Temp gauge

[greggyboy]

Hi all, Just replaced the thermostat on my mk2 1.6. Flushed all the pipes as previous threads have mentioned.

refilled the system, turned the car on and the temp needle will not go to halfway when idleing on the drive, i left it on idle about 30 - 45mins.

Heater works fine.

All the pipes get hot apart from the bottom rad pipe, so the thermostat is working.

Any ideas as to why it won't reach halfway?

I'm just wondering if i have done something wrong?

Kind Regards

Greg

[Simpson]

sounds like an airlock, that is the symptom of the thermostsat stuck open doubt its that as thats what you have replaced, try squeezing all the pipes with cap off to let air out. 

[greggyboy]

I was squeezing all the pipes whilst i had it idleing.

[rubjonny]

rev the engine to 1.5k every now & again while you're bleeding it, run it from cold with the cap off. check thin hose to the top of the tank sprays coolant when you rev the engine. keep this up till you see the level of the coolant rise up or start to boil , then fit cap and you should be done

[theclash]

change the temp sender could be that not reading properly

[X4MGS]

change the temp sender could be that not reading properly

+1

[Ben Lessani]

If the top and bottom rad pipes aren't the same temp, then either the thermostat isn't opening, or the car isn't hot enough.

The radiator is the most likely place for an air lock to be, so you might be better off taking the car for a drive to warm it up before trying to bleed, going round the system squeezing the pipes will help too.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system2.htm

[greggyboy]

Took the car for a spin, managed to get the needle to sit just below the half way marker, checked the pipes when i got back and both top and bottom pipes were the same temp.

So fingers crossed it stay's fixed

Greg.

[X4MGS]

I would still bleed the system what for whats involved...

[greggyboy]

Bled it yesterday, when i changed the stat.