New A2 owner. Lots of jobs to do....

Hi and welcome, you have already been given plenty of good info so should point you in the right direction. Your thermostat housing is prone to becoming brittle as I've just found out, if it is anything to do with that then it's a replacement, for a 1.4 petrol it cost me £91 from Audi.
Have faith you have bought a wonderful little car with a great following, nothing is impossible when you have the full support of A2OC's members.

Regards, Mark
The thermostat housing on the Tdi is different to those on the 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines ; simpler pipework locally for one thing. Two bolts to take it off, but it is in a swine of a location adjacent to the alternator. The housing is an angled plastic moulding that bolts onto the lower engine block. Taking it off when it's not been done recently will snap two plastic fingers off that hold the thermostat in place when being installed the 'official' way (thermostat twisted into housing, housing secured onto engine block). When the housing comes off (losing the fingers in the process), the thermostat stays in the block held in place with the o-ring in front. A small flat-blade screwdriver can release the o-ring, then you can pull the thermostat out and replace, but a fair amount of coolant will be lost in this process. G13 (bright pink) coolant at the right concentration is essential - but also make sure when refilling the circuit after everything is replaced that you bleed the radiator (there is a small plastic bleed screw at the right-hand end of the radiator that needs to bubble through with the engine running before securing this then topping up the expansion vessel to the line so that bubbles / airlocks are forced through before the system is sealed).
 
thanks ... I was hoping to get a Towbar a lot sooner then that so may have to resort to a new one. Hope not look a bit pricey .
Notice your up in Carnforth I get up to Preston fairly frequently .
not been to Carnforth for a while .... once went to the stock car circuit on a 49cc SS50 from Preston. Felt like an epic journey at the time, these days so many people travelling the world on small bikes .
I will have to restrain myself from buying another we have several other VAG group cars as it is . Arosa tdi.
caddy mk1
 
Unfortunately the tow bar is one of those parts that seldom becomes available and when they do they are snapped up instantly. Why do you want / need a tow bar?
 
I’m always playing with cars and bikes . So i have a bike trailer . Tip runs of course as well.
i suppose in the main I’ve just got used to having a Towbar so feel a bit under dressed without one !
 
Perhaps you do not know the nick name for the A2. it is TARDIS for its internal capacity. You would be surprised just what some have fitted inside their cars. The rear seats can be removed completely making the back almost van like.

Have a read of this thread.


OK not going to safely carry a bike inside but you get the idea.
 
thanks ... I was hoping to get a Towbar a lot sooner then that so may have to resort to a new one. Hope not look a bit pricey .
Notice your up in Carnforth I get up to Preston fairly frequently .
not been to Carnforth for a while .... once went to the stock car circuit on a 49cc SS50 from Preston. Felt like an epic journey at the time, these days so many people travelling the world on small bikes .
I will have to restrain myself from buying another we have several other VAG group cars as it is . Arosa tdi.
caddy mk1
We live near the stock car circuit, lock down has been nice and quiet?. We also have small 125cc motorbikes to enjoy the area.
If you are ever in the area feel free to call in for a cuppa and talk A2's.
Good luck with the TDI
 
Hi just bought a 2001 A2. 1.4tdi
think I might have bought with rose tinted glasses .
It needs a really good clean and then a list of jobs.

—roof console light cover does not hold in.
—fuel switch on door pillar pushed down inside trim - first drive had to use the manual control under RHS rear light cover . Thank goodness for that.
—Flip down cover on bonnet not latching.
—Horrible wear to soft covering on various switches.
—Sunroof doesn’t work— only a motor sound.
—Service light on.
—Wrong wheels.
—Bit of bodywork tidying a scratch on a door and dented bonnet. Interior leather need a clean and feed.
—Radio been taken out leaving a double DIN size hole.
—No towbar!

So why did I buy it ... thought it was a cool older car. I like a challenge and know the 1.4tdi engine from other cars.
it should be reasonable cost to run £30 tax , insurance was ok , fuel ...let’s see.

would appreciate help with locating a towbar.
also thinking to change to 15” pepperpots.

most urgently I need to sort bought it with a water leak which I’ve got to trace.
doesn’t smoke either white or black so I’m guessing not the head gasket . Also seems to pull like the turbo works and no plumes of black smoke so hoping the turbo etc are ok..

I’m in Cheshire so happy to chat and take any advice from the more knowledgeable.
Welcome and keep asking the questions - as the saying goes, the only dim questions are the ones you don't ask ...
You've also got 2 knowledgeable A2 experts not too far away from you: Depronman, and Timmus, who have both been a great help to me over the years.
 
Thanks Trevor I have had a great response to my questions.
Totally agree always good to ask questions and get responses . If you know more than someone else most people get pleasure from sharing and helping. I do when I know about something ... but im very much at the novice stage with my understanding of A2s . All the reassuring information and comments have relaxed me about the problems I spotted after I handed over the money for the car !
 
...
im starting with the basics of making sure it’s safe and not going to fail dramatically.

so it’s the coolant leak/potential overheating . Brakes . tyres, anything else I spot related to MOT fails.
ive checked the previous history so I know the advisories from last year
anyone else do that ? I always do it before I think about looking at a car.
...

If the coolant isn't actually coolant (at the right concentration), then it will probably leak even if everything else is perfect simply because as @audifan said above, the correct concentration of G12/G13 (pink) freezes lower and boils higher than water. Consequently, if you have mostly water, and the engine is run until it is hot, even a good expansion vessel lid will leak (pink residue) as the internal pressure valve releases over-pressure caused because of the incorrect bp of the coolant (and consequent inappropriately-high vapour pressure at relatively low temperatures).

MOT history check is the first thing I do on anything. I think everyone I know does this except for those who only buy used approved 3yo on some form of finance where there is no MOT history because it is inside the window.
 
Even with good or repaired MOT history we are finding more and more lower front wishbones totally corroded out. Yes MOT should pick it up but there have been m,any cases of recent full MOTs with rotten wishbones. As always buyer beware, but buyer be knowledgeable is far better.

The early cars left the factory wish cast wishbones fitted, but over the years if the ball joint failed then the whole wishbone would need to be replaced although the wishbone itself does not corrode. The later cars left with pressed steel wishbones and these are the ones that do corrode although on these versions the ball joints are replaceable.
 
Thanks for the comments . I’ve moved on a bit . Ordered a clip for the service hatch. Hopefully located some wheels and a Towbar. I’ve got a timing belt and water pump kit on the way.
Car will be in tomorrow or next day for belt and pump. I will let the garage confirm but I’m fairly comfortable it’s that. Once it’s back will have a look at other stuff. I’ve added a pic . I’m probably going to move this to a project thread at some point at mrbroons suggestion . Maybe once it’s back without a water leak . The other thing I forgot to mention was that as water temp rose I didn’t get heat from heater so that also suggests it’s either air locked or not flowing around the water system( i think ? )
IMG_3185.jpg
 
Thanks for the comments . I’ve moved on a bit . Ordered a clip for the service hatch. Hopefully located some wheels and a Towbar. I’ve got a timing belt and water pump kit on the way.
Car will be in tomorrow or next day for belt and pump. I will let the garage confirm but I’m fairly comfortable it’s that. Once it’s back will have a look at other stuff. I’ve added a pic . I’m probably going to move this to a project thread at some point at mrbroons suggestion . Maybe once it’s back without a water leak . The other thing I forgot to mention was that as water temp rose I didn’t get heat from heater so that also suggests it’s either air locked or not flowing around the water system( i think ? ) View attachment 81924
Love the look of the stealth machine, look forward to another great A2 project thread.
 
Hmm . The wheels are going to be replaced with 15s but I might get them redone black . It does look a bit different with the colour coded wheels .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hmm . The wheels are going to be replaced with 15s but I might get them redone black . It does look a bit different with the colour coded wheels .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Normally I'm not a big fan of the black on black look but your A2 suits it well, I'd say keeping that match is a good idea.
 
Thanks for the comments . I’ve moved on a bit . Ordered a clip for the service hatch. Hopefully located some wheels and a Towbar. I’ve got a timing belt and water pump kit on the way.
Car will be in tomorrow or next day for belt and pump. I will let the garage confirm but I’m fairly comfortable it’s that. Once it’s back will have a look at other stuff. I’ve added a pic . I’m probably going to move this to a project thread at some point at mrbroons suggestion . Maybe once it’s back without a water leak . The other thing I forgot to mention was that as water temp rose I didn’t get heat from heater so that also suggests it’s either air locked or not flowing around the water system( i think ? ) View attachment 81924
I heat from heater could well be a problem with the flaps, which control the ratio of hot and cold air to match the set cabin temp.
If the hot flap doesn't open, you only get cold air, despite the heat exchanger being hot. probably
VCDS Scan will tell you if this is the case (and a lot more, probably).
Mac.
 
Interesting comment about the heater flaps. I noticed that their is what looks like window glass in the front footwell and a crunchy sound when the heater fan is on full belt .. so I suspect that it’s had a screen . Will see if there is any clues to that. May well have to take to heater ducting out and see if there is debris in there. any help on how I access the pollen filter ? I presume one should be fitted just can’t see how yet .
 
Back
Top