I have an Audi 80 1.9 tdi Engine overheats top and bottom hoses get hot, radiator only gets hot between top and bottom hoses water does not appear to be circulating through radiator. Please help.

It sounds like either a blocked radiator or cylinder head gasket problem

sounds like the thermostat may not be opening.

Check the radiator-it may have blockage. Take it off and turn upside down and flush from the bottom.
If the top hose gets hot, that means the thermostat is opening. The bottom hose should be at least warm, and quite warm if radiator flow is good.

COULD BE THERMOSTAT IF TOP RADIATOR HOSE IS NOT HOT AND BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE GOING TO WATER PUMP IS HOT THE THERMOSTAT STICKING PARTIALLY CLOSE.IF TOP HOSE IS HOT THE RADIATOR,ENGINE BLOCK HEATER CORE NEED FLUSHING OUT.IF WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE LEAKING REPLACE WATER PUMP, FAULTY WATER PUMP WILL CAUSE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT.REPLACE RADIATOR CAP MAKE SURE YOU HAVE 50 / 50 MIX SOLUTION ANTIFREEZE AND WATER IN COOLANT SYSTEM. IF ALL LOOKS GOOD CHECK ENGINE OIL ON DIP STICK, IF OIL IN DIP STICK LOOK LIKE MILKSHAKE YOU HAVE BLOWED HEAD GASKET THAT WILL CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING CAR IN SHORT DISTANCE AND ENGINE OVERHEATING.

dear,

get the radiator, water pump, and radiator hose lines cleaned and checked as the said temperature is too high to choke the engine and breakdown as well

thanx

ENGINE NOT GOING TO START IF GET TOO HOT FIRST THING I WOULD REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP THEN ADD COOLANT UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL CORRECT THATS WHEN THERMOSTAT OPEN UP AND TOP HOSE HOT.CHECK FOR LEAKING RADIATOR HOSES CHECK TOP RADIATOR HOSE CHECK BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE.CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND THE RADIATOR LOOK DOWN BELOW COOLANTS FANS CHECK FOR LEAKS AT RADIATOR CORES OR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR PLASTIC SIDE CONTAINERS. CHECK FOR LEAKS AT WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE AND CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE HEATER HOSES AROUND ENGINE BLOCK TO THE HEATER CORE HOSES. THERE IS A REASON CAR OVERHEAT.IF CAR OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING YOU HAVE FAULTY THERMOSTAT OR LEAKING OUT COOLANT OR BLOWN HEAD GASKET.IF ENGINE OVER HEAT WHILE SITTING DURING A LONG IDLING PERIOD.YOU COULD HAVE FAULTY COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OR FAULTY COOLING FAN FUSE OR RELAY.HOT WIRE COOLANT TO SEE IF IT RUNS IF NO REPLACE FAN MOTOR. IF YES FAN MOTOR COULD HAVE FAULTY WIRE OR PCM FAILURE. CHECK ENGINE CRANKCASE IF OIL LOOKS LIKE MILK SHAKE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING.

Engine over heating can be caused by a number of things. When you say the water pump and radiator appear to be ok I am also guessing that you checked the coolant level to make sure it is normal.

If the level is low then you obviously have a leak. Insufficient coolant circulating will not cool the motor properly because it won't be able to draw enough heat out. If the level is normal then you need to check the thermostat to make sure it is opening properly. To do this, run the motor to temperature and check the top and bottom hoses. They should both be hot and firrm once the thermostat opens meaning the circulation loop is operating properly. If the top is hot and firm and the bottom is cold/soft or collapsed then the thermostat isn't opening.

If the thermostat is operating properly then you ned to look for some other obstruction or cause for coolant loss. Check the head/intake gaskets, hose connections, hoses, over flow tank, radiator fins, radiator side tanks etc..

Good luck.

it may be a little off, but the lower water hose seldom gets very hot,, as its this hose that suplyes the engine with ""cold water"" the hot water comes out the top hose,, drains down the rad and cools on the way down then enters the engine through the bottom hose """if your engine stayes running in the normal place on the gage,,,and not over heating""" why are you spending money for nothing???""
you wont get the bottom hose to run hot unless the engine is cooking

Replace the thermostat and flush the cooling system.

When you mention the radiator having a hot upper in pipe and a cool bottom out pipe tells me that the coolant is not moving around the engine. This could be down to a water pump not working, blocked radiator, thermostat not opening. The bottom hose should be cooler than the top hose but once the engine is up to working temp which is around 85/90 degrees c for an audi the bottom still should be farly hot to touch. Hope this helps