Hi to you all

We have a 2013 cabriolet with 75k on the clock and a full Audi service history, owned her for about a month now and are enjoying the open top driving so much.

However, recently on a long run back from relatives the coolant level indicator came on, so stopped and checked the level and needed to top her up with 1/2 a litre of coolant, bought at the garage I stopped at.

2 weeks later, the coolant level indicator came on again, only this time telling us to stop immediately and turn the engine off, we did this and checked the level again, only this time it was right at the bottom of the coolant reservoir.

My question is, are there any known problems with the coolant levels on this model, I cannot see any obvious leaks or wet patches when I move the car from a standing position off my drive.

 

Any help will be gratefully received, we really love this car and my wife - who owns the car wants to make we can sort out the issue.

 

Thanks in advance for any help

 

 

Don't forget your consumer law. If the item (car, TV etc) goes faulty in the first 6 months of purchase it is assumed the fault was there when you purchased it, therefore you're entitled to a refund. So the dealer you bought it from should fix this. 

If you've bought it on finance (even partially) then you could ring your finance company, explain the situation and tell them "the vehicle isn't fit for purpose" and as such you want to end the finance agreement. 

This should get the finance company to get involved and hopefully sort it quicker. As let's be honest, a finance company has a bigger legal team than you or I. 

Besides this: 

Are the carpets wet? If so could be a leaking heater matrix. 

Could be caused by a cracked expansion tank. 

Failed expansion tank cap. 

Is there any white smoke out of the exhaust? 

Is there any mayo looking substance whee you'd put oil in? 

Hi Steve
Thank you for the reply

No mayo on the oil filler cap, no smoke out the exhaust, carpets are dry.

We do have a very good 6 months warranty on the car, so will speak to the dealer. 

The expansion tank cap seems to seal well, I will also check for a crack.

Odd question this, when we use the A/C, could that be a part of the problem, or are they completely separate systems.

 

Thanks again

Well done for having a look. Glad carpets are dry and no mayo. 

Yep separate systems. The AC system will leak water out to some degree. 

Glad you've got a warranty. You keep putting pressure on the dealer to sort. Please keep us posted on how you get on 🙂

Thanks Steve,

 

Ill let you know how I get on.

 

 

Hi All

Finally found the time to get our A3 1.2 TFSI into a local mechanic for the issue to be looked at.,  and told them about the problem.

So, the out come is this, no coolant leaks found.

They conducted a full coolant system pressure test, checked the expansion bottle for leaks, checked all the pipes and clamps, the water pump, and checked all the bolts as well.

No coolant leaks at all, the outcome was just general advice, check the levels weekly/monthly depending on the distance driven or will be driving. 

So, if anyone suffers the same type of issue, and can find a problem please keep the forum updated, it will of great interest to me as well.

If I learn anything new, I will of course update as well.

Thank you all for help and advice.

If the car has a EGR (exhaust gas recycle) valve it is common for its cooling jacket to leak water into the engine and out of the exhaust, which is why you won't see an external water leak. For some unknown reason a pressure test does not reveal this problem.

Hi Cliiford.

 

Thanks for the update, as you can imagine, I will be keeping an'eye' on things in this area.

 

My wife loves her A3, and it took me nearly 2 months to find this one, and with a bit of good luck we will be keeping her for a long time.