GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: raks.2008 on 06 October 2008, 08:17

Title: Car not warming up....
Post by: raks.2008 on 06 October 2008, 08:17: Noticing more as its getting colder....!

Everyday starting the car from cold, I drive to work 5 miles at around 50mph and it just warms up to a quarter. Is this normal?

I think it is taking its time warming up if i am not wrong? Can it be the thermostate that requires changing? or something else....?

Thanks

(http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v235/187/59/553085526/n553085526_3022082_741.jpg)
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Village Idiots on 06 October 2008, 08:37: Thermostat would be a good place to start. Have fun changing it!
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Cosworth Lee on 06 October 2008, 08:38: 99% sure u need a new thermostat.

simple job, takes about 5 mins to do.

remove the outlet pipe, (maby place a tray under to catch the anti freeze, u'll loose a few pints!)
unbolt the case (3 bolts i think)
simply pull out stat, install new one, and put back together
top up antifreeze.
run it and take it out for a drive
recheck fluid leves and be sure no air locks are present

a thermostat will cost about £15 from Vw, or about £10 from halfords!

Im very cettain its the stat, but if u want to be sure before u buy a new one, then boil some water and put in a clear glass jar.

if its works the stat should click and the diaphram/spring will open

but if its fooked like id imagine then it will do nothing

Also if ur feeling in the mood when u change the stat u can flush out the engine and rad with the hose, and put in new coolant, but again be aware of air locks!!!!
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: JC on 06 October 2008, 08:40: unless you have PAS fitted of course, then its NOT a 5 minute job as described :wink:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: rubjonny on 06 October 2008, 12:06: coolant faq!
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Cosworth Lee on 06 October 2008, 16:01: Quote from: chuff on 06 October 2008, 08:40
unless you have PAS fitted of course, then its NOT a 5 minute job as described :wink:

It when u have a car with aircon, then its a real bugger, you can gurantee what ever u want to do an aircon pipe will be in the bloody way!
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Conker on 06 October 2008, 19:41: In only five miles, that sounds about right to me - its been chilly lately?? Compare the water temp to your oil temp - Am I right in thinking if your oils getting hot but your water isn't, then that helps diagnose a thermostat fault?

In a morning at the moment, my 16v just gets into the nineties on the MFA by the end of my journey, which takes 20 minutes at 45mph.
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Dolly on 06 October 2008, 21:17: bit crap with PAS, my engine was out when i did it, and i did think i wouldnt fancy it in situe lol... my advice any job just take the engine out then its a piece of cake :smiley:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Conker on 06 October 2008, 21:45: Quote from: Dolly on 06 October 2008, 21:17
bit crap with PAS, my engine was out when i did it, and i did think i wouldnt fancy it in situe lol... my advice any job just take the engine out then its a piece of cake :smiley:

(http://demonhunter.typepad.com/nightmare/images/2008/01/24/345153a09da0b1a543ca7110l_3.jpg)

Intended for this one by any chance?? http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=93952.0
:grin:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: AdamMk2 on 07 October 2008, 07:31: :sad: I thought quarter was normal :huh: Only very rarely in traffic mine goes to half :shocked:

is this normal?
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Khare on 07 October 2008, 07:46: Quote from: AdamMk2 on 07 October 2008, 07:31
:sad: I thought quarter was normal :huh: Only very rarely in traffic mine goes to half :shocked:

is this normal?
maybe your stat is stuck open. Half is normal temp.
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Cosworth Lee on 07 October 2008, 08:10: have you done the stat yet? guessing you have PAS then :drool:

one thing you could also change is the water temp sensor. im not sure on the gti, but most cars like this it will be screwed into the block near the stat.
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: 2pac on 07 October 2008, 09:33: Quote from: Cosworth Lee on 06 October 2008, 16:01
Quote from: chuff on 06 October 2008, 08:40
unless you have PAS fitted of course, then its NOT a 5 minute job as described :wink:

It when u have a car with aircon, then its a real bugger, you can gurantee what ever u want to do an aircon pipe will be in the bloody way!

well i have aircon and nothing stays in the way- it's still a 5 minute job.

the catch is how to hold the stat and rubber in place until you put the cover.
when i took out me hand it kept falling several times until i succeeded.
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: danny_p on 07 October 2008, 21:24: iccel tiny bit of sillicon grease holds the rubber, or just take the water pump off and do it or for the price of them fit a new water pump at the same time
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: JMallows on 07 October 2008, 22:08: Silly question probably, but does it matter if the car doesnt get hot? Surely its a good thing if it runs a little cooler, the only problem i can think of is that you wont get heat in the car? Or am i missing something!?
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Jay on 07 October 2008, 22:47: I think it's more to getting the oil warm and keeping it at the right temp to help with lubrication, cold oil is not as (for lack of words after a few beers) soft/runny as warmer oil. If that makes sense :undecided:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: AdamMk2 on 07 October 2008, 23:22: I think our scientific word may be viscous or Mobile :wink: hahaha
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: danny_p on 08 October 2008, 00:25: enignes are quite presise bits of kit with specific tolerances, materials expannd and contract with changes in tempriture, so when an enigne is built everthing is worked out so the clearances are correct at it's desinged operating tempriture also engines run more efficently when they are hot
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: kittie on 08 October 2008, 13:56: Mine sits at the first mark and raises to the middle in traffic. Oil indicates (or did before the MFA broke) as normal temps.

I've always thought this was due to my having a duff stat. Have had one from VW for about hmmm... 18 months at least (I have PAS).

One day! :embarassed:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Lap on 08 October 2008, 15:00: Sounds similar to mine. My oil temp was normal and heating worked etc but the water temp gauge never went past the first mark.

In the end, it turned out to be a faulty sender. Now it sits in the middle with normal use and rises up to 2/3 when stuck in traffic. :smiley:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: JMallows on 08 October 2008, 19:08: I understand that as the oil heats up, its viscosity drops, and i understand why, i was just unsure why it made a difference to water.
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: Benrevs on 08 October 2008, 19:32: Jesus, mine never reaches a quarter only in really heavy traffic on a scorching day.. oil is similar at 79/80. Have fitted new everything aswell. I have heard they can run too cool and never get up to a decent temp. One thing i guess is a car mat in front of the rad! :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Car not warming up....
Post by: baggiemad on 09 October 2008, 11:58: Quote from: chuff on 06 October 2008, 08:40
unless you have PAS fitted of course, then its NOT a 5 minute job as described :wink:

definately not 5 min job with PAS :angry: lol, took my mate whose a mechanic of 20 years 2 hours as the PAS bracket is held on by 5 bolts all of which were seized on....very difficult to get out without breaking them, my car was not heating up thru heater and new stat didnt fix it after all this , so must be the matrix blocked i guess??