Removing and installing coolant distributor housing: Audi A3 (CEPA, CEPB, CTSA, CZGA, …)
Step-by-step removing and installing coolant distributor housing for the Audi A3: 11 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Removing and refitting the coolant distributor housing on the cylinder block, on the platform codes listed below with engine codes CEPA, CEPB, CTSA, CZGA and CZGB. The housing sits low behind the intake manifold, so the upper section of the manifold and the thermostat with its housing come off first. The oil dipstick guide tube is unbolted and pulled off the block to clear the way, the coolant hoses are disconnected, and the distributor housing is unbolted and pulled to the left out of its bore in the cylinder block. It seals with an O-ring, which is renewed. The sealing face in the block must be cleaned and smoothed, and the new O-ring lubricated with coolant so it slides in without rolling or nicking.
🧭 Before you start
Remove the upper intake manifold and the thermostat with housing, unbolt and pull out the dipstick guide tube, and disconnect the coolant hoses. Unbolt the coolant distributor housing and pull it to the left out of the block. Clean the O-ring seat, fit a new coolant-lubricated O-ring, slide the housing into the bore, refit the thermostat and manifold, and fill with new coolant.
Fits: Audi A3 (8V, 2012–2020)
- Opens: coolant
- Renewed: o-rings
Don't miss
- Renew the O-ring and lubricate it with coolant only before fitting.
- Clean and smooth the O-ring sealing face in the block; any ridge causes a slow leak.
- Secure the coolant hoses with the original type of hose clip.
- Do not reuse the drained coolant.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
📋 Procedure
- Remove intake manifold (top section) .
- Remove thermostat with housing .
- Remove bolts (arrows) and pull guide tube (1) for oil dipstick (2) off cylinder block.
- Release hose clips (1, 2) and disconnect coolant hoses.
- Remove bolts (arrows) and detach coolant distributor housing (3) to the left from cylinder block. [Note: Renew O-rings after removing.Secure all hose connections with correct type of hose clips (as original equipment) Electronic parts catalogue.]
- Clean and smoothen sealing surface for O-ring.
- Lubricate O-ring with coolant and slide onto coolant distributor housing.
- Slide coolant distributor housing into bore in cylinder block.
- Install thermostat with housing .
- Install intake manifold (top section) . [Note: Do not reuse coolant.]
- Fill up with coolant .
Other AUDI procedures
- Audi CEPA/CEPB gearbox removal & installation
- Measuring axial clearance of camshaft – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 3 torque figures
- Separating engine from manual gearbox · 1 torque figures
- Removing and installing coolant pipes (front) – Audi A8 D3
- Removing and installing intake manifold (bottom section) with fuel rail · 1 torque figures
- Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
- Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
- Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
- Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
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The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.