Well off the top of my successful MOT pass yesterday and piping up about how wonderful Enzo has been over the years, he's thanked me by displaying the classic signs of thermostat failure

On the way out to pick my wife up from her Xmas doo last night I noticed about 10 mins into my journey the temp needle hadn't moved. By the time I got on to the A46 it had moved to a little under quarter and didn't really move upwards until I got to the pub carpark then once on the move again and back on the duel carriages it went back down to just above the "C". Does this sound like the thermostat or could it be a fault with the gauge? I've had a scan through the forum pages and it seems that my problem is tallying up with a few others.

If it is the thermostat will it be safe to drive? Will there be any damage to the engine?

gadge said:

If it is the thermostat will it be safe to drive?

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It'll use more fuel, others have said it could cause HG to fail due to low heat cycle or something, but not to sure about this.

Whats the heater output like? Tepid or scalding hot?

Hi MEP once the needle did eventually move the heater was blowing hot but not scolding it was set at "HI" but seemed to be dispensing heat nicely just took ages to get any heat from it. I forgot to mention that as I suspected it might have been the thermostat I reset my MPG comp and it showed around 36-37 MPG which I thought was about normal?

I'ld like to get it done ASAP but realistically it won't be for at least a couple of weeks but I got a date with a sausage next Sunday with the FIATFORUM and it'll be a good 50 mile round trip at least

Just curious peat did you change yours yourself? I'm reading a lot of people saying its abit of a devil to change?

The 1.4 I changed it on was a walk in the park, but I've heard similar about it being a bit of a pig on the 2.4. Same applied only my 1.6 JTDm Bravo also I believe so I dread when that goes

Ok I've ordered a new one via the tinternet as my local motor factors computer threw up two part codes and only one of them had a picture which had a different fitting comming from it stangely so couldn't commit to ordering it. Soooo a quick scout on eBay and I found one which is identical to my one and at £66 delivered was a few quid cheaper than the motor factors cheapest one too.

Also worth mentioning that I also checked out the coupe/marea thermostat although very similar they are in fact not quite the same. The difference is where the temp sensor is located although I can't see why that would be a problem as I'm sure the connector would reach ..... There a lot cheaper aswell but I didn't want to take the risk.

gadge said:

Ok I've ordered a new one via the tinternet as my local motor factors computer threw up two part codes and only one of them had a picture which had a different fitting comming from it stangely so couldn't commit to ordering it. Soooo a quick scout on eBay and I found one which is identical to my one and at £66 delivered was a few quid cheaper than the motor factors cheapest one too.

Also worth mentioning that I also checked out the coupe/marea thermostat although very similar they are in fact not quite the same. The difference is where the temp sensor is located although I can't see why that would be a problem as I'm sure the connector would reach ..... There a lot cheaper aswell but I didn't want to take the risk.

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****, me bad, should have stressed this before, ONLY GET A GENUINE FIAT THERMOSTAT! They're normally not to much more expensive and will be a quality part, 90%+ of patern part stats are crap and will need replacing after a year or two at best, thats assuming they're not already duff when you get them - and you won't know this until you've painstakingly fitted it.

Oh crap! This ones a facet one though? Do you think that'll be ok?

gadge said:

Oh crap! This ones a facet one though? Do you think that'll be ok?

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Personally I wouldn't risk it, had a big discussion about this in Punto section, and a lot agreed to get OEM stats.

Have you paid for it yet

Yeah I did ...... I did have a browse around facets website and they look pretty liget. I put the idea of a genuine part out of my head because the one I use is a 20 minute blast down the motor way but your right in hindsight I should've just done it :bang:. I bet they don't cost much more either. DOH!

Was it paid for in person or over the phone? If in person and you can't get a refund then I'd give it a try, should have a warranty for a year at least - I feel bad for not saying until you'd ordered it

Most Easterly Pandas said:

I feel bad for not saying until you'd ordered it

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Oh Jesus don't feel bad it ain't your fault! I've been fiddling with cars for long enough that I should've known better than to not go to the dealer for sensitive stuff like thermostats. I do feel a little confident with this one though I have heard of facet before thier a well known established company who do a lot of work with fuel pumps so hopefully I've bought a good un. I guess this would be the ultimate test in genuine verus aftermarket

gadge said:

Just curious peat did you change yours yourself? I'm reading a lot of people saying its abit of a devil to change?

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Having now got arthritic fingers a VERY good friend did most of the work - 2+ hours -

It was on a 1.9 JTD and required the removal of the EGR, the displacement of the exhaust gas supply pipe and also the manifold inlet feed displacement. By displacement I don't mean removal, just unbolting and moving to the side.

My involvement incurred the removal & replacement of engine & battery covers, battery and the dropping of some nuts and washers!

The removal of the Exhaust gas supply pipe to the EGR is due to the fact that although the thermostat has only two mounting screws, the lower of the two screws supports the above pipe which is rigid hence the necessity to remove the EGR in order to allow the removal of the thermostat.

I trust that is comprehensible and helps in some way. BTW Autodata allows for 1 hour R+I - 1.25 for Abarth

I used a VERNET thermostat from France and it was identical to the original so it is possible that they are the suppliers to FIAT.

Thank you peat that is very useful although our engines are very different I think the procedures are quite the same in that they are both in the same area. Its buried a bit but once the clips and hoses are off it shouldn't be too hard to get at........ (He says! )

Do you think I should change the temp sensor too? Logic says that perhaps I should?

gadge said:

Thank you peat that is very useful although our engines are very different I think the procedures are quite the same in that they are both in the same area. Its buried a bit but once the clips and hoses are off it shouldn't be too hard to get at........ (He says! )

Do you think I should change the temp sensor too? Logic says that perhaps I should?

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They are only cheap aren't they? May as well whilst you have your hands dirty mate.

eBay says there between £18-22? Not sure what the dealers charge? I think I might get one. It's a doddle to change when the thermostats in your hand

I thought they were cheaper haha!

I might well try MVC on the way home from work and see if their cheaper....... I'm gonna try and do it Saturday so it's done for "sausage Sunday" however I'm on the razz Friday night so I'm not sure weather the smell of used antifreeze on a cold Saturday afternoon with a belly full of stale beer is a good idea?