Hello.
I think my thermostat is stuck open as the engine is taking ages to warm up.
My commute is mainly stop-start driving and it doesn't get to about half way for a good couple of miles or 10 mins.
I'll try to check the top and bottom hoses warming this weekend but just wondering what people's experience is.
Cheers
Toby

Knackered thermostat is a common Panda thing. Not expensive.

Spike

When its cold weather it takes about 2 miles to reach normal temp, but only about half a mile till the heater is putting out warm air. Both cars reach normal at the same distance from home.

OP problem sounds like a stuck thermostat. Running the engine cold is costing you money so get it sorted.

Ordered a thermostat so will change it. Cheers

Read the GUIDES

Will lose next to no coolant..and keep the matrix full. Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Read the GUIDES

Will lose next to no coolant..and keep the matrix full. Charlie

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I can't find the guide for this?

Unplug and remove the engine ECU. Protect plugs with plastic bags.

Remove coil pack.

You can now see the thermostat. Remove two 10mm head bolts and pull off the housing. Some coolant will escape so do not remove the filler cap. However if you use a clean washing up bowl the coolant "can" be re-used. Pry off the hose clip and east the hose off the stub pipe. The QD bottom hose connectors don't work so don't bother trying.


The new 'stat is sold as a complete unit with gasket. Clean gasket face. One bolt hole is very close to the edge so I used some anaerobic sealant as well (Loctite 518).

Refill the coolant and bleed the heater pipe.

It sounds like the problem is winter to me. (That's assuming you're in the Northern hemisphere!)


The weather outside is colder, so it takes longer to warm up. In addition, you turn on the heater, which sucks more heat out of the engine. So it takes even longer to warm up.

TagSouth said:

It sounds like the problem is winter to me. (That's assuming you're in the Northern hemisphere!)

The weather outside is colder, so it takes longer to warm up. In addition, you turn on the heater, which sucks more heat out of the engine. So it takes even longer to warm up.

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The cooling system is designed to extract heat during a hot summer at a rate faster than the engine can generate heat. In normal weather, with no thermostat valve, this causes the engine to run cold. In cold weather the effect is even more obvious.

DaveMcT said:

The cooling system is designed to extract heat during a hot summer at a rate faster than the engine can generate heat. In normal weather, with no thermostat valve, this causes the engine to run cold. In cold weather the effect is even more obvious.

Click to expand...

TagSouth has a point. As winter approaches a few miles to get a car to be at temperature or ten minutes in stop start traffic is not excessive - particularly if there is longer stopping and shorter driving *and* you have the heater going.

The OP said he was going to check the temperature of the radiator hoses..........

A new thermostat has solved the issue.
Thanks for your help I'm now toasty on my commute.