1997 Audi a4. Replacing thermostat. Can't get the housing off due to Cam belt in the way. How do I remove the belt? It's not the belt that runs off the alternator. It's a wider belt. Not sure what bolt is the tensioner bolt.

Line up the timing marks starting with the crankshaft pulley. Rotate the crankshaft clockwise until the marks line up. - See more at: http://www.happywrenching.com/a4/audi-a4-b5-28l-v6-timing-belt-replacement-removal-and-installation.html#sthash.FZPABPk1.dpuf

Hello,

The thermostat of a 2002 audi a4 is located between the engine and the radiator. The thermostat is small and crucial. It is meant for the vehicles cooling system. It moderates the flow of coolant into the engine by releasing it when the engine need it the most. The thermostat is designed to open its valve once the temperature of the engine reaches about 200 degrees F. Its purpose is to keep the engine running at a consistent temperature, allowing your Audi A4 to operate at peak performance.

If You are planning on replacing the thermostat, here are the steps to follow to replace them, try to get these instruments (Car ramps, 4-by-4 inch wood block, Metric socket wrench set, Socket extension, Pliers, Drain pan, Empty plastic container, Black marker, Towel, Emery cloth, Gasket seal) then follow the steps below:

1. Raise the front end of your Audi A4 by driving up on a set of car ramps and placing your vehicle in park.
2. Place a 4-by-4 inch wood block behind one of the rear tires to keep the vehicle from rolling backward.
3. Use a socket wrench to remove the pan that covers the bottom of the engine.
4. Locate the red plastic cap that was behind the pan that you just removed. This red cap is your radiator drain plug. Remove the radiator cap from the top of the radiator and then place a drain pan under the red drain plug and turn it with a pair of pliers to allow the coolant to drain completely from the radiator. Once the coolant has completely drained, turn the drain plug to close it off. Be careful when using the pliers on the drain plug that you do not snap the plug off.
5. Slide under the vehicle and locate the thermostat housing that is sitting just above the oil pan drain plug. Pour the drained coolant from the drain pan into an empty plastic container and label the container so that you do not reuse the expelled coolant. Place the empty drain pan under the thermostat housing before you attempt to remove the housing to allow the coolant from the engine to drain into it.
6. Remove the 10 mm bolts that hold the thermostat housing on the engine block with a metric socket wrench. Do not lay directly underneath the thermostat housing as the coolant from the engine will begin to drain as soon as you loosen the bolts on the housing. Keep a towel or cloth with you to clean off any spilled coolant .
7. Remove the thermostat housing from the engine and lift the old thermostat out of the housing. Use a piece of emery cloth to clean the face of the thermostat housing and the engine block where the housing is mounted from any remaining gasket material or debris.
8. Spread a layer of gasket seal around the face of the thermostat housing and place the new thermostat on the housing, with the thermostat spring facing out from the housing. Position the housing back on the engine block and secure it to the block with the bolts.
9. Replace the pan the sits across the bottom of the engine of your Audi A4 and then refill the radiator with coolant and put the radiator cap back on the radiator. Remove the wood block from the back tire of your vehicle. Turn the engine on and drive the Audi A4 off of the car ramps. Allow the engine to run at idle for a few minutes to verify that the thermostat is working properly and then shut the engine off.

Hope this helped. Thank You for using FixYa!!!

Yo remove and replace the thermostat on your audi Go to the link below and it will give you step by step directions.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?chapterTitle=Engine+Mechanical&partName=Engine+And+Engine+Overhaul&pageId=0900c152800c2c41&subChapterTitle=Thermostat&partId=0900c152800c2b1a

Good Luck

You did it the right way. If you tried to make a full cam revolution you would have hit the pistons with the valves. Put the lower timing cover and crank pulley back on. If the cam marks are aligned right and the mark on the lower timing cover lines up with the mark on the crank pulley, you're good to go.

On a V6 it's behind the timing belt and the front of the car has to be removed. On a 1.8T follow the radiator hose up to the block on the driver's side. It's in the housing where the hose meets the block.

removal:
1. remove ribbed drive belt
2. lossen toothed timing belt as required (it is not necessary to remove toothed timing belt)
3. unbolt thermostat housing and pull out from below toothed belt

install

the vent valve must be facing up (arrow)
reverse order of removal

The thermostaton a 2.8L V6 audi a4 is located behind the cambelt on the driver side. To reach in you need to remove the fornt bumper, slide the radiator upport frame forwards (dont disconnect anything) remove the driver side cambelt cover, SLACKEN the cambelt SLIGHTLY (DO NOT REMOVE IT) then you can slide the thermostat housing out from behind the cambelt followed ny the thermostat.

the thermostat is located behind the timing belt so you should think about changing the timing belt, water pump, and thermostat. ---- Thermostat is on the back of the cyl head up at the bulkhead, follow top rad hose back and you will find thermostat housing. If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't be attempting it. It involves a lift, draining the coolant, removing the front bumper, putting the core support into the service position, removing the belts, moving the alternator, loosening the mounting plate that supports the fan clutch, power steering pump etc. - all so you can get to the thermostat housing! If you had a Jaguar, changing a thermostat would take less than fifteen minutes. Instead, the Germans audi car made it a four hour job for a professional too.

follow upper radiater hose to where it meets the engine.....the hose it connected to the thermostat housing...take it off and theres ur thermostat

Probably right between the two banks of cylinders, at the front of the V behind the top of the timing case. Not worked on this engine in particular but thats where they usually are on V6's.