Where do you find the thermostat on a 1996 Audi Cabriolet?

Answer 1

1996 Audi CABRIOLET THERMOSTAT OF 2.8L V 6

Finding it and replacing it are two different questions. You cannot see it without removing parts. The thermostat housing is bolted to the front of the engine, behind the belts, and attached by two 10mm bolts. The housing is ukalele (sp?) shaped, pointing down and toward the passenger side. You can see the bottom end which has two hoses attached, low on the passenger side of the car. The bottom radiator hose is one of them.

To find it you must remove the plastic cosmetic "beauty" cowling that covers the top and front of the engine. There are plastic screws on the top part.

1) Now you can see the serpentine belt. Make note of its pattern, or photograph it before you proceed. You will probably enjoy some working room, which you can easily get if you remove the fan housing from the radiator. Then there will be plenty of room. (The fan housing is attached by 2 10mm bolts at the top and it will slide up and out if you loosen the top hose and the wires to the fans. The fan wires do not seem to unplug at he fans but you can disconnect them from their attachments under the drivers' side headlight, by removing their two 10 mm bolts. This is most easily done from underneath, so jack the drivers side up enough that you can reach them).

2) To remove the serpentine belt you twist the belt tensioner, (a 17mm socket will work the belt tensioner, by turning it clockwise as you face the engine).

3) Remove the belt tensioner (use a 10mm Allen wrench).

4) Then you can remove the plastic covers for the timing belts. They are attached only by clips and tight fit. Loosen the clips, then remove the drivers side cover first. Now you can see the bolted on portion of thermostat housing, attached with two 10 mm bolts located very close to the timing belt. One high, one low Reaching them is possible, but ridiculous.

You are nearly there, but here is the part that will have you cursing the engineer.

NOTE: I DID ALL OF THE ABOVE TODAY. IF I HAD HAD THESE DIRECTIONS, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN 45 MINUTES SO FAR.

5) Removing the thermostat housing without removing or damaging the timing belt is the tricky part. Some say you can pry it out from behind, some say use a pry bar or turn the engine with a wrench and pull the belt 1/2 off the passenger side pulley to provide that 3/4 inch of room you need to wiggle it free. I AM ABOUT TO TRY THIS AGAIN TODAY 1/19/12!

Note: Timing belt removal supposedly requires a special brace that holds the cranks in position. Very few shops have one. I have marked my belt and each pulley with a marker, just in case.

If the TIMING belt gets broken, I understand that the cost will be over $1400 at a competent shop. I'd have an ugly belt replaced before failure or sell it.

I am not a mechanic, but a DIYer. I can do my Jeep's thermostat in 15 minutes, so I thought it was worth a try. Wish me luck!