Stuck in a parking lot.. Urgent! Coolant light on!! Need help!

[dpc1192]

So my coolant light turned on and I'm stuck in a parking lot.. What do I do? It's a Sunday and I don't know if anywheres open...


Please any suggestions on how to get me home? Argh!

[EBG 18T]

call AAA

[brandn3w]

If you're desperate water can be dumped in for now as I doubt it'll freeze in the SE, but finding that is probably as readily available as 50/50 pre-mixed coolant at a gas station.


If it's not in a bad location...leave it. Come back in the day light where you can maybe SEE coolant leaking or something.


EDIT: Don't use gas station coolant as it's not G12....

[dpc1192]

So water or gas station coolant?

[MmmBoost]

First of all.....have you checked the coolant reservoir to see if you're low on coolant?

it might just be the sensor is dead.

[old guy]

So water or gas station coolant?

If you can still see coolant in the bottom of the reservoir just add a little water to get the light to go off and drive it home. Do not mix anything other than G12 or G12+ with your coolant.

[brandn3w]

First of all.....have you checked the coolant reservoir to see if you're low on coolant?

it might just be the sensor is dead.

Lol...


Good call, and OP don't don't don't don't open your rad cap if the car is hot.


MmmBoost is right. Check your reservoir and if it's low then yes you're draining coolant somewhere somehow.


If you are low on coolant losing it that fast then water is fine. Depends on the temperature there now and what it will be when all is fixed. NE people about now really couldn't use water even as an emergency procedure unless the car was warm and it was drained before it cooled/frooze.

[nananana4k]

If you can still see coolant in the bottom of the reservoir just add a little water to get the light to go off and drive it home. Do not mix anything other than G12 or G12+ with your coolant.

+1 on this. If you mix anything beside water or G12 you may have to flush out your system after. What is your temp down there? If it wont freeze, mix it with some water to get just around the min line.

[Matt@EuropaParts]

Use a little distilled water to get you home, and then check whether you need to add coolant or not. If you do, you'll need G12 (http://www.europaparts.com/audi-genu...-1-gallon.html). But check the reservoir like old guy said before you do anything, it could be a senor as well.

[MmmBoost]

If you are actually low on coolant......i would bet money that your rear coolant flange is leaking. It's right on the top/back of the engine, and a total pain in the ass to fix.

[jpcallmotor]

-Turn off car.
-Pop open the hood.
-Look at the coolant expansion tank in the top right corner.

Are you even overheating, this shouldn't be that hard to diagnose. Check to see if the plug is seated at the bottom of the coolant expansion tank, that will turn the light on also. If there is no G12 in the bottle, then you have a leak somewhere. Likely waterpump, coolant flange, thermostat housing, busted hose, head gasket. It could be anything.

[spector]

Lol...


Good call, and OP don't don't don't don't open your rad cap if the car is hot.

I don't think B6s have radiator caps. I don't have one.

But for most cars, yes, this is true.

[[email protected]]

I don't think B6s have radiator caps. I don't have one.

But for most cars, yes, this is true.

It's not a rad cap, it's the reservoir cap.