2001 Audi A4 V6 -- P0118 code

I took a few photos of where I thought it was....posted below.

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acc to my 1998 family album the ECT should be located on top of cooling water manifold outlet from right cylinder bank (left side when standing in front of car). So if this isn't changed on the 2001 model you should be looking in the correct area.

but acc. to the article

it's not easy to spot, and change either hope this is of any help...

regards ottar t

Thanks. I know when to give up...:-) I had looked at the link you provided already and found the one sensor, but was unable to find the blue one...Audi had to have moved it from the link you provided, because I was looking immediately underneath the hard plastic piece and there wasn't anything there.

I called a small independent shop in Denver and they are going to look at it on Tuesday....he said when that code comes up, it could also be the thermostat...so, rather than me changing parts that might not need to be changed, I will just take it in.

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If it is the thermostat, then you may want to consider splurging - and I do mean splurging - for the T.B., water pump, tensioners, etc if it has been more than 50-60,000 miles since that service was done.

I am new to Audi's (been driving Japanese cars for the longest time)......there must be a TON of labor involved in replacing the thermostat??? When I replaced the thermostat on the Japanese cars, it was usually pretty easy, I am guessing the Audi's aren't.

I can already $ee the cost ....... thanks for the tip...... the car has 55,000 miles on it and I planned to keep it to 75,000 miles. At that time, I plan to trade it on the 2.0L A4 coming out this Spring...I want to give Audi a chance to work out the bugs before I buy that one.

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I let my T.B. go until 73,000 miles. My '98 A4 V6 2.8 has a 90,000 mile interval in the maintenance manual but I believe Audi has reduced that interval since. When I had it done I also had the water pump, thermostat, tensioners and serpentine belt replaced and oil leaks fixed to the tune of $1200 total at a good independent. I think the oil leak portion of that was about 1/3. I believe the labor for the thermostat is almost as much as that for the T.B. because you have to do much the same work to get at the dang thing. I suspect you'll find that problem is the sensor since it seems to be a common replacement item. Ironic you should be coming to Audi from Japanese, I expect to be going in the opposite direction in a year or two. I've had Audis for nearly twenty years so time for a change. If you haven't done so already, you should check out Audiworld.com. There's a wealth of info in the searchable forum archives.

That is why I had planned to trade my A4 at 75,000 miles.

BTW, the interval from the dealer and the manual say timing belt replacement on 2.8L 30V V6 is 105,000 miles. Of course, I would never take it that far.

And, I hope you are right about the problem being the sensor.

I live in Colorado and the quattro is just so sweet. The front wheel drive cars I have had (Accord, Integra, ES300) just didn't get around well in the winter. I feel like I can go anywhere in my A4. I actually have been looking at the Infinity G35X, but I don't like the interior at all--bottom line, I really like the Audi A4.

As for the Audi forums, been there, actually had a post there also.

Off to the dealer on Tuesday to (hopefully) replace the ECT sensor and nothing else...:-)

Thanks again for the help. L8R.

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Whan I bought my A4 2.6 towards the end of 1996, I remember the dealer telling me that the introduction of the 2.8 30v was delayed because of the significant number of belt failures in testing, before 60k!

Perhaps by 2001 (my model year), they addressed that issue??

Like I said, if I were to keep the car, I would replace the belt at

75,000 miles...but, I plan to get the new A4 with the 2.0L turbo in about a year. -

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Indeed - but if they struggled to reach 60k reliable miles, I wouldn't trust it much beyond that distance.

I thought the 2.8 v6 30v was chain driven?

Steve.

Chains between the cams on the head. Belt from crank to cams.

Update: ECT sensor was bad....$230 later....ouch.

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