See comment below, as this has failed!!!

My temp gauge was taking an age to show any signs of warmth. When I took the thermostat from the housing it just fell to pieces.

I found on Ebay, Thermostat, thermo sensor and housing all for £25.00 from Czechoslovakia, took a few days to receive and about an hour to fit as drained all system.

Replaced expansion tank as everytime I started water level light would apear due to worn coolant level sensor in tank, also gave me the chance to replace antifreeze, pretty easy job.

This solved my problem and gauge now working perfectly and no more beeps from warning light.

I was reluctant to drive the car without knowing what temp my car was running, also ECU thinks car is cold so will use more petrol and affect perfomance.

This has Failed....

This has now failed yet again, it is the housing that is the problem I think, was OK for A while but then engine overheated, the clips on the housing broke and sent a pin hole through, still not sure if it is housing or thermo, as both in pieces, gutted Sorry Guys, now running without thermo, but have new housing with a circlip, so will replace shortly and let you know how it goes, sorry, have expirence around engines but never come across this before, queried with seller who ask which Aniti freeze I used , Pink of course!!! AllI can say is if you temp is fluctuating, look at the thermostat, this has now happed twice now only had the car a year...

Had to call out AA how embarassing :S

Edited 10 July, 201114 yr by skodaslippers

Hi and welcome aboard.

Glad you sloved the problem.

Welcome to Briskoda

Welcome.

Although at the time I felt that this was a great buy and solution, I have exprienced temp fluctuation again, then overheating, the cause yet again was thermostat broken, so please although this solved my problem for a while, long term use failed. Sorry!!! Did ask supplier why, they just asked what antifreeze coolant I used, Pink or course! Now run without thermostat for now, but have another type where the thermostat is held in with circlip rather than the housingclips of which I feel failed.. Not fitted as yet....Gutted as had to call out AA to sort...

Fell a bit of an idiot as not an amateur re engines etc, don't know why this should happen with original now replacement, do I have to test the circlip model at my expense, will let you know how it goes.....

:S

welcome to briskoda