3.2L front coolant pipe

[estomax]

darnit, i managed to break this little nipple off when replacing the cooling fan control module. FYI to anyone doing this job to be very careful with this as now i have to take the belt off and replace the whole 120$ pipe.



Just to confirm, the part number i need is 06E121045E and the seals come preinstalled (autohauz has seperate seals listed but you don't need them). You should however get the seal for the temperature sensor that plugs into the top of the pipe (the parts guy at the dealer recommended that anyway).

Hopefully the local dealer has this in stock so i don't have to wait for shipping.

has anyone else done this? any tips?

Marko

[95blkmax]

Hi Marko,

If you buy the pipe from Audi, the pipe comes WITH the seals at the ends of the pipe already installed. If you haven't yet finished installing the fan assembly, I'd recommend doing this after you replace the pipe. It's not impossible to do with the assembly in place, but it certainly gives you a lot more room to play with.

[estomax]

thanks blkmax, you are right, the seals come pre-installed, just picked it up at a local dealer, on autohauzaz the seals were listed separately, i will correct my first post for that.

what a pain in the arse this pipe is. The o-ringed pipes that plug into the right side require almost superhuman strength to pull off, and the clamps on the hoses are some special design that i don't know how to clamp because i am not able to get this hose back on (and the clamp squeezed). i feel like the connector above needs to come off but that also won't budge, it seems to have two squeeze handles on the bottom but i can't get it to release.

how did you guys squeeze the big hose clamp in the middle to get the center section of the coolant pipe on? needle nose pliers dont seem to do the trick. this is a pretty zoomed in picture of the two issues i am ending the night at.



can i rip that clamp off and just use normal worm clamps?

cheers
Marko

[B. Rock]

I've got a long pair of angled pliers that I used on that hose if memory serves. These here: https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ers-61588.html
Kind of a pain, yes, but I'm not sure I'd want a gear/worm clamp on there instead.

I pulled the upper hose off of the radiator first, then separated it from the crossover pipe once the pipe was removed. Was easier that way, the upper rad hose has much more room and I think a spot for good leverage.

Also, if you're going to the dealer for the pipe, grab new o-rings for the quick connect hoses. For $5 you'll kick yourself if you put those back on an they leak.

[estomax]

thanks BRock, those pliers did the trick on the first try! My needle nose must not have been long/grabby enough. Great way to spend 8 bucks.

Now i just noticed that while replacing the pipe, the other (luckily there is only two..) coolant bleeder nipple has broken off at some point of my working on the front pipe. i guess the lesson here is if the front coolant pipe nipple breaks off, the other one is probably juts as brittle, so replace it.



*facepalm*

Also, does anyone here know if there was a clip of some sort on the temperature sensor? I Don't remember pulling one off but it looks like there should be one to hold it down.



cheers
Marko

[JPJ2007]

I'll try commenting again tommorow but I did the same thing. I took the oppertunity though ( At the time, It had 212k miles ) that I also had the water pump, tensioner, Serp Belt, thermostat and several other things replaced, If it had to come off and wasn't too pricey I went ahead and replaced it with a new one so I didn't have to mess with it before.

You did the diy or not yet?

[estomax]

which DIY? my plan for this car is to replace the stuff thats broken and not get too ahead of myself, the previous owner did a good job staying ahead of things, the serp belt looks very new anyway. I think anything i dig into has a chance of breaking since the plastic is so old, i am crossing fingers that pulling that radiator hose off the radiator didn't damage that.. those o-rings really seize on solid, had to pull with 50+ lbs of force for a while. I am right up with you there with the mileage though.

[B. Rock]

There's supposed to be a jesus clip on that temp sensor, which looks like it's already been removed. That sensor also has an o-ring that likes to stick in place (and smart move is replacing it)

[estomax]

i replaced the o-ring with the coolant pipe, got the memo on that part. now i need to find the part number for that clip on the temp sensor, i either lost it or it had disappeared from before.

[Ford Prefect]

i replaced the o-ring with the coolant pipe, got the memo on that part. now i need to find the part number for that clip on the temp sensor, i either lost it or it had disappeared from before.

**mine is 3.0T but the pipe and nipple looked very similar**

Did you replace it yet? I fixed mine the McGuiver way. She’s holding strong *knocks on wood*.

I bought a brass hose splice and ground one side down until it was a tight press fit. Then heated up the pipe and slide it in. Did that in November and it’s still good.

Probably not for everyone but I wasn’t pulling that stuff again.

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Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[estomax]

I was strongly considering drilling and tapping a threaded brass nipple like you put in, but if the rest of the pipe is pretty brittle too then I was too afraid to do that. Good solution and glad it works! I got it all replaced now, front coolant pipe, upper rad hose, cooling fans, cooling fan module and front snub mount. Did not need to do service position. so much for the cheap Audi lol. Also the insulation fell off wires at the plug to the left of upper radiator hose so I had to electrical tape wrap that up to avoid a short.

[Ford Prefect]

I definitely would’ve replaced the pipe had I not just put it all back together. Smart move on your part!


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[Bonoboz]

Hi guys,
I broke the same nipple when changing the water pump. I ordered a new hose and still trying to remove the broken one. The clamp at the bottom that you had problems with is giving me a hard time too. I have a normal VAG clamp, but i can't fully squeeze it due to lack of space. I have tried everything and i am giving up, can any one help ? Maybe there is pliers that would make it possible without dismounting anything else ?

[jok3sta]

Hi guys,
I broke the same nipple when changing the water pump. I ordered a new hose and still trying to remove the broken one. The clamp at the bottom that you had problems with is giving me a hard time too. I have a normal VAG clamp, but i can't fully squeeze it due to lack of space. I have tried everything and i am giving up, can any one help ? Maybe there is pliers that would make it possible without dismounting anything else ?

I used one of these and it made those clamps a breeze..