Technical Coolant temp - takes ages to warm up.

[Mobi11]

Hi,

Car: Grande Punto 1.4 v8

For some time now I've noticed that when the temperature outside is lower, for example early in the morning, coolant temp will take ages to reach 90deg.

It gets better when ambient temp is higher.

My first guess was thermostat.

Could it be something else, maybe??

Thanks

 

[GrandePunto PL]

Is there any "savoir-vivre" here? People can just litter the forum with multiple threads about same thing with no consequences?
For example thermostat/coolant temperature? https://www.fiatforum.com/search/745704/?q=Grande+Thermostat&o=relevance !

Grande section of the forum has 1220 pages! That's ridiculous number. Insane (one model has so many separate problems/issues?).

 

[Mobi11]

Solved.

It was thermostat. Quite easy job.

Possibly useful notes for whomever come across this topic:

- I didn't use the drain valve as it seemed well stuck (it is a 15 years old car after all) and because it's made of plastic, I rather avoid braking it. I took off the rubber hose on the left from the engine end and slowly drained coolant to the plastic oil catch pan.

- I have replaced all the hose clips for as the old ones didn't seem reusable, so it will be good to have them around before the job.

- It might be just my bad luck, but at first I replaced it with a thermostat bought on eBay for £18 (NTY - CTM-FT-003). The car had even more problems with reaching 90deg temp. Turned out that the new thermostat was faulty and was not closing properly. Replaced this again with another one, this time from local part supplier (HQ - QTH642K) £38 and this one is working perfectly.