Hi can anybody either send a pic of the coolant system diagram or point me in the right direction. Have a fault p1296 i cant fighure out. Thanks

Coolant temp sensor failure. Very common problem. Replace it with genuine VAG sensor, & not a cheap one. 5 min job to do.

Follow the top rad hose, & the CTS is located at the engine end of it.

Hi thanks for reply, i have changed it for a genuine 1 80 miles later light popped back on it is with the mechanic again trying thermostat now.

Check the CTS wiring connector for dirt & corrosion.

If your mechanic has VCDS/Vagcom they can check that the ECU is getting temp a reading from the CTS. Would be odd for the stat to trigger a code as it's not electrical & doesn't communicate with the ECU.

If your mechanic has VCDS/Vagcom they can check that the ECU is getting temp a reading from the CTS. Would be odd for the stat to trigger a code as it's not electrical & doesn't communicate with the ECU.

The stat pretty much controls the coolant temp though so if it's bad the CTS will it and put the light on

Stat failure is very common, but I've never known it to cause a fault code. As far as I'm aware the only temp sensor the ECU see's is the CTS. Now if there is another source that the ECU gets temp info from then I suppose it could throw a code if there's a big discrepency.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/17704/P1296/004758

According to this it could be stat related.

The CTS reads the temp but the stat controls it. If the stat is gone it will put the same code up. Mine did it about 4 weeks ago and changing the stat solved it. Other than the code the give away of a farked stat is that the coolant temp drops when driving and only gets to normal temp after sitting for a while

Edited 13 March, 201313 yr by Frisco

Been digging in to this a bit. Apparently the ECU gets a reading from the header tank sensor too, & if there's a difference it throws the 1296 code so a stuck stat is probably the cause after all.

Ur posts have been very helpfull, mechanic phoned me after changing stat last night and taking for a test, he said he noticed it got straight up to correct temp. Picking it up later will let no if solved problem thanks

Got car back. Heaters are getting lot hotter and car is running at ryt temp, yet light has come back!!! I think it is just the fault still stored or atleast i hope! Any ideas??? Cheers

How old is the water pump and has it got a plastic impeller?

Not to sure car has done 70000 and cambelt was changed at 62 im assuming pump would have bin done aswel. Excuse me for bein thick wat is a propellor

Impellor sorry

Its the bit of the pump that actually moves the water. Apparently the standard ones are plastic and have a habit of coming apart.

I wouldn't assume that the pump was changed with the belt, it's good practice but plenty don't bother.

Clear the code and see if it comes back then go from there

Cleared the code thismorning(same code) done 85miles and up to now and still no light! Car sits around 90 constant now and i cant beleive the difference in the heaters! Fingers crossed its sorted. Next job is a service as whilst messing around i saw grity bits in oil :(