Hello all.

I recently bought my son a 1998 (S) 1.3 Felicia as a first car. It has a low - 40k - mileage, good service history and generally drives pretty well. However, the temperature gauge reads very low, barely moving at all and even then only after prolonged low-speed driving.

I replaced the temp sensor, but that made no difference. I'm now thinking the thermostat may be at fault - ie stuck open - especially as the lumpy power pickup is also suggestive of an engine not getting up to a good working temperature .

Anyone agree/disagree with my diagnosis? I'm new to the Skoda world and would appreciate the benefit of your experiences, especially if this is a known problem.

Thanks in advance,

N

Agree with your diagnostics, its will probably need the Thermostat assembly changing. It come complete with the themostat (on later models that I believe yours is). The themostat cannot be changed its an integral part of the unit. On earlier Felicias it was possible to change the Thermostat.

A plastic part fails in the housing causing the thermostat to fall apart. Its quite a common fault.

I changed mine without draining system completley, just removed, installed new unit and topped up with correct VAG antifreeze (dont use any other the corrcet stuff is cheap from a Skoda dealer or VW dealer) No gasket just a o-ring to seal - I never changed and all was well if ordering probably best to get O ring as well.

OE part is about

:iagree:

Andy

Yep , it happened to a workmates Felicia , it needed Thermostat Housing changed and all was well.

It will definatly be the Thermostat with the plastic holder snapped. It is a common problem as previously said. However, the price i paid for what they claimed to be a redesigned and strengtherned housing with thermostat and sensor complete was 48.99 all in from Skoda dealer.

You could try getting one second hand from scrapper or Roadside rescue

cars dismantled by skospares.com for all your skospares

It will definatly be the Thermostat with the plastic holder snapped. It is a common problem as previously said. However, the price i paid for what they claimed to be a redesigned and strengtherned housing with thermostat and sensor complete was 48.99 all in from Skoda dealer.

You could try getting one second hand from scrapper or Roadside rescue

cars dismantled by skospares.com for all your skospares

Yeah, that replacemnet thermostat is pricy! but tbh, the majority of scrappers had this fault,so were no use.

One thing i will say is that woodie is a bit slower now that he aint constantly overfuelling.

and it aint from a lack of trying by my bro-the pedal lives in the floor.

still, he does give 400 miles to