Hi,

I have VW Polo 1.4 CL S reg. After the cold snap I noticed the temp guage doesnt work properly. If the engine is left running idle the temp gauge needle will move slowly to the middle but once I drive off the needle returns right back down to cold and it feels like am having to give more gas otherwise the car wont pick up speed as a result it seems to be using an awful lot of fuel.

What could be wrong with it? I took it to the mechanic and he said the fan might be damaged. Some how I dont believe him. The blower inside the car works fine and blows warm or cold air depending on the setting.

Could it be a faulty thermostat or temp sensor. Anyone else encountered similar symptoms and what was the fix?

Could it be a faulty thermostat or temp sensor. Anyone else encountered similar symptoms and what was the fix?

Completely agree - suspect thermostat bridge has snapped and hence is not getting up to temperature. Try a search and it'll bring up a few photos of broken ones....

Oh and remember when taking the thermostat housing apart to do it with the engine COLD. Yes, I did learn by error in this case.

PoloD.

sounds more like the engine's got no coolant in it - check the coolant level in the radiator (don't just look in the bottle) and if the thermostat bridge looks good, check the radiator and hoses for leaks - we put antifreeze into a mates audi the week before the cold snap, it wasn't enough to stop the coolant freezing on the drive and it spitting all it's coolant out.

sounds more like the engine's got no coolant in it - check the coolant level in the radiator (don't just look in the bottle) and if the thermostat bridge looks good, check the radiator and hoses for leaks - we put antifreeze into a mates audi the week before the cold snap, it wasn't enough to stop the coolant freezing on the drive and it spitting all it's coolant out.

Theres coolant in the bottle and the hoses dont show any leaks either.

Could also be that the thermostat is stuck open - it will run cold if that's the case

Could also be that the thermostat is stuck open - it will run cold if that's the case

I've just taken this to a mechanic and he is saying its the thermostat. his price including labour is £55. Is this a reasonable price? The problem with half these mechanics is that they just play a guessing game, charge you for the work and it doesnt fix the problem - he is saying he cant guarantee it is that!!! What a joke.

How much are we talking about to have a new thermostat fitted including labour. I'll probably need some anti-freez again I suppose?

Edited 29 January, 201115 yr by ozzii

Think a thermostat is around £15 (not sure, last one I bought was that price and it was for a jap car) and then you're looking at 20-30mins to swap it over and refill the system - so it's not a bad price. You could pick up a socket set, some pliers, a haynes manual and the part (and some antifreeze) for that sort of money and you could do it yourself - depends if you want to learn how to do it or just give it to someone else to sort out

Fair price really if quality work. Make sure he refills with VW G12 plus antifreeze.

PoloD.

Fair price really if quality work. Make sure he refills with VW G12 plus antifreeze.

PoloD.

It sounds like a faulty thermostat which is telling the engine that its cold therefore running on choke .. hence the high fuel usage :)