Just checked Bentley manual (D 19-10) to make sure.
You have to remove the front end, serpentine belt, and timing belt to get at it.
That is alot of (read expensive) labor for a twenty-some dollar part.
Depending on your mileage (60k+) I'd recommend doing the timing belt, waterpump, tensioner roller, serpentine belt, thermostat, fan switch, and snub mount all at the same time - have the seals check for oil leaks at the cams, too.

 

Yup. Some genius buried a failure-prone component in an inaccessible location.

Personal exprience, 1996 Audi A4 2.8 (12 valves, but similar block to 30 valver): OEM thermostat stuck closed at the 8-year mark, and the first owner had the good sense to have the timing belt and tensioners replaced at the same time. Two years later, the new thermostat also stuck closed. Argh!

 

Are you kidding...all that work to change a simple thermostat? What the hell were they thinking installing the t-stat there?! :crazy: The t-belt was replaced 3 years ago when the cam tensioner and valve cover gaskets blew out. This just seems weird that a t-stat failure isn't more common.

Am I just getting famaliar with this car and its unbeleiveable in some of its design...when I was pulling apart the PCV system I couldn't believe they don't use the regular ball check valves which are simple and get the job done. Instead they install a plastic check valve with a rubber diaphram that completely fell apart and allowing the lines to get all gummed up and no codes were thrown.

 

The termostat is a bitch to get at in the V6 30V but not the worst, you for sure need to be in service position, you need to remove the following:
Remove serpantine bet, remover serpantine belt tensioner, remover the upper serpantine pully, remove the crank pulley, remove timing belt covers, compress timing belt tensioner, remove timing belt, then you should be able to remove the upper rad hose from the front of the block and access the thermostat, be sure when you replace it that the o-ring is on the outside of the thermostat not the inside (ask how I know) replace everthing, make sure your timing belt is still aligned the same and bleed the coolant system...

TALK ABOUT A PIA! Might as well get a timing belt kit and do the whole shemazzle while you are in there.. be sure and replace the rollers too!!

 

He should have to take all that off just the serp belt and the TB covers and pull that hose off the block and its 2 10mm bolts...but yes PUT THE GASKET ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE THERM. but yes if you doing all that change the Tb and everything with it. PS ask Gravles for the bar..it will save you life

 

Sold-a-lated the bar but it was the best *tear*....

 

Dam I would have gotten that bar...me and oille have great times with that bar

 

It is somewhere in the heartland of Quebec now...
Parting was such sweet sorrow...

 

Now thats a fun city to go too...the roads are unreal with the stone and the Beer....Hmmm your Beer is unreal up there too. but I have a few matches up there for MMA...great place:thumbup:

 

For sure Quebec City is a wicked city! And good beer all over this country... Get up to Ottawa and I will show you some awesome beers, awesome hockey and a good old Canadian time...
Can we drag this thread any further off topic??

 

So is there a write-up some where that i could follow? I still can't beleive where they put the thermostat.

 

PM me if you want more info on how to do it yourself and we will chat...

 

There used to be an excellent write-up on audiworld.com - I think it was under the A4 section, but the procedure is the same for the A6 (and 2.7T motor too?) and the Passat 2.8 30valve

 

http://phatcat_ed.tripod.com/V6.htm for my v6 timing belt encounter.

 

Phatcat's is great, I reccomend that one big time!