When I was out in the car yesterday I noticed that the temp gauge was not at 90°C It was at 80°C it went up and down a bit but never got to 90°C as it normally would. Just wondering if this is anything to worry about or just due to the colder air temps.

vag cars should always stay on 90 mate what hasppens when you put the heaters on ??

Could be the thermostat sticking open

10C difference I shouldn't think is anything to worry about with the cold weather.

Thermostat should open & close to keep temp at 90. Could be stuck open or your CTS could be starting to fail.

I'm with Paul on this one, thats exactly what mine did when the stat was stuck open.

It never got above 80 no matter what I did, another symptom was my mpg took a dive down as well

Are there any fault codes that this would bring up? I can go and scan the car.

Is the thermostat hard to change? What is the CTS?

therostat is not to bad to do done one on mine last weekend

Is there a guide anywhere how to do it?

Any idea of the part number/cost?

CTS is the coolant temp sensor, this is simple to replace (when the engine is cold)

It's on the RHS of the block under the lower engine cover, you'll see a green topped plug with a black electrical wire going into it. Theres a U shaped clamp holding it in which just un clips allowing you to change it.

HTH

Should do, so if I get a thermostat and a cts and change both should this solve the problem?

i got a gates thero for 1.90 job takes about 1 hour

Are there any fault codes that this would bring up? I can go and scan the car.

The CTS should bring a code but iirc it doesn't always

The stat won't show a code as its not wired to the ecu.

What kind of tools do you have ??

I used a small racthet with a Universal joint and some extension bars for the stat change.

Took me about an hour and if I'm honest I'm no mechanic so it can't be that hard lol

looks like i have this problem as mine sits at about 80-85 now (always thought it was down to the extra airflow due to my front bumper mod. now the fuel consumption has been mentioned it must be this as SWMBO says its using more than usual.

found this an ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SKODA-OCTAVIA-SUPERB-1-8-20V-2-0-8V-12-01-THERMOSTAT-/230545496933?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35ad951b65

any good??

Just get one from eurocarparts http://www.eurocarparts.com/car-thermostat its £8.05 with free delivery

I was going to pop out to gsf shortly to get the bits. I need to go to the dealers anyway and its not far from there.

Is there a guide anywhere to doing the change? Or anything I need to be aware of.

Just get one from eurocarparts http://www.eurocarparts.com/car-thermostat its £8.05 with free delivery

thats not bad but doesn't say if it comes with gaskets or O ring

When I was out in the car yesterday I noticed that the temp gauge was not at 90°C It was at 80°C it went up and down a bit but never got to 90°C as it normally would. Just wondering if this is anything to worry about or just due to the colder air temps.

What a coincidence as mine started doing this last week.

I have just ordered a thermostat today, collecting it tomorrow and I will be changing mine Saturday morning.

Its worth shopping around, I don’t have a Skoda dealer near me only Audi and VW. Audi dealer wanted £29.97 + VAT and the VW dealer wanted £19.67 + VAT

For info the part numbers are (prices are local VW dealer):-

050 121 113 C - Thermostat £19.67 + VAT (£23.11)

038 121 119 B - 'O' Ring £1.98 + VAT (£2.33)

G12 Coolant £8.90 + VAT (£10.46)

Edited 24 November, 201015 yr by Nickbes

I'm suspicious of my thermostat too actually.

It seems to take a bit longer to get to 90 initially in the winter anyway (which makes sense). If I'm driving country lanes or motorways normally then it sits at 90. But as soon as I get to a downhill section where I have my foot off the throttle for a period of time, it drops to 80ish extremely quickly.

To get it back up to 90 quickly you have to get accelerating again, or pull up at some traffic lights. But if after you've coasted down a hill and reduced the temperature, you then continue to drive lightly with very few revs, it takes an age to get back to 90. Which I'm fairly sure shouldn't be the case.

If I've done my normal 230 mile motorway trip, she sits at a solid 90 and doesn't budge.

I'm thinking the stat has just got a bit tired, and needs replacing. It's like once it's opened, it's taking too long to close again in response to a temperature change. The car's well overdue a coolant change too actually. I've had 2 bottles of VAG G12+ stuff sat in the shed for 2 years waiting to be used!

My Suzuki always has problems with overcooling in the winter, and I have to block off half of the radiator to allow it to run at temperature! Oh and pull over every now and then when the Webber twin choke carb freezes up! Tiny all-aluminium engine, in a massive empty engine bay, with a massive radiator.......... chilly!

I'm suspicious of my thermostat too actually.

It seems to take a bit longer to get to 90 initially in the winter anyway (which makes sense). If I'm driving country lanes or motorways normally then it sits at 90. But as soon as I get to a downhill section where I have my foot off the throttle for a period of time, it drops to 80ish extremely quickly.

To get it back up to 90 quickly you have to get accelerating again, or pull up at some traffic lights. But if after you've coasted down a hill and reduced the temperature, you then continue to drive lightly with very few revs, it takes an age to get back to 90. Which I'm fairly sure shouldn't be the case.

Exactly the same as mine, going to change the thermostat before trying the CTS

When my CTS was goosed it used sit at 90 then drop in one fa\st movment down to zero, look again and it was back up to 90.

Never over 90 though, iirc the temp does go over 90 but the gauge shows 90 to make you feel secure, only if theres a problem does go any higher ..... I think !!

just phoned my local skoda dealer (rainworth skoda, who say they've NEVER sold one for a mk1 vrs before, to trade or public),cant get me one till tues which is no good as i work away and i'm only home for the weekend!

but.......

found a neuspeed one on ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Neuspeed-VW-Audi-Seat-Skoda-1-8T-Low-Temp-Thermostat-/320615581879?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4aa62d88b7

anyone got one of these fitted??

Edited 24 November, 201015 yr by sivrs

Well after a trip to the dealers for a paint code I went to GSF and now have a new cts, thermostat, relevant o rings and 2 bottles of G12. Guess I'll be playing with the car tomorrow. As well as trying to sort out VAGCOM which is playing silly buggers now :(

Went for a drive this evening, temp gauge finally managed to get to 90C when I pulled over. Stayed there for a bit when I started driving again. Then it dropped to 80C again. Looks like I will be changing the thermostat.

Does anyone know how much coolant in the system? i.e. how many bottles will I need to buy and should it be about 50/50 with water?