MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: JoshJaggard on February 20, 2017, 07:59:19 pm

Title: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 20, 2017, 07:59:19 pm
Thermostat stuck open effects??
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: shail on February 20, 2017, 08:12:26 pm
I had mine replaced 2 weeks ago.

Symptoms:
Took quite awhile to get to 90 degrees
On cold days (around 2 degrees) temp would drop to 70 when driving at speed, along with drop in heater temp.  Would creep back up to 90 when in traffic.

Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: AJP on February 20, 2017, 09:06:17 pm
I've noticed mine sometimes drops a tiny bit from 90, maybe only by 1mm or so at the tip of the needle, so indicating about 88 degrees or something.

It never drops any further, and for 95% of a journey it's bang on 90 once up to temp.

I take it this still indicates a dodgy thermostat?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Bigjimknickers on February 20, 2017, 09:23:07 pm
Looks like a common problem, mine chooses when to get to 90deg sometimes stays around 85-88, I've called SE Autoworks for a quote twice now & even went in there to see the fella & heard nothing back yet, I'm expecting it to be around £200 all in?

I'm hoping that replacing this will help improve the fuel economy? Like maybe it's overfueling thinking it's still cold? :thinking:
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: shail on February 20, 2017, 09:33:34 pm
I've noticed mine sometimes drops a tiny bit from 90, maybe only by 1mm or so at the tip of the needle, so indicating about 88 degrees or something.

It never drops any further, and for 95% of a journey it's bang on 90 once up to temp.

I take it this still indicates a dodgy thermostat?

That's how mine was for over a year, just sat slightly below 90.  Then this winter, when we had a bit of a cold snap it started to get a lot worse all of a sudden. 

Its now spot on - sits dead on 90, and gets there a lot quicker than before. 
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: AJP on February 20, 2017, 09:36:07 pm
I've noticed mine sometimes drops a tiny bit from 90, maybe only by 1mm or so at the tip of the needle, so indicating about 88 degrees or something.

It never drops any further, and for 95% of a journey it's bang on 90 once up to temp.

I take it this still indicates a dodgy thermostat?

That's how mine was for over a year, just sat slightly below 90.  Then this winter, when we had a bit of a cold snap it started to get a lot worse all of a sudden. 

Its now spot on - sits dead on 90, and gets there a lot quicker than before.
Was that the main stat? And what sort of price are we talking for the work?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 20, 2017, 09:48:47 pm
I've been quoted £140 all in
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 20, 2017, 09:49:44 pm
I had mine replaced 2 weeks ago.

Symptoms:
Took quite awhile to get to 90 degrees
On cold days (around 2 degrees) temp would drop to 70 when driving at speed, along with drop in heater temp.  Would creep back up to 90 when in traffic.


Any difference after having it done?
Mpg Etc?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Bigjimknickers on February 20, 2017, 09:53:00 pm
I've been quoted £140 all in
Where was that then?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Red leader on February 20, 2017, 09:57:21 pm
I've just had my main stat replaced, got the car 2 weeks ago and was getting only to about the quarter mark on temp gauge and about 17mpg. Now it takes 5-10 min to get to 90 degrees and mpg is up to about 25mpg around town. I'm going to do the 2 inline temp gauges as well soon and replace the left rear sticking caliper. So mpg should increase even more,hopefully.
Also paid £120 from an independent in Manchester.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 20, 2017, 10:05:35 pm
I've been quoted £140 all in
Where was that then?
Just my local garage,
I would have guessed changing this may help the mpg a little? As it will more than likely run rich in fuel?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: SlapdingVW on February 20, 2017, 10:21:18 pm
Recently had mine changed after it got stuck open. Who'd have thought it would be such a PITA job to change a thermostat   :stupid:

Anyway as others have said the coolant takes a long while (>15 mins) to reach 90deg if it even gets there at all. Mine sat around the 70 degree mark whilst moving, then would creep up to just below 90 at a standstill before dropping down again. Also noticed a slightly lower mpg, although nothing too drastic... maybe 5mpg lower than normal.

I also had a couple of "fuel system too lean at idle" codes logged, however this may not have anything to do with it as my hpfp happened to break around the same time as my thermostat.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 20, 2017, 11:41:17 pm
Recently had mine changed after it got stuck open. Who'd have thought it would be such a PITA job to change a thermostat   :stupid:

Anyway as others have said the coolant takes a long while (>15 mins) to reach 90deg if it even gets there at all. Mine sat around the 70 degree mark whilst moving, then would creep up to just below 90 at a standstill before dropping down again. Also noticed a slightly lower mpg, although nothing too drastic... maybe 5mpg lower than normal.

I also had a couple of "fuel system too lean at idle" codes logged, however this may not have anything to do with it as my hpfp happened to break around the same time as my thermostat.
Yes, my mechanic quoted me 2 hours for this thermostat, crazy!
Mine will only get to 90 if town driving, or slower driving
When on main roads it can get as low as 65ish
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: pudding on February 21, 2017, 09:51:02 am
From my logging days, I noticed that lambda control kicks in at 25 deg water temp, so it shouldn't over fuel for too long.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Dan_FR on February 21, 2017, 10:08:53 am
Don't forget guys that indicated temp as displayed on the clocks does not correspond with the actual temp. The '90' on the clocks is anywhere from 75 degrees C to over 100 degrees C

So if you see ANY deviation from the 90, then your car is likely to be 15+ degrees away from ideal temperature. A fully functional thermostat should keep the actual temperature around the 91 mark + or - 3 degrees C, maybe a little more on occasion.

An indicated 70 on the dash is more like 60 degrees C actual temperature from memory.

Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Ripstop on February 21, 2017, 12:02:48 pm
I can only wholeheartedly agree with all the posters saying that the main thermostat does appear to fail slowly over time. My Eddy is 10 years old and is showing all the symptoms described above. When I first bought the car it was ok but after a while I noticed the temp dropping on cruising on motorways, coasting downhill and in cold weather never getting above an indicated 85 unless I was in traffic.

The gauge doesn't appear to be that accurate either as the real water temperature appears to be +- 10 degrees or so as @Dan_FR (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=9513) quoted. The hidden Aircon control (option 19.2) I think shows a more accurate temperature from the cylinder block and I have seen it as low as 65. The fans do kick in correctly once the temperature does get above 89-90 degrees and never gets hotter.
I do think there also maybe a minor adjustment in fuelling as the temperature is never ideally at 90 ish but that's only wishful thinking about my petrol consumption not being more than about 30mpg which is normal for an un-tuned Eddy  :smiley:

I just hate it not being at 90 all the time.
All in all its booked in to be changed along with the the ubiquitous noisy cam chain and tired tensioner.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: neilw on February 21, 2017, 12:24:09 pm
Having only had my ED30 4 days I've noticed that the temp gauge tends to sit at about the 70-degree mark maybe just over. I'm guessing from reading on here that that isn't quite right? I'm going to be changing my cambelt and water pump soon so might as well put a new thermo in while the coolants drained?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: AJP on February 21, 2017, 03:27:34 pm
Having only had my ED30 4 days I've noticed that the temp gauge tends to sit at about the 70-degree mark maybe just over. I'm guessing from reading on here that that isn't quite right? I'm going to be changing my cambelt and water pump soon so might as well put a new thermo in while the coolants drained?
Yeah, that's far from right. Get a new stat in while it's in for the belt.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: pudding on February 21, 2017, 04:43:31 pm
All you need to know is this:  If the needle does not point bang on 90, it's not right. 

VW engineered the needle sit exactly in the middle (to mitigate customer paranoia) within the large temp range Dan FR quoted.   If it's pointing at 80 or as low as 70, it's seriously overcooling and should be dealt with when you get the chance.

Don't tell anyone this, but I was driving along yesterday staring at the needle, and noticed it wasn't pointing north anymore.  I only replaced the thermostat last summer, so I started to get a bit angry.  Then I realized I was looking at the fuel gauge  :grin:  Anyone else done that?!   
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Bigjimknickers on February 23, 2017, 07:00:14 pm
Still waiting for my quote on the thermostat (SE autoworks) not impressed really, shame as I'm local & read good reviews :doh:
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 23, 2017, 07:15:04 pm
Had my thermostat replaced today, stays on 90
And seen an improvement of around 4mpg
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: slix on February 23, 2017, 08:42:34 pm
Mine never gets to 90 anymore.  Only if stopped in traffic.  Once moving again it drops back to 70/80.

Does the main stat going wrong cause this? Or could it be one of the other 2 seeing as I have a dsg.

I'm guessing the main stat causes 90% of these problems listed?
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Bigjimknickers on February 23, 2017, 09:14:47 pm
Had my thermostat replaced today, stays on 90
And seen an improvement of around 4mpg
I'd love to see that on mine!
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: JoshJaggard on February 23, 2017, 10:50:03 pm
Mine never gets to 90 anymore.  Only if stopped in traffic.  Once moving again it drops back to 70/80.

Does the main stat going wrong cause this? Or could it be one of the other 2 seeing as I have a dsg.

I'm guessing the main stat causes 90% of these problems listed?

Mines a manual, but I just got the main thermostat replaced, I had identical problems do you and has solved it, but not sure if it would be any different for a dsg? The car runs smoother now as well
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: AJP on March 05, 2017, 03:08:24 pm
Slight thread resurrection, and a question:

Can a dodgy thermostat cause any performance loss? Mine has always had good days and bad days, but since I've noticed the needle dropping it's felt a little flat.

I'm not ruling out a bit of a boost leak somewhere - it's been on a rev G DV for 18 months now, a while at Stage 2, so there's a chance that's starting to split.

Could be something completely unrelated of course. Think the old girl needs a bit of TLC!


Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: slix on March 05, 2017, 04:13:35 pm
Slight thread resurrection, and a question:

Can a dodgy thermostat cause any performance loss? Mine has always had good days and bad days, but since I've noticed the needle dropping it's felt a little flat.

I'm not ruling out a bit of a boost leak somewhere - it's been on a rev G DV for 18 months now, a while at Stage 2, so there's a chance that's starting to split.

Could be something completely unrelated of course. Think the old girl needs a bit of TLC!

I read somewhere a while ago that you don't get 100% of performance till the car has warmed up fully. I may be wrong though. And yeah check your dv as could be a slight tear.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: slix on March 05, 2017, 04:14:05 pm
Anyone have the part number for the MAIN thermostat? Cheers.
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Shoduchi on March 05, 2017, 04:16:09 pm
Anyone have the part number for the MAIN thermostat? Cheers.
06F121111H

O-ring: 06B121119B
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: Rogue5 on March 05, 2017, 04:54:12 pm
Had my thermostat replaced today, stays on 90
And seen an improvement of around 4mpg


+ 1 on the above....warms up quicker and gets to 90 now for me, far better than previously (struggled to get it over 70 and sat at 60 most of the time  :scared:) and with better mpg too  :happy2:
Title: Re: Thermostat stuck open
Post by: neilw on March 05, 2017, 05:16:05 pm
I replaced mine yesterday, as the car wasn't getting to 90. Its a PITA of a job. It was more effort and time doing the thermostat than the cambelt which my mate did for me yesterday morning too. We had all sorts of cooling pipes off, an inter cooler hose, the throttle body just to get access. It took him from 8am until 13:30 to do the belt, water pump and thermostat

The car now feels much better, It feels more powerful and running very smoothly. I also changed my PCV as well so this could of also had an effect.