Seeking a bit of advice on the best plan of action for finding / fixing a fault that appeared on our Octy recently. 

 

The car was purchased a couple of months ago and initially all was well. But shortly after the engine check light came on, and according to Mrs RR it was "at the same time as the fuel reserve light came on" which I put down as coincidentally. 

 

Around the same time, or shortly after, the temperature gauge started playing silly beggars. Intermittently it wouldn't move at all, but most days was fine. Now it seems to consistently get to about 80 then drop to zero. 

 

The last MOT advised "thermostat housing weeping" and the previous owner assured me that it had been changed. 

 

Upon investigation I do find that the area does look recently disturbed, and the CTS (there are 2, the main is the 4 pin one I presume?) is green and therefore the newer type that I have read on here is recommended.

 

I have unplugged both senders and sprayed the contacts with switch cleaner. This seemed to make no difference.

 

Last week I finally got the VAGcom lite software talking to the cheap usb cable and ran whatever tests I could run (a new experience for me, I'm a carb and points man usually, the only ECU I've ever had to interrogate had 2 flashing LED's)  

 

It through up a single fault code which related to the instrument cluster. 

 

I'm due to be digging in the area of the thermostat housing soon as there is a weep from the joint on the rearmost hose (that looks fun to access!)  so was wondering if it would be wise to order in a thermostat and CTS, or do we think this genuinely is a fault with the cluster?

 

FWIW the engine in an AVU code so map-controlled I believe? 

Edited 15 January, 201412 yr by reliantreviver

Had the exact same thing, its your temp senders, there are two, one for the fans etc and one for the cluster. My TT did this went up and down as it felt the need. Changed them both and it ran so much better as it was running over fueled as it thought it was cold all the the time. Make sure you use genuine senders.

 

Hope this helps

Thanks Pat, just wanted to be fairly certain I wasn't splashing out on pointless parts.  Where's best to buy from, local dealer or an online source? 

I am sure someone will direct you here if I am incorrect.

 

However the best place to start is to speak to your local TPS and see if they will source to you direct some wont (like mine) failing that ask you garage to get them for you. Make sure they are genuine and that you use genuine coolant too. If all else fails go to skoda.

 

Cheers,

 

Paddy