Coolant replacement

Chiefmechanic said:
The saga continues. I have poured a kettle of boiling water over the thermostat with no movement at all. The thermostat is rated at 109 degrees C but I would have thought I would get some movement. I have driven the car around town and the temperature gauge hits 90 C pretty quickly but the bottom radiator pipe and the interior heater matrix never warms up.
Does anyone have a scrap 1.6 fsi engine that would sell me the thermostat. Brian
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Hi Brian, I have just changed my thermostat o my 1.6 FSI and I can't the thermostat to open as it is an electronic version. My thinking is I need to open it with a diagnostic machine, any advice is most welcome. I wouldn't recommend a secondhand stat as they are available from VW main dealer, part number is 032 121 121N. ca
 
999fire said:
Hi Brian, I have just changed my thermostat o my 1.6 FSI and I can't the thermostat to open as it is an electronic version. My thinking is I need to open it with a diagnostic machine, any advice is most welcome. I wouldn't recommend a secondhand stat as they are available from VW main dealer, part number is 032 121 121N. ca
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I am assuming you have missed the word 'get' in between 'can't the'. Why do you suspect it is not opening, overheating?

If your new thermostat is good and all correctly connected, no broken wires or connector, then I would expect it to just work. I have never seen a reference to exercising the FSI thermostat or setting it up with VCDS, but that is not to say there is isn't.

I must do more research and may be completely wrong but I suspect the FSI thermostat incorporates an ordinary wax thermostat that works as normal but in addition there is an electronic side that is a heating element that can rapidly melt the wax and cause the thermostat to quickly open for high load as per the philosophy of its predecessor described in the SSP...


Andy
 
Andrew said:
I am assuming you have missed the word 'get' in between 'can't the'. Why do you suspect it is not opening, overheating?

If your new thermostat is good and all correctly connected, no broken wires or connector, then I would expect it to just work. I have never seen a reference to exercising the FSI thermostat or setting it up with VCDS, but that is not to say there is isn't.

I must do more research and may be completely wrong but I suspect the FSI thermostat incorporates an ordinary wax thermostat that works as normal but in addition there is an electronic side that is a heating element that can rapidly melt the wax and cause the thermostat to quickly open for high load as per the philosophy of its predecessor described in the SSP...


Andy
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Thanks for the reply Andy,
Mine keeps airlocking and no fan coming on. Driving it for four years and no other additives was added to coolant that could cause a blockage. After running the engine for sometime it is nearly ready to burst pipes going to heater matrix as they get so ballooned up.
 
Sorry no one else as replied probably garnering little attention from the bland thread title, hopefully someone will chip in.

A few questions first, it might help the more knowledgeable pinpoint a course of suggested action.

What prompted you to replace the thermostat?
Do you have aircon?
By heater matrix do you mean radiator?
How long is '...for sometime'?
What does the dash temperature gauge show at the pipe bulging stage?
Have you checked the fan fuse?
Does any coolant escape from the coolant tank?

The last question I ask since the coolant normally escapes with the excess pressure you describe from the tank cap, which allows for emergency venting.

Andy
 
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