2001: A Space Auditiy (Audi A2 content)

[slowmover]

Looks like a good project car: marque, aero test results, and motivated owner.

I’d sure have a hard time complaining about the gearing or engine power (my 7,940-lb/3,573-kg pickup is almost dead slow driven for economy; in sig. TQ peak at 1,200 and HP at 2,700-rpm) as I see diesel-powered vehicles as being totally out of the water in anything but steady-state driving.

I can also see it not being popular.

That said, it appeals to me. A good deal.

These days on the road the smallest car I see regularly is the Ghetto Queen Kia Soul (successor to ‘90s “Ghetto Duke” Pontiac Grand Am, later “Ghetto Princess” Chevrolet HHR, and THE GHETTO KING, the Chrysler PT Cruiser) and virtually everyone is running 67-mph/107-kpm or higher. This is all across the USA (I’m a truck driver). I guess this thing could handle slowing/accelerating for construction, etc, and climbing signed grades.

I think I’d enjoy owning it. Especially telling others, “I have an Audi” (a prestige car. My doctor has an A7, and my son is lusting after a 6).

I’d just slowly wind ‘em on out till at cruising altitude. Irritate all the Kia and pickup drivers to no end. Tell ‘em I fill up once a month or so. That is, if I remember.

Hope you have some fun with it.

.

[320touring]

Well, where to start...

Just taken the A2 over the craw road through fintry.

Caught a chap in a mk7 golf gtd driving a bit silly (crossing white line etc on approach to blind bends etc).

On way out of fintry I passed him and another car on a long straight before starting the climb up the hill.

Took him 5 miles to catch me, then he couldn't keep up downhill..


I enjoyed the drive home immensely, and was starting to warm to the car, then,





have had it on commute for 2 days. 110 miles since last top up. It took 600ml to get back to max.

Unsure what's causing it - no obvious leaks. Consumption seems to increase if driving faster.

Current suspects - waterpump / oil cooler / headgasket or bottle/cap

[320touring]

The plot



It thickens ...



The car was parked up all yesterday - post work pub requiring public transport utilisation.

Got in it this morning (running late, so didn't check the level).

A steady drive up the road at 60-65mph.

Got to within 1 mile of work and



**BUZZER FLASHY RED LEVEL WARNING**

after about 30 secs this went away, and the traction control had a paddy.



I'm thinking

1. The level was low when the car was cold, and reached the trigger level when it was sitting at a particular angle - setting off the alarm.

Or

2. The sensor is failing/affected by the traction control freakery.



I know the car eats water. But how and why have still to be determined.



How I long for the point/carb/air-cooled GSA ..

[320touring]

Temp crept up to 100 as I was climbing out of fintry.

Heater on and fewer fugutty.

Settled back down to 90, then low coolant warning on.

Parked up.

Went to shop.

Came oot.

Still beeping.

Drove hame.

Will investigate once not warm.



I think the HG is awa and it's pressurising the coolant.

I'll try topping it up and bleeding later.

Oil was fine, no mayo at lunchtime.





Regardless it's getting driven to the Airport tomorrow at 3.30am, and parked up whilst we head down south.



I'll make sure there's fluid in the car for when we get back

[320touring]

Last night it seemed to have become a coffee machine, and was making Cortado at an alarming rate..

It was totally empty. Looks like higher RPM causing the issue for 2 reasons:

1. The road home on Thursday was over the hill on the backroad - a no mercy blast utilising whatever the wee tub could give. Plenty time in 2/3/4 at high rpm (3000-4000). It took 25 miles to get the level warning on.

2. When refilling and bleeding, I ran the engine at 2500rpm for a minute with no load. This was the result:



made it do it's best Daniella Westbrook impression



And topped it up whilst using the bleed screw and squeezing pipes.

Then to bed for 4 hrs sleep.

Up at 3.30am

Drove Aldi to airport at max 2200rpm (60mph)

Despite being the most boring trip of evar, it made it without any

BEEEP RED COOLANT LEVEL WARNING*
so now it is time for me to consume beer at a similar rate to the a2's coolant consumption.

[320touring]

Well, point of no return reached..



Drained off some coolant to make space for the steel seal



took the coolant out via the bleed screw on the top hose next to the radiator.

Then it was time to pour it in



Next up was a 30 Min wait for it to idle before switching it off.

Coolant is high but looks clean.

[320touring]

After it has sat a while, I bled it up and drove it home.

Heaters are nice and toasty - I kept them open til the car reached normal operating temp 90degrees on the gauge.



Then I switched off the heater and continued to drive along the motorway.

Got home and this is how it was.


Now I just need to wait until tomorrow and check the coolant level tomorrow when cold.



Current thinking is drive it to work gently on monday- 60/65mph. Then if coolant level looks ok before I come home, I'll give it a rag home over the hill

[Ecky]

How bizarre! I can't help but think "it's an Audi" though.

[320touring]

Performed ok today on shopping duty.



Been and filled the tank, 429 miles on 31.09L, for 62.8mpg(imp)



That's similar to what my old TDI ALH Octavia would do on the same commute, running 130bhp on veg.

Oh, and it still had its headgasket when I scrapped it. Progress, eh?

[320touring]

91.8 miles.



That's all I got before

* BEEEP RED COOLANT LEVEL WARNING*
Super.

**** sake. I was even limiting myself to 2400rpm.