Technical Help please

[denk]

Hi all,

I've had a search through previous threads but am having trouble sorting my problem. My 1.4 ie Tipo takes an age to blow hot air out of the fan, which is a pain cos winter has finally set in and I only start to feel the warmth towards the end of my journey to work

I've read that if it starts heating after stopping in traffic it'll be the thermostat, if not then something else(the Matrix?) TBH I can't remember if it heats after waiting in traffic.

What's the advice please, how can I check the thermostat, is it a cheap fix?

I know matrix's are a bugger cos it was a dash out job on my old gti6

Thanks

 

[Christian]

Without wanting to sound like a mechanic mate, yes, it sounds like your thermostat - I have the exact problem at the moment on my 2.0.i.e., unfortunately for me, my journey to and from work is only 12 miles and it won't heat up until the last mile so the Tipo is only doing about 10 miles to the gallon FFS and is costing an absolute fortune - about 5 GBP for 10 miles - I personally have no experience of the thermostat on your model - I just know mine is an absolute tw*t as you will see from my post a few days ago - and I have not found any posts on this site detailing how to do it on your car. We still have Tipo Haynes Manuals for your model in our Halfords though, strangely lol

Can you get a manual for the car?

 

[denk]

No mate, no Haynes manuals where I am. Not too big a deal if I can't do it myself TBH cos I have a great mechanic friend

Having said that though, if someone who has a picture or a Haynes manual could scan the page and upload it here I'd appreciate it.

 

[maddogmorg]

easy enough to change the thermostat on a 1.4.

you need to drain the cooling system. (first of all turn the heater setting to highest setting, then take cap off the expansion tank. disconnect the hose at the bottom of the radiator. then disconnect the pipes from the thermostat housing.)

unbolt the thermostat, take it off carefully. clean up the mating surface for the new thermostat to go on later with a new gasket.

now is a good time to get a hosepipe and flush the system through.

refit the new thermostat with the new gasket. connect up all the hoses. open the bleed screw at the top left hand corner of the radiator. fill up the radiator through the expansion bottle. when air and bubbley water stop coming out the bleed screw close, (helps if you have an assistant.) fill up to max level.
run engine up to operating temperature
allow to cool. then check levels and bleed again just to make sure.

the thermostat comes as a unit with the housing so it costs about £10 i think? it was pretty pricey.

make sure you have all the hoses connected up well as after i'd done mine one of them was leaking slightly and the smell of the coolant on the hot engine is quite powerful even with a small leak!

 

[denk]

I had a good look around the engine bay while changing the oil/filter today, it seems I have quite a few jobs on

I found the thermostat but my rad might be on its way out too, among other things, so my wallet will be getting pillaged soon methinks