Thermostat Replacement?

[Timah89 1]

Think thermostat is stuck open - recently replaced water pump and probably bits of broken plastic impellor there! Looks like two allen bolts and hose clip but what about the plastic pipe to the water pump. Does this have to be separated and if so how do you do it? Have read that this pipe gets fragile and is not easy to replace?

Cheers

[gavinvr6 0]

look a little futher down this help page for my request, i swapped mine over last week,

what i done was.

remove the 3 hose's. unplug the sensors at the front. undo the coil pack and lift it out the way (unplug the feed and leave the leads on it and it will sit on top of the engine) then use a 5.5mm alen key or hex bit in a long reach socket and undo the 3 retaining bolts (u'll see why i said remove coil pack when u go for the top/back one) then wiggle and twist the whole housing whilst holding onto the crap, i mean crack pipe. dont pull it out the pump. once its off you'd be best to replace every rubber o-ring on it including the one on the crack pipe. give everythng a smidge of instant gasket for extra sealing and gently re-assemble it. fitting is the reverse of removal obviouisly but to aid with bleeding the cooling system once every thing is back on remove the rad top hose and fill this with water as well as the expansion tank. it helps push the air out of the system since the whole system will be practically full when you reconnect the top hose. run it up to temp with the cap off until the stat opens. top it up to full bring back up to temp with the cap on to check it holds pressure and water. stand back and admire you handy work.

bit of a gob full but thats how i done it. its a bit of a long winded way but just make sure you replace every o-ring and put it all back together straight and carefully or you'll bugger the crack pipe o-ring. i had to take mine off and put it back on numerous times coz the one o-ring i didnt replace was one of the ones allowing water to leak, hence why i say replace em all. it'll cost about 10 quid even if getting em from the dealers.

if im wrong or someone knows an easier way then please feel free to correct any mistakes as it will help everyone if and when the time comes if the advice is corrected if need be

[Timah89 1]

Thanks Gavin - I was hoping there was an easier way than having to remove the whole switch/thermo housing from the block. Thermo looks to have a separate cover secured by two allen bolts with crack pipe to left and rubber hose to right. Is it not possible to access thermo by removing hose and two bolts?

[gavinvr6 0]

yeah it is,but if its never been undone you may bugger the bottom allen bolt coz its awkward to get at. plus its best to swap em all out while your there anyway. it took me ages coz i kept pratting about and buggered the bottom bolt, but whole thing off then seals swaped and put on should take no more than a couple of hours. it sounds very daunting but it aint that bad

[Timah89 1]

Thanks - just started pissing water out from the plastic housing today so will replace whole thing along with thermo and Orings. Only thing that worries me is separating housing from Crack Pipe - any tips?

Cheers

[craggsy 91]

Mine just pulled apart

[Timah89 1]

Thanks - problem in the end was the radiator so just spent today replacing it with GSF part. Seems sweet now

[gavinvr6 0]

dont worry mate, mine sprung another leak, from the crack pipe o-ring this time i think, only bloody one the stealer didnt have in stock and only one not replaced. so another evening sorting that out again, grrrrrrrrrrr bloody car