* stat program the fans to come on at 175* Every one I have ever seen starts to open at 160* but won't fully open til 170* which means they are really a 170* stat. I have put them on the stove with a thermometer and witnessed this.
Old 08-29-2009, 10:13 AM
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If the Thermostat is stuck it will overheat at idle also.
Old 08-29-2009, 10:19 AM
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thank you all, hopfully i'll have a verdict by days end....
Old 08-30-2009, 03:07 AM
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the thermostat did the trick, and might I add that I've never had soooooo much trouble with two bolts in my life!!!!!
Old 08-30-2009, 05:51 AM
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good u got it fixed i have no air dam on my car, and one of my fans is broken and i still have no cooling problems.
Old 08-30-2009, 07:42 AM
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Originally Posted by devilssled
good u got it fixed i have no air dam on my car, and one of my fans is broken and i still have no cooling problems.
what kind of climate do you live in?!?!?!?
Old 08-30-2009, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 01ssreda4
^^^He says he is at 260 after only going 2 blocks. Sorry buddy, leaves aint gonna cause that.
wow, just wow.
Old 08-30-2009, 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by IT_SS
the thermostat did the trick, and might I add that I've never had soooooo much trouble with two bolts in my life!!!!!

Glad that took care it. Always nice to have a cheap fix
Old 10-15-2009, 02:04 PM
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So ermmm, THE DAYM PROBLEM IS BACK!!!!!

I'm actually convinced that its a sensor, I Hit 260* then 5 Sec later its back at 210*. No over flowing, no bubbling, not change in over all mechanical behavior...so um..., wheres the Temp Sensor? And werent there known issues with the temp gauge in the 2002's?
Old 10-15-2009, 02:09 PM
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I blame this on your A/C condenser like stated before... it's probably really clogged with a bunch of crap. Clean it and tell us what happens then. Apparently an A/C condenser has done this to forum members cars on numerous occasions. They cleaned it then all was fine... be prepared, it's tedious cleaning out all those little fins...


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