1987 Audi 5000s Coolant Leak..

Recently, my 1987 Audi 5000 needed the upper radiator hose replaced.
(exploded).

After changing/flushing the coolant, there was still a loss somewhere.

I finally discovered the problem and it seems to be located under the
dashboard.

I am speculating that it must be the heater core and/or the heater
hoses leading up to the heater core, because it only looses coolant
when I use the heater and/or air conditioner.

Question: how hard the access to these components?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Thks,
martino-

 

Martino,
Search www.audifans.com archives for the words "Heater core steak knife" and
you'll find a procedure for replacing the heater core - it might also be in
the Knowledgebase. I've never done it, knock on fake wood desktop, but
apparently it's somewhat of a beast of a job, and best tackled by removing
the hood.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

"martino" <jhl@x.vgf> wrote in message
news:h4rti1t8mvt8cn8scm7nqm4ecnj09u25fa@4ax.com...
> 1987 Audi 5000s Coolant Leak..
>
> Recently, my 1987 Audi 5000 needed the upper radiator hose replaced.
> (exploded).
>
> After changing/flushing the coolant, there was still a loss somewhere.
>
> I finally discovered the problem and it seems to be located under the
> dashboard.
>
> I am speculating that it must be the heater core and/or the heater
> hoses leading up to the heater core, because it only looses coolant
> when I use the heater and/or air conditioner.
>
> Question: how hard the access to these components?
>
> Any input is greatly appreciated!
>
> Thks,
> martino-

 

Getting to the heater core is a time consuming task on the T44s. Still better
than later models that require removal of the dash.

In your cast you would need to remove the fan blower box under the hood and
directly in front of the windshield to change the core. This is a common project
for replacing the fan blower which is a frequent failure on the T44s. This takes
about five hours and is much better done with another person if you are going
to DIY.

martino wrote:
> 1987 Audi 5000s Coolant Leak..
>
> Recently, my 1987 Audi 5000 needed the upper radiator hose replaced.
> (exploded).
>
> After changing/flushing the coolant, there was still a loss somewhere.
>
> I finally discovered the problem and it seems to be located under the
> dashboard.
>
> I am speculating that it must be the heater core and/or the heater
> hoses leading up to the heater core, because it only looses coolant
> when I use the heater and/or air conditioner.
>
> Question: how hard the access to these components?
>
> Any input is greatly appreciated!
>
> Thks,
> martino-

 

"martino" <jhl@x.vgf> wrote in message
news:h4rti1t8mvt8cn8scm7nqm4ecnj09u25fa@4ax.com...
> 1987 Audi 5000s Coolant Leak..
>
> Recently, my 1987 Audi 5000 needed the upper radiator hose replaced.
> (exploded).
>
> After changing/flushing the coolant, there was still a loss somewhere.
>
> I finally discovered the problem and it seems to be located under the
> dashboard.
>
> I am speculating that it must be the heater core and/or the heater
> hoses leading up to the heater core, because it only looses coolant
> when I use the heater and/or air conditioner.
>
> Question: how hard the access to these components?

With some difficulty, I fear It does sound like the heater core. The
problem is that the core itself (which is basically a small radiator about
12 inches by 6 inches) is completely within the heater box, which houses the
whole heater mechanism (flaps etc). You have to get this whole outfit out of
the car, and it has to come out from the plenum chamber behind the engine
bulkhead and in front of the dashboard. So you'll probably find yourself
standing on the engine mountings and heaving it out - what the Haynes manual
describes simply as "withdraw the heater upwards". It can be done, but it's
a pig of a job. The actual changing of the core is easy and then you have to
get the whole lot back in. If it's a hose rather than the core, you *might*
be able to do it without taking the heater box out.

Regards

Jonathan

 

Thanks to for the good input!

I have a pretty good idea now.

A nigthmare would be lying upside under the dashboard on
he drivers side!!!

Just a footnote:

Bot this car for $5000 under sticker in 1987 when CBS was running the
Bad Audi 5000s special "unintended acceleration"

For almost 20 years now, the car has been running perfect, engine
sounds just like new.

In fact the car runs and handles just like new.

Small stuff like odometer, doorhandles, window switches is no big deal
to me.

Also, never had "unintended accelaration" What happened, besides
causing a number of dealerships go out of business???.....





On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:56:03 GMT, martino <jhl@x.vgf> wrote:

>1987 Audi 5000s Coolant Leak..
>
>Recently, my 1987 Audi 5000 needed the upper radiator hose replaced.
>(exploded).
>
>After changing/flushing the coolant, there was still a loss somewhere.
>
>I finally discovered the problem and it seems to be located under the
>dashboard.
>
>I am speculating that it must be the heater core and/or the heater
>hoses leading up to the heater core, because it only looses coolant
>when I use the heater and/or air conditioner.
>
>Question: how hard the access to these components?
>
>Any input is greatly appreciated!
>
>Thks,
>martino-

 

If the project is something you do not want to tackle or pay others for you
could try the Q&D approach.

Get a can of coolant system stop-leak and dump it in. Might work. We used this
approach for my son's 98 A4 2.8 two years ago and it is still holding.

martino wrote:
> Thanks to for the good input!
>
> I have a pretty good idea now.
>
> A nigthmare would be lying upside under the dashboard on
> he drivers side!!!
>
> Just a footnote:
>
> Bot this car for $5000 under sticker in 1987 when CBS was running the
> Bad Audi 5000s special "unintended acceleration"
>
> For almost 20 years now, the car has been running perfect, engine
> sounds just like new.
>
> In fact the car runs and handles just like new.
>
> Small stuff like odometer, doorhandles, window switches is no big deal
> to me.
>
> Also, never had "unintended accelaration" What happened, besides
> causing a number of dealerships go out of business???.....
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:56:03 GMT, martino <jhl@x.vgf> wrote:
>
>
>>1987 Audi 5000s Coolant Leak..
>>
>>Recently, my 1987 Audi 5000 needed the upper radiator hose replaced.
>>(exploded).
>>
>>After changing/flushing the coolant, there was still a loss somewhere.
>>
>>I finally discovered the problem and it seems to be located under the
>>dashboard.
>>
>>I am speculating that it must be the heater core and/or the heater
>>hoses leading up to the heater core, because it only looses coolant
>>when I use the heater and/or air conditioner.
>>
>>Question: how hard the access to these components?
>>
>>Any input is greatly appreciated!
>>
>>Thks,
>>martino-