Hello everyone,

I'm new here, so hello

I've got a 1998 Polo 1.4 auto (feel the power! :-D ) that has completed 119,000 miles. It's serviced regularly and treated well given it's an old girl now. I had the cambelt changed two weeks ago by a reputable VW indie.

One thing the Polo does do quickly, is warm up. The temp gauge gets to the middle of the dial prompty, esp on warm days like today. This morning, I drove for seven/eight miles, parked up, did my stuff, and came back to the car. Four or so miles down the road, I noticed that the temp gauge was not in the middle; it was over quarter of the way, though, and slowly trying to reach the mid point. That's odd, I thought. When the needle finally got to the middle, I turned the heating on full speed/max heat, and the temp gauge started dropping ever so slightly again, as the heater pumped out hot air. So, turned off the heater, and drove about another twenty miles doing my errands, and the car's driving/performing/starting fine.

I'm not very technical, but my gut feel is that the thermostat has said 'cheers, thanks and good night'. I hope it's not a head gasket on its way out, or a water pump.

So, two questions - could the cambelt replacement have a cause and effect impact on things like the water pump, which might have an effect on the thermostat? If it is the thermostat, do you know what they cost to replace please?

Thanks everyone!

Edited 25 April, 200917 yr by Scudetto

It sounds like thermostat to me.

currently having the same issues on a mates car - apparently the thermostat housing breaks too, the housing holds a pin from the thermostat and it does not operate effectively - if you do a search on here for "overheating" there is loads of info.

if your going to do the thermostat i would buy the complete unit as you get thermostat temp sensor an new rubber o-rings

saves a lot of hassle too as the inner bit in the housing that holds the thermostat breaks easily

oh and will cost you £40

Did you have the waterpump changed at the same time as the timing belt?? Hey, why don't you take it back to the garage as it was only two weeks ago. Any true mechanic worth his (or her) salt will quickly help you out.

And welcome to the site!

PoloD.

Did you have the waterpump changed at the same time as the timing belt?? Hey, why don't you take it back to the garage as it was only two weeks ago. Any true mechanic worth his (or her) salt will quickly help you out.

And welcome to the site!

PoloD.

As POLOD said the Timing belt and water pump shouldve been changed together really!

I'd change the stat and also check the stat housing as the metal prong on the stat is known to shoot through the housing

Welcome to the club

eurocarparts = £6 ish for housing.

hey chaps, thanks for all your replies - they are much appreciated

so yesterday, i didn't get much of a chance to drive the car (party ), but this morning before work, i checked the coolant; all there, no leaks. On the drive to work, it warmed up fine, the needle hit the middle of the temp gauge, but again started dropping when i ramped up the heating to max; it didn't drop much, but in fairness, it never dropped at all before. Later in the day, the car warmed up again just fine on a short trip at lunch time, too.

Just to err on the side of caution, I've got it booked in this week for the VAG man to look at. It might be a sticky thermo (if such a thing exists) rather than a totally fubared one. My gut feel is that I'm probably worrying about nothing...we'll see

Thanks again!

The main connection between the air conditioning and heating system and the end user is the thermostat. Beyond the air conditioning and heating thermostat many people know nothing about their systems that keep them comfortable year round. There comes a time when the thermostat has a problem or the end user wants to replace the thermostat because they think it is a broken thermostat.

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Thermostat